Aaron Rhodes
Encyclopedia
Aaron Rhodes is an international human rights
activist, university lecturer and essayist based in Hamburg, Germany. He served as Executive Director of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights
(IHF) between 1993 and 2007, during which period the IHF was engaged inter alia in human rights challenges in the Balkans, in Chechnya, and in Central Asia, and the organization expanded significantly. He was active in the Human Dimension of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and invited repeatedly to address conferences of diplomats and NGO activists.
He has also been involved with human rights issues in a number of Middle Eastern countries. In 2008, after the closure of IHF due to an economic crime, he helped found and became Policy Adviser to the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran
, a project of the Netherlands-based NGO Bridging the Gulf-Foundation for Human Security in the Middle East. He has also undertaken human rights investigations in Cuba, Japan, and elsewhere.
Rhodes was educated at Reed College
and in the Committee on Social Thought
at the University of Chicago
, where he was awarded a PhD. After serving in political and governmental positions in Chicago and Illinois, he became Assistant to the President of Boston University John Silber
. He moved to Vienna in 1991 to work on projects for educational reform in Eastern Europe initiated by the Institute for Human Sciences (Institut für die Wissenschaften vom Menschen
).
Rhodes was born in rural Upstate New York
, the son of Lillyan and Daniel Rhodes
. He has two sons, Daniel and Nathan, by his first wife Sara Silverman Rhodes, who died in 2001. He and his second wife Anna Sunder-Plassmann have two daughters, Leah and Rivkah.
In 2008, Rhodes was made an honorary citizen of Austria for his “contributions to the Republic.” He was awarded a Public Service Citation by the University of Chicago in 2009.
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
activist, university lecturer and essayist based in Hamburg, Germany. He served as Executive Director of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights
International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights
The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights was a self-governing group of non-governmental, not-for-profit organizations that act to protect human rights throughout Europe, North America and Central Asia...
(IHF) between 1993 and 2007, during which period the IHF was engaged inter alia in human rights challenges in the Balkans, in Chechnya, and in Central Asia, and the organization expanded significantly. He was active in the Human Dimension of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and invited repeatedly to address conferences of diplomats and NGO activists.
He has also been involved with human rights issues in a number of Middle Eastern countries. In 2008, after the closure of IHF due to an economic crime, he helped found and became Policy Adviser to the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran
International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran
International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran is a non-government organization that works to bring international attention on what it views as the Iranian government’s repression of human rights and civil liberties in Iran. It is based in the United States...
, a project of the Netherlands-based NGO Bridging the Gulf-Foundation for Human Security in the Middle East. He has also undertaken human rights investigations in Cuba, Japan, and elsewhere.
Rhodes was educated at Reed College
Reed College
Reed College is a private, independent, liberal arts college located in southeast Portland, Oregon. Founded in 1908, Reed is a residential college with a campus located in Portland's Eastmoreland neighborhood, featuring architecture based on the Tudor-Gothic style, and a forested canyon wilderness...
and in the Committee on Social Thought
Committee on Social Thought
The Committee on Social Thought is one of several PhD-granting committees at the University of Chicago. It was started in 1941 by historian John Ulric Nef along with economist Frank Knight, anthropologist Robert Redfield, and University President Robert Maynard Hutchins.The committee is...
at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, where he was awarded a PhD. After serving in political and governmental positions in Chicago and Illinois, he became Assistant to the President of Boston University John Silber
John Silber
John Robert Silber is an American academician and former candidate for public office. From 1971 to 1996 he was President of Boston University and from 1996 to 2003 Chancellor of the University. Since 2003 he has been its President Emeritus. In 1990, Silber took a leave of absence from the...
. He moved to Vienna in 1991 to work on projects for educational reform in Eastern Europe initiated by the Institute for Human Sciences (Institut für die Wissenschaften vom Menschen
Institut für die Wissenschaften vom Menschen (IWM)
The Institut für die Wissenschaften vom Menschen is an independent institute for advanced study in the humanities and social sciences based in Vienna, Austria...
).
Rhodes was born in rural Upstate New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, the son of Lillyan and Daniel Rhodes
Daniel Rhodes
Daniel Rhodes was an American ceramic artist, sculptor, author and educator. During the twenty-five years that he was on the faculty at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, in Alfred, New York , he built an international reputation as a potter, sculptor and authority on...
. He has two sons, Daniel and Nathan, by his first wife Sara Silverman Rhodes, who died in 2001. He and his second wife Anna Sunder-Plassmann have two daughters, Leah and Rivkah.
In 2008, Rhodes was made an honorary citizen of Austria for his “contributions to the Republic.” He was awarded a Public Service Citation by the University of Chicago in 2009.