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2021 Global Institute for Human Rights’ Hackathon aimed to build a more equal and sustainable post-COVID-19 world

October 18, 2021

The 2021 Global Institute for Human Rights - Build Back Better focused on generating novel approaches to address human rights challenges during a global pandemic.

Over the summer, over 65 emerging young leaders from over 13 countries came together for the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School’s 2021 Global Institute for Human Rights (GIHR) organized by Rangita de Silva de Alwis, Senior Adjunct Professor of Global Leadership and the Academic Director of the Global Institute for Human Rights, and the Law School’s Legal Education Programs.

“The special 2021 Global Institute for Human Rights - Build Back Better focused on a global recovery addressing the systemic and structural inequities and ‘Building Back Better’ on a human rights-based agenda after a global pandemic,” said de Silva de Alwis. “The ‘Build Back Better’ concept was first introduced by the Rangita de Silva de Alwis, Senior Adjunct Professor of Global Leadership Rangita de Silva de Alwis, Senior Adjunct Professor of Global LeadershipUN Secretary-General as a charge to world leaders during the global pandemic. This charge was followed by a commitment made by President Biden in his three-part national agenda to rescue, recover, and rebuild the United States and the world on a more equitable premise. While COVID-19 has reversed prior gains made in substantive equality, black swan events inexorably alter our world and often provide an opportunity for systemic change. Against the backdrop of rising conflict and crisis in the world, the GIHR was committed to ideals of pluralism and inclusion. Convening leaders from multilaterals such as the UN, World Bank, OECD, and the World Economic Forum, as well as multinationals such as Microsoft, this one-of-a-kind institute provided a toolbox of human rights strategies and inspired a new generation of human rights leaders to rise to the challenge of a global reset.”

Post-COVID world hackathon

A highlight of the GIHR was the hackathon centered on the concept, “Build Back Better.” Students incubated novel ideas on addressing human rights challenges during a global pandemic.

Growing out of the urgent needs presented by the pandemic, the Hackathon proposals looked at building a more equable and sustainable world post- Covid-19 offering important ideas for the advancement of human rights and equity.

The Hackathon proposals were presented to representatives from the World Bank, International Finance Corporation and UN Women who selected as the four top proposals:

Group Members: Devra Baxter, Giovanna Araujo, Nelson Millan Nales, Talia Berniker, Selma Aksoy, Doménica Altamirano, Dana Villagomez, Mariluz Blandon

Group Members: Mary Scott Douglas, Giulia Bonetti, Michael Campbell, Madeline Carter, Ying Cheng, Olivia Chislett, Maricarmen Corte, Olivia Daigle, Maya Davis, Rebecca Weaver

Group Members: Florencio Gramajo Lucas, Ruqiya Egal, Dimitria Giovanna Ferreira, Enyu Gan, Kasie Gilbert, Voja Gleichgewicht, Mariana Del Piero Silva, Chengyuan Guo, Emily Hunt, Bryn Westby

Group Members: Ajith Thiyagalingam, Makaila Ranges, Emma Rice, Issabella Romo, Marcella Rosenberg, Sophie Sklar, Amaya Sweeney, Laura Thomé, Fabiola Vega

Learn more about the Law School’s Global Institute for Human Rights, including its upcoming 2022 program.