1998 Summer Interns
During the 1998 summer, four (4) Indiana University - Indianapolis Law Students were sent to work at international human rights organizations, in four different countries around the globe.
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1998 Interns:
- Jody DeFord (Sydney, Australia)
- Kevin Green (Honk Kong, China)
- Samira Irsane (New York, U.S.A)
- Aklilu Tedla (Cape Town, South Africa)
Mrs. Jody Spangler DeFord ('98) spent three months working for the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission in Sydney, Australia. She was assigned to work for the commissioner responsible for race and Aboriginal affairs. Mrs. DeFord had numerous interesting experiences, including: hosting delegations of overseas officials; researching and writing in legal areas related to aboriginal rights; and drafting Commission human rights materials to be distributed to the public.
Mr. Kevin Green worked for three months for the Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor is a non-governmental organization that was founded in the early 1990s to help promote and protect human rights in Hong Kong. Highlights of Mr. Green's experience include: his escorting around Hong Kong members of the European Parliament, who had traveled to Hong Kong to observe Legislative Council elections; his design of a survey on race discrimination in Hong Kong; and his participation in a meeting with the Hong Kong Chief Executive, Mr. Tung Chee Hwa.
Ms. Samira Irsane ('97-'98, Lille exchange student) worked for three months at the United Nations in New York. She was assigned to the United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women. Ms. Irsane participated in meetings of various UN Committees of experts, comprised of delegates from around the globe. One committee was the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Ms. Irsane's French language ability permitted her to participate in otherwise confidential meetings concerning human rights violations in particular countries.
Mr. Aklilu Tedla ('98) was selected to intern in Cape Town, South Africa, for the South Africa Health and Human Rights Project. This project was conceived as a follow-up to the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which explored human rights violations during the Apartheid Era.
Professor Edwards (left) Judy DeFord (right) in Australia 
Professor Edwards and Kevin Green (2nd and 3rd from left) in Hong Kong 
Samira Irsane (left) and coworkers at the UN (New York) 
Aklilu Tedla and Professor George Edwards (Geneva)