Session 3: Human Rights and International Security

Apply now! We are accepting applications on a rolling basis. Interested students are encouraged to submit an online application by midnight on Friday, May 31, 2024. Spots are limited, so students are encouraged to apply early to increase their chances of admission.

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Students accepted for this session will receive an email and informational packet approximately one week before the session's first day.

What topics might be discussed during the Human Rights and International Security session?

• Understanding and defining security and human rights
• Impacts of conflicts in human rights, and human rights in conflict zones
• Geopolitics of Asia in the contexts of territorial disputes, competition, cooperation, and conflict
• Nontraditional security threads, including cybersecurity, transnational crime, and environmental and natural disasters
• Global security challenges in the context of human rights violations
• Roles of international organizations and alliances, including ASEAN, APEC, and multilateral treaties
• Refugee rights and asylum policies in the U.S. and Asia
• Forced migrations and displacements
• Humanitarian intervention and the responsibility to protect
• Protection of civilians in armed conflicts
• Human rights advocacy and grassroots movements

About the Speakers

Zulikha Akrami is a passionate freelance writer with a deep focus on Afghanistan and Asia. She is currently pursuing a second master's degree in Political Science at Northeastern Illinois University, complementing her first MA degree in International Relations earned in Afghanistan. She is a fellow at Every Woman Treaty. As an Afghan refugee who came to the U.S. in 2021 after the Afghanistan government collapsed, she served Afghan refugees as a Program Coordinator of the SAS-APA program in the Alliance for Multicultural Community Services in Houston, Texas. She loves to discuss the Human Rights and Gender Apartheid in the current regime of the Taliban in Afghanistan. 

Charles C. Foster, who served as Chairman of Asia Society Texas Center for 20+ years, is Chairman of Foster LLP, one of the largest global immigration law firms. He received his Bachelors from the University of Texas and his J.D. from the University Of Texas School Of Law. Charles is a Board member and the founding Chairman of the State Bar of Texas Immigration and Nationality Law Section, the past national President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the Chairman of the American Bar Association Coordinating Committee on Immigration Law. Charles served as the principal advisor to President Bush on U.S. immigration policy during the 2000 and 2004 presidential campaigns and was an advisor on immigration policy issues to President Barack Obama in the 2008 campaign. He is also Chairman of US China Partnerships, Americans for Immigration Reform, a 501(c)(3) affiliate of the Greater Houston Partnership and the GHP’s Immigration Task Force. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the GHP as well as its Executive Committee and on the Board of the Houston Ballet. He was designated a “Texas Super Lawyer” from 2003 to 2014 by Texas Monthly, the “Top Notch Lawyer in Immigration” in the Texas Lawyer “Go To Lawyers Guide,” the #1 Ranked Immigration Lawyer in Texas by Chambers USA, and he was listed as one of the nation’s “20 most powerful employment attorneys” in immigration by Human Resource Executive in June 2011. He was the 2013 recipient of the Houston Bar Association’s prestigious Leon Jaworski Award and was featured in the critically acclaimed movie Mao’s Last Dancer.

David J. Firestein is the president and CEO of the George H. W. Bush Foundation for U.S.–China Relations. Previously, Firestein was the founding executive director of The University of Texas at Austin’s China Public Policy Center and a clinical professor at UT’s Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. Before moving to UT, he served as senior vice president and Perot fellow at the East-West Institute, where he led the Institute’s Track 2 diplomacy work in the areas of U.S.-China relations, East Asian security, and U.S.-Russia relations. From 1992–2010, Firestein was a decorated career U.S. diplomat specializing primarily in U.S.–China relations. Firestein serves on over a dozen U.S. nonprofit boards of directors and advisors. Among other roles, he is a member of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition's Texas Advisory Committee and a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council of the LBJ School of Public Affairs. A native and current resident of Austin, Texas, he holds degrees from Georgetown University and The University of Texas at Austin.

Additional speakers will be announced soon.

Additional 2024 Sessions

Session 1: Japan's Global Impact
Monday, June 24 – Friday, June 28, 2024・8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Daily
Explore Japan's significant influence on the global stage, from the vibrant world of J-pop and captivating manga to groundbreaking advancements in AI and robotics. Dive into Japan's multifaceted contributions to culture, technology, innovation, and global policy.

Session 2: Renewable Energy and Climate Solutions
Monday, July 15 – Friday, July 19, 2024・8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Daily
Learn how renewables and energy transition initiatives are reshaping the global economic, environmental, and energy outlook. Gain insights on how policymakers, industries, and nonprofit, and international organizations are creating innovative solutions for a more sustainable and greener future.

Testimonials

"By learning how to better adapt to change or collaborate with others efficiently, I think that my perspective of what makes a good leader has become more nuanced. Although confidence and decisiveness are just as important, so is going the extra mile to prepare for changes, which are inevitable. In the future, I will continue to push myself to try my best to improve in whatever I do, be it as a leader or student." — 2023 Equality and Human Development student

"Yes, [I would recommend YLI]! This was very informative and I'm sure that my friends would enjoy it! I also loved being treated as a policymaker, as I am very interested in these issues. The feedback was good and I will definitely be using the info and strategies from this session in my every day." – 2021 U.S.–China Relations student

"The most important thing I learned this week was learning to not only listen to others, but also to learn how to combine key skills like research, teamwork, policy, and presentation (as demonstrated by many of the speakers who spoke to us this week). I also learned the importance of being thoughtful towards others." — 2021 Public Health student

"From the Young Leaders Institute, I have learned that good leaders not only take charge of situations and can adapt to crises; they also serve to diverse communities and communicate their ideas purposefully and consciously. After participating in YLI this week, my personal leadership style will become more communication-focused and emphasize understanding and empathy." — 2022 International Security and Defense student

"My perspective has been widened by a huge margin to be able to see problems from all sorts of perspectives. Others might observe me being more thoughtful and considerate of as much people as possible." — 2023 Energy and Renewables student

Business and Policy programs at Asia Society Texas are presented by Bank of America, Muffet Blake, and ExxonMobil. Major support comes from Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, The Brown Foundation, Inc., and Houston Endowment Inc. Generous funding provided by bp America, Inc, Anne and Albert Chao, ConocoPhillips, Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Regions Bank, and Stephanie and Frank Tsuru. Additional support is provided by the Friends of Asia Society, a dedicated group of individuals and organizations committed to bringing the best in public programming. Student scholarships generously provided by Asha and Farid Virani.

Business & Policy Presenting Sponsors

About Asia Society Texas

Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, we advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, our programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.

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