Everyone has human rights. But far too long have women’s rights been neglected, threatened and violated. Lack of access to education, restrictions to reproductive rights, income inequality, sexism, gender-based violence and femicides are issues women are facing every single day. Change starts with education and you can join in to make a difference.

Stanford University is offering a course on International Women’s Health and Human Rights. In this course you will learn about a variety of issues related to women’s rights including the right to education, female genital mutilation, gender-based violence, ending poverty, access to healthcare and women in war and refugee settings. Among the most popular human rights courses on Coursera, more than 96,000 learners have enrolled in the MOOC and rated it 4.9 stars out of 5. The highest user-rating we have seen. You can audit the course for free or opt-in for a paid certificate for an extra fee. The course is self-paced and takes roughly 58 hours to complete.

>> Learn more and register

Civics literacy is crucial if our nation is to achieve an inclusive, multiracial democracy. For democracy to flourish in the context of differences, it must uphold the human rights of all people. Learning for Justice Director Jalaya Liles Dunn contends that an approach to democracy that “centers equity and inclusion, not merely the majority’s interests,” is essential. “We must constantly assess power dynamics, shift power and redirect it to support the least powerful of the particular moment.”

To build an inclusive democracy, civics education must tell an honest story about race and develop critical thinkers who can connect history and current events to engage in responsible democratic action. This issue explores the role of civics literacy and inclusive education in developing the intellectual tools, knowledge and civic dispositions essential for democracy.

>> Read the latest issue

This interactive space is open to everyone, including those directly impacted;  those who want to support but aren’t sure how; and anyone interested in taking action. Join to listen, pause and reflect in sharing experiences and emotions related to the recent fires on the island of Maui. Led by intergroup dialogue facilitators based on the mainland with heart ties to Hawaii, this session aims to foster understanding, empathy, and a community of support from both sides of the Pacific Ocean.We hope to hear stories that help us understand the impact of this latest devastation and what resources are needed most, both immediately and in the long-term. We also hope this is just the beginning of collective action towards sustainable change.This is the first in a series.

Friday, October 13th (future dates TBD)

4pm HST / 7pm PST / 10pm EST

Register

The Center for Civic Education, with funding from the Annenberg Public Policy Center’s Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics, has released the Civil Discourse: An American Legacy Toolkit, a free online curriculum for college classrooms and adult learners that assists educators and their students in developing civil discourse skills using primary sources and current events.

>> Access resource

This year during Banned Books Week 2023 (Oct. 1–7), not only are books being banned, but also the right to teach about racism and LGBTQ+ identity — essentially placing thousands more titles off limits. Official lists of banned books reveal only the tip of the iceberg.

• Create a Pop-up Display
  • Create an interactive display for your school or library to promote discussions about the dangers of banned books and efforts to defend the freedom to learn. We provide free downloadable display materials and guidelines.
• Wear Teach Banned History buttons to promote awareness of how the current legislation bans more than books.
  • Invite conversations about the need to actively oppose book bans, teach truthfully, and defend LGBTQ+ rights. Remind people that the bans go way beyond books — the attacks target the teaching of history and a more inclusive curriculum. Order buttons.
• Find an Event Near You
  • Check out the calendar of events, coordinated by the American Library Association, Freedom to Read Foundation, the National Education Association, PEN America, PFLAG, Project Censored, and more organizations.

>> Learn more and view all resources

>> Learn more about Banned Book Week

Visit this page to get up to date on the latest HRE USA news.

Every Man, Woman and Child is a musical presentation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) released in various formats. The original ballad, which was the FIRST grassroots expression of the UDHR ever performed for the UN in 1987.

Listen to all the versions of Every Man, Woman, and Child on Spotify.

Visit the website

With human rights under threat and change desperately needed in the world, communities around the globe can move, groove, and meditate, bringing the meaning of this lofty idea into intimate, emotional focus through music.

FREE DOWNLOAD of the chant version (recording and score) featuring Harrison Crenshaw, which won a Global Peace Song Award in 2016.

Download music | Download score

Human Rights come into focus globally on
Peace Day, September 21, and Human Rights Day, December 10.
Put your musical events on the United Nations World Peace Event Map!

We are pleased to announce the availability of our latest installment of podcast episodes in Human Rights Education NOW! Episodes 15 & 16 feature conversations with Chris Buckley, Jake Skrzypiec, Kevin Maysonnet, and Shirin Unvala, Connecticut teachers and students. 

Chris Buckley teaches history and human rights at Brookfield High School in Brookfield, Connecticut. Chris serves on the Steering Committee for the Connecticut Human Rights Partnership (CHRP). He is an instructor for the Introduction to Human Rights course offered by the University of Connecticut’s Early College Experience program and an HRE USA Regional Representative for Connecticut. 

Jake Skrzypiec is a social studies educator in Manchester, Connecticut. He developed Manchester High School’s Human Rights class, a required course for all students, and is an Early College Experience instructor through the University of Connecticut. He also serves as secretary of the Connecticut Human Rights Partnership, a non-profit working to advance human rights education and advocacy in the state. He is a frequent educational partner with the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center and a member of the National Council for the Social Studies HRE Community leadership team. Jake serves on the HRE USA Steering Committee and a Regional Representative for Connecticut. 

Kevin Maysonnet is a student at Manchester High School and a member of the University of Connecticut’s Human Rights Close To Home Youth Advisory Team, which engages educators and youth in the development and implementation of human rights education for civic action. 
Shirin Unvala is a student at the Center for Global Studies, Brien McMahon High School and is also a member of the University of Connecticut’s Human Rights Close To Home Youth Advisory Team, which engages educators and youth in the development and implementation of human rights education for civic action.