Esther Choo
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR)
NYC, USA
My name is Esther Choo, and I am a master’s student in anthropology, concentrating in human skeletal biology. My research interests include forensic anthropology and related issues of human rights and transitional justice.
During these tumultuous times, there have been adjustments for everyone that require flexibility with work schedules and learning/teaching remotely. I had a few weeks in quarantine where I was uncertain about my summer plans for my Gallatin Human Rights Fellowship, since I was unable to work for my originally intended organization. But luckily, another opportunity opened up for me.
This summer, I am working remotely with Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) as a research intern, assisting their research and investigation team with projects. This organization is dedicated to fighting human rights violations by using science, medicine, and forensics to investigate and provide scientific evidence for reconciliation and resolution.
My personal goal for the internship is to continue my studies in forensic anthropology and further embrace my interests in human rights issues. I don’t believe that one can become a well-trained and empathetic forensic anthropologist, working on issues related to death, exhumations, and forensic identification, without a solid understanding of the bigger sociocultural context involved in necessary human rights investigations. While working with a human rights organization like PHR, I hope to enhance my ability to become a more holistic anthropologist and gain additional skills in data curation, analysis, and organization.
We are facing some challenging times, and there are continuous struggles with deep-rooted issues in our country. But we have been given the opportunity to properly confront and combat them. I’m slowly digging into PHR’s current projects addressing dire conditions and various human rights violations in immigration detention centers, as well as the compounding impact of COVID-19 on detainees.
Further, there have been active discussions regarding police brutality and methods of deterrence such as the weaponization of tear gas, and conversations about how physicians, medical examiners, and other health professionals approach the way in which we examine deaths and human rights violations of people in custody. I’m looking forward to learning how PHR will continue to contribute to this dialogue in collaboration with knowledgeable leaders and other relevant advocacy groups.
We’ve just finished our first official week as PHR interns, and already, I’ve felt welcomed and fully engaged, even as we work remotely. I’m eager to see how these next few weeks will develop.