|
Dr. Sifuni Mchome wants to know how the world treats its refugees.
Mchome's research project, sponsored by a Fulbright/NYU-CIC grant
was a comparative analysis of laws and practices regarding refugees
and the extent to which they conform to international standards,
a subject which has applications to any refugee population, but
is of particular relevance to his home country of Tanzania where
Mchome features prominently as one of the resource persons and
consultants the Tanzanian government calls on regularly to address
issues of the rule of law and human rights. During his grant,
he produced two documents, one to be given to the Tanzanian government
for possible changes in refugee law and the other will be used
as a reference material for a course on refugees at his home institution,
the Faculty of Law of the University of Dar es Salaam.
Mchome's Fulbright grant enabled him "not only to do the
research but also exchange ideas with distinguished scholars,
experts and other officials whom I would have perhaps had no opportunity
to meet had this research been carried out solely in Tanzania."
Dr. Mchome's affiliation at New York University’s Center
on International Cooperation (CIC) for the 2002-03 academic year
was made possible by cost-shared funding provided to the CIC by
the Madeline and Kevin R. Brine Charitable Trust. The Fulbright/NYU-CIC
Fellowship was designed to give recently minted foreign scholars
an opportunity for research on more effective means of multilateral
cooperation and multilateral responses to transnational problems,
in the fields of peace and security; international economics and
development; international law and organizations; human rights;
and humanitarian affairs.
In addition to pursuing his own research, Mchome participated
in all aspects of CIC’s work, including presenting his work
in progress at staff meetings and collaborating with CIC faculty
on existing initiatives on "Mobilizing Resources for Humanitarian
Assistance" and "Regional Conflict Formations in Africa's
Great Lakes Region and in South Central Asia." Each of these
projects addressed the Center's overall focus on the international
public sector, specifically, the role and responsibilities of
regional and subregional organizations. CIC Director Shep Forman
affirmed that Mchome's affiliation was a great success and that
the CIC will continue to follow his work and collaborate with
Mchome, "especially as it relates to regional response mechanisms
for addressing refugee flows in East Africa."
While in the United States, Mchome was also invited to present
a seminar on "Human Rights in Africa" at the Lebanon
Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania and attended two conferences
in Washington, DC. He also appreciated the opportunity to learn
about American holidays and customs by being hosted by a family
in Albany for Thanksgiving.
Mchome concluded, "I enjoyed every bit of my stay in the
United States of America. It was a wonderful learning opportunity
for me in a different culture with a different level of development.
The exposure to numerous social and educational activities and
interactions made my stay rewarding. I have made contacts, friends
and useful links which are essential for my future activities
in my profession."
Please contact us
if you would like to submit your own story and/or photographs.
|
