RCE Salisbury - 2020

United Nations: The right to political participation in international law and post conflict elections
CSV
Basic Information
Title of project : 
United Nations: The right to political participation in international law and post conflict elections
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Salisbury
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Brittany Foutz
Organizational Affiliation: 
RCE Salisbury, Salisbury University, Department of Conflict Analysis and Resolution
E-mail: 
blfoutz@salisbury.edu
Name: 
Roberto Orelllana
Organizational Affiliation: 
RCE Salisbury, Salisbury University, Department of Conflict Analysis and Resolution
E-mail: 
rorellana1@gulls.salisbury.edu
Format of project: 
GoogleSlides, Zoom Recording
Language of project: 
English
Date of submission:
Saturday, November 7, 2020
Web link: 
https://webapps.salisbury.edu/calendars/Program/event_view.asp?EID=581363&ID=&cTYPE=1&GW=3
Additional resources: 
Salisbury University’s Institute for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement (PACE) hosts the virtual lecture series “Democracy Across Disciplines: Politics and Elections” 6-7:15 p.m. Mondays beginning August 31. In a presidential election year, the series features guest speakers each week discussing different aspects of the democratic process and election specifics. For more information, see: https://sbybiz.org/sus-pace-offers-public-access-to-election-course/.
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
No
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Americas
Country: 
United States
Location(s): 
Salisbury, Maryland
Address of focal point institution for project: 
1100 Camden Avenue, Salisbury, Maryland 21801
Ecosystem(s):
Agricultural, Coastal, Urban/Peri-urban
Target Audience:

Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
The Eastern Shore began the twenty-first century with strong growth across multiple economic indicators. The region gained jobs at double the rate of the rest of the state from 2001 to 2007 while also outpacing the state in net business creation and keeping pace in wage growth. However, there are more people experiencing poverty now than there were 30 years ago. Maryland’s poverty rate is 19 percent higher than it was in 1990 – a year that the U.S. economy entered a recession – and there are nearly 200,000 more Marylanders trying to get by on incomes below the federal poverty line. Nearly every county in the state has a higher poverty rate than it had in 1990. While unemployment rates have continued to decline since the 2008 recession, wages often are not high enough to support a family. However, Maryland has a history of supporting effective programs that help lift people out of poverty. Working together, the state can do even better. Maryland is working strongly to support efforts to address the state’s many unmet needs and invest in the success of all Marylanders.

The State of Maryland has an estimated population of 6,052,177 people based on the most recent US census calculations. When broken down into regional populations, the Eastern Shore of Maryland region includes the following nine counties: Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Talbot, Caroline, Dorchester, Wicomico, Worcester, and Somerset. The sparse populated counties of the Eastern Shore of Maryland have a combined population of 454,889 or 13% of the state population.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
SDG 13 - Climate Action



The core area in the region constitutes the “shore counties” or those that reside either within or on the Chesapeake Bay (watershed) and along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. This includes all of the counties in Delaware, Maryland, and nineteen of the forty counties in Virginia. These physical locations are being subjected to the quickest increases in climate change activities and the poorest residents in these locales will experience severe detrimental impact on their quality of life.

SDG 4 - Quality Education



Secondly, the citizens of the Delmarva Peninsula, by and large, have lower levels of educational attainment and lower incomes. RCE Salisbury will focus in part on communities in these areas that experience the highest high school dropout rates where the social reproduction of poverty is endemic.

SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions



The most vulnerable members of this region are in the crosshairs of climate change and educational disadvantage. Both will lead to increased social conflict and with limited resources and limited planning the consequences are dire. These dynamics will impact the foundational resources that people and the institutions built on these resources - depending on for survival, security, and prosperity.
Contents
Status: 
Completed
Period: 
October, 2020
Rationale: 
The reason for this series is to feature guest speakers discussing different aspects of the democratic process and election specifics. Dr. Brittany Foutz was able to speak about her experience working with the United Nations, international law, and election participation. The importance of international law and the United Nations often gets overlooked, especially when looking at a national election. Meanwhile, international law is one of these things that's a little bit like the “air” where it's everywhere. We don't really notice it so when you get on a plane and you fly to elsewhere. The ability to get on that plane, cross over the air space of other countries, sometimes you see the little map when you're in the plane that shows you're crossing over Greece or whatever
All of that is governed by international law in different ways.
Objectives: 
The objective was to widely engage the role of participation in our electoral processes.
Activities and/or practices employed: 
For the past few years, PACE has facilitated a Monday evening course featuring faculty lectures from a variety of disciplines on a particular topic. This fall, the topic of “Politics and Elections” was featured.
Size of academic audience: 
15
Results: 
There was great participation from the public and Salisbury University IDIS 205 Democracy Across the Disciplines undergraduate students.
Funding: 
None.
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Direct
SDG 16 - Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 
Direct
SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development 
Indirect
Theme
Curriculum Development 
Direct
ESD for 2030-Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 3 - Developing capacities of educators and trainers 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 4 - Mobilizing youth 
state: 
Direct
Update: 
No