Mike Brown Sr. and Leslie McSpadden are scheduled to address the 53rd Session of the United Nations Committee Against Torture in Geneva on November 12 and 13

The parents of Ferguson police shooting victim Micheal Brown are headed to Switzerland next week to speak at a United Nations human rights conference.

The trip comes as a St. Louis County grand jury prepares to conclude its inquiry into the August 9 shooting death of Mike Brown by Ferguson officer Darren Wilson. St. Louis University law professor, Justin Hansford, is helping to organize the trip and solicit online donations for the couple’s travel expenses. He says they are hoping for a global movement against excessive force by law enforcement, and international recognition that police violated human rights in their interactions with protesters.

“We cross our fingers that it’ll be something that will influence decision-makers to take a more peaceful, more preventative approach as opposed to a more militarized approach to responding to peaceful protests. So it could save some lives”, stated Hansford. He added that the issue is especially important right now because, more protests are expected when the grand jury announces whether it will indict Darren Wilson in the death of Mike Brown.

Ferguson protesters, community activists, St. Louis rapper Tef Poe, and Brown’s parents will travel together with the ultimate goal to achieve not only justice in Ferguson; but furthermore, to unite governments around the world against the human rights violations that result from racial profiling and police violence.

-Tamara El (@_SheWise_)