Justice, Medicine, and Public Health: UIC Students Tackle Global Human Rights Crisis in Namibia
Introduction
Environmental health crises are becoming more common—and more complicated. At the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), students are learning that solving these problems requires more than just medical knowledge; it takes legal insight, community engagement, and environmental awareness. A recent collaboration between UIC’s International Human Rights Clinic (IHRC) at the School of Law and the School of Public Health (SPH) brought students from law, medicine, and public health together to investigate toxic exposure and human rights violations in Tsumeb, Namibia, and it gave students a transformative opportunity to apply their academic training to real-world problems.
The collaboration began approximately two years ago when United Nations Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights, Dr. Marcos Orellana, and Professor Sarah Dávila, Associate Professor and Director, IHRC, spoke about the clinic supporting the mandate in its investigation of allegations of human rights abuses stemming from environmentally hazardous activities in a Smelter in Tsumeb, Namibia. Recognizing the need for a broader lens, Dávila contacted Alyson Lofthouse, Assistant Dean of the SPH Global Health Program.
“Professor Dávila and I had been collaborating on several initiatives,” said Lofthouse, “but when I received her call regarding this project, I instantly knew it was not just a tremendous opportunity for our programs to work together but also a moral obligation to support the impacted population in Tsumeb.”
A Multidisciplinary Approach to Emerging Public Health Challenges
The team assembled for the project included students from law, medicine, and public health who each brought unique expertise to the table. This multidisciplinary approach allowed the group to examine the crisis in Tsumeb from multiple angles, connecting environmental hazards to health outcomes and legal accountability.
“As a student clinician with the IHRC, having been able to conduct field work with this level of impact is an experience that has shaped my outlook on different human rights frameworks in an evolving world,” said Jacob Baron, a UIC law student. “Never before in my legal studies had I been presented with an opportunity for cross-disciplinary work, which, in reflection, was such a deeply impactful aspect of my professional development. Understanding that the team couldn’t have reached this level of impact or understanding without the support of each other’s disciplines is a lesson that I will carry with me throughout my career.”
The team traveled to Namibia to conduct fact-finding missions, interview affected residents, and consult with environmental and industry experts. Their goal was to document the harm caused by the smelter and support the UN’s investigation into the allegations.
Diane Edwards, a UIC medical student, found the experience eye-opening. “Working on the Namibia project alongside my colleagues really shifted my perspective on how multidisciplinary collaboration can move healthcare forward,” she explained. “There was immense value in integrating knowledge from different disciplines. It allowed us to tackle bigger problems more effectively and successfully.”
Real-World Learning and Ethical Complexity
The project also gave students a chance to navigate the ethical challenges that arise when different disciplines intersect. “I believe this experience enabled our group to navigate conflicting codes of ethics across disciplines and develop a balanced response to emerging issues,” Edwards added.
Pamela Richa, a Master of Public Health student, emphasized how the experience deepened her understanding of environmental justice. “We learn extensively about environmental and worker justice as well as health equity,” she shared. “Experiencing these injustices firsthand in Namibia changed my perspective on what it truly means to apply those concepts in a real-world setting.”
For law student Taylor Chantry, the project was a turning point in her professional development. “We learned to listen, engage, and connect with the varying perspectives within our team,” she said. “It allowed us to conduct a deeper, more thorough, and comprehensive analysis of the case at hand. The value of interdisciplinary work cannot be overstated.”
Connecting Communities to Global Advocacy
Beyond academic growth, the project had a direct impact on the communities in Tsumeb. Many residents had long been marginalized and excluded from decision-making processes. The UIC team helped them navigate UN procedures and bring their claims forward, serving as a vital bridge between local voices and international advocacy.
“Our multidisciplinary approach lets us establish connections in these interdependent fields to engage in the best international human rights legal advocacy possible,” explained Dávila.
The team’s findings confirmed the credibility of the allegations received by Dr. Orellana. With support from other UN mandates, he sent formal allegation letters to Namibia, China, Canada, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, and corporations Dundee Precious Metals (Canada), Dundee Precious Metals Tsumeb, and Weatherly International Plc. These letters requested responses to the claims of human rights abuses related to the smelter’s operations.
Preparing Future Leaders for Complex Challenges
As public health continues to face emerging challenges–from extreme weather to environmental degradation to global health inequities–projects like this one show how multidisciplinary collaboration can lead to more effective solutions. Students not only gained hands-on experience but also developed the skills needed to address complex problems in their future careers.
“We are pleased with the initial outcome of our collective work,” expressed Lofthouse. “We’ll continue to work towards justice and advocate with and for the Tsumeb community.”
Reflecting on the experience, Chantry summed it up best: “We grew as researchers, professionals, and colleagues during the course of this work, and I am grateful for all I learned from this experience.”
In bridging disciplines and borders, UIC students demonstrated that the future of public health lies in teamwork, empathy, and action. Dávila emphasized, “It is a great contribution to UIC that we can bring public health and human rights closer together in this interdisciplinary work and build bridges across our disciplines.”