Romnick Villanueva
Migrant rights, diaspora, human rights, and international law
Before beginning your studies at the Institute of Political Economy where did you study and what program(s) were you enrolled in?
I obtained my Bachelors Honours degree (2017) in Human Rights and Social Justice at Carleton University.
What is it specifically that attracted you to study Political Economy at Carleton?
I was attracted to pursue a Masters in Political Economy as it is a multifaceted program and it promotes an interdisciplinary approach to research and learning. Furthermore, Political Economy aligns well with my passions for advocacy, activism, and migration particularly around forcefully displaced people and how to address such pressing issues in today’s globalized world.
My areas of research interest include…
My areas of interest include migrant rights, diaspora, human rights and international law
What activities have you been involved in lately?
Currently, I am a researcher and outreach coordinator with the World Federalist Movement Canada where I work in collaboration with the International Criminal Court and United Nations New York.
In my academic research, I have focused on migrant rights particularly around Filipino narratives through Canada’s Live-In Caregiver Program and Temporary Foreign Workers Program and the implications of such institutional-bureaucratic structures towards the Filipino diaspora.
I was also selected as a delegate by the World Federalist Movement to attend an International Seminar in Italy and discuss solution-based approaches to address world issues such as refugee crises, environmental degradation and impunity. I was also selected to be a part of a fact-finding mission in the Philippines to document the exploitation and forced displacement of many Indigenous people through the coercive forces of the government and multinational corporations.
What advice would you give to a prospective Political Economy graduate student?
I would advise that they should connect with other students within the program, and communicate with the department heads (Donna Coghill or Cristina Rojas) as they give paramount information/advice needed to be successful and have a wonderful experience in the program.