Author: Tanvi Wattal

SEATTLE — Lilly Singh, also known as “Superwoman,” made her mark in the world as a prominent YouTuber and comedian by uploading videos about her day-to-day life that includes her Indian heritage. The Canadian born star has proven to be a humanitarian at heart, and elucidates such goodwill in her constant discussion of important humanitarian issues. As of July 15th, 2017, Singh was appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in India; Singh is the first UNICEF ambassador from the digital world. She recently traveled to small villages in India to learn about the struggles of underprivileged children and to promote…

KAMPALA — The sub-Saharan African nation of Uganda has historically seen slow economic growth. There has been a near-constant influx of refugees from bordering nations such as South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Political strife with opposition group the Lords Resistant Army has further destabilized the country. Hunger in Uganda is a direct product of nations history. Karamoja, the northern region of Uganda, has been particularly affected by underdevelopment, high poverty rates and severe droughts. According to Action Against Hunger, it is currently witnessing “chronic food insecurity” after three consecutive years of drought that affected crop yield and…

QUITO — What once was the Northern Incan Empire, the country of Ecuador has historically faced many hurdles, for instance, Spanish rule and recent political instability. Although the nation has made tremendous effort and progress towards diminishing poverty, hunger in Ecuador remains a prominent concern. Natural disasters commonly affect the growth of the country. Soil erosion, climate change and earthquakes contribute to the lack of stable food supply for the inhabitants. In 2016, an earthquake hit the northern coast and resulted in reconstruction costs equivalent to approximately 3 percent of the national GDP. Furthermore, the earthquake displaced 9,500 people in…

KIRIBATI — Formerly known as the Gilbert Islands, Kiribati is a remote island in the Pacific Ocean and prior to gaining independence in 1979, the nation was colonized by British rulers. The post-occupation period was a rough transition for the society, and in the process  the nation underwent many human rights violations for women in Kiribati. Notions that females are inferior to males have been cultivated by the primarily indigenous cultures. Violence Against Women Violence against women in the shape of rape or spousal abuse are common, especially in the case of husbands drinking alcohol on a frequent basis. Approximately…

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — Upon first glance of its distinctive biodiversity, deep rainforests, and serene beaches and reefs, the island country of Madagascar may seem untouched and celestial. Zooming in on the daily lives of the Malagasy people, conversely, one will see a poverty stricken nation that has deeply rooted governmental corruption, and unfortunate environmental disasters. Extreme Poverty Extreme poverty plagues the country, consuming about 77.8 percent of the population. Tropical storms and cyclones hit the island every year; dilapidated houses and schools are all that is left of the infrastructure in most rural regions. As a result, the Malagasy people…

ROSEAU — Although human rights encompass an array of violations, the ones that are discernible in the day-to-day lives of people in Dominica encompass violence against women and children. Public policy has historically undermined the rights of women and children in Dominica with laws that fail to recognize spousal rape and that permit corporal punishment in schools. The government has acknowledged the violations of human rights in Dominica. It has aligned with international organizations and NGOs to better the standard of living for the affected demographics. A red flag that is instantly seen is in regards to the correlating punishment for…

RABAT — The Islamic state of Morocco, also known as the “place the sun sets”, has made its place as one of the world’s prime tourist locations. Despite its unique scenery and rich culture, however, the Moroccan population faces a myriad of hurdles due to the prominence of poverty. Why is Morocco poor? Poverty in Morocco arises from factors such as climate, topography, and social structures; with the efforts of NGOs and the national government, measure have been put in place to help the country move in a positive direction. Although poverty is a national phenomenon in Morocco, it is…

ACCRA, Ghana — Located in West Africa, the country of Ghana experiences an array of difficulties that have resulted in a compromise of basic human rights. As the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to rid itself of European colonialism, Ghana has made tremendous progress since its days of British control. However, barriers such as government corruption, police brutality, child trafficking, prison conditions and discrimination remain as major setbacks for human rights in Ghana. Prison crowding causes concern, with 94 reported deaths in custody due to lack of hygiene, malaria or HIV. According to a report by the U.S. Department of…