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Category: News and Updates
Institute of Humane Education: Featured Playlist
Curated by Institue of Humane Education (IHE), explore 15+ stories of changemakers looking to create a more just, sustainable, and humane future: WATCH NOW!
How Did Music Energize the Civil Rights Movement?
Many students’ exposure to the civil rights movement is often limited to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. or Rosa Parks. Our learners may not be fully aware of the enormity of all the civil rights movement encompasses. Although our nation recognizes February as Black History Month, it is critical that educators elevate the obstacles faced and achievements accomplished by the many players of the civil rights movement throughout the academic year. Our latest We the People civics inquiry lesson, Music & the Movement, encourages students in grades 5–12 to explore the connection music has had on American protest movements, helping them to understand the power of our First Amendment rights to expression, assembly, and petition.
This lesson is designed to lift up the ongoing struggle for civil rights and allows educators to honor diversity and explore the values of equality and justice. Providing students the opportunity to investigate protest movements and songs helps them to understand the power of taking informed action.
More Resources for Your Classroom
Click here to find the entire teacher-created civics inquiry lesson series, which engages students by making real-world connections through discovery, exploration, and high-level questioning. Find out how you can get your students involved in the research-backed We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution program on our website. This nonpartisan civics curriculum was created by the Center for Civic Education, now in our 60th year. Learn how you can support civic education.
American Agitators Premiere, March 16th
The American Agitators world premiere will be on Sunday, March 16, 2025 at the Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose, California. This is particularly symbolic because this is where Fred Ross, Sr. held his first house meeting at the home of Cesar and Helen Chavez in the East San Jose barrio of “Sal Si Puedes.” Please join us at 6:45 pm on March 16th for the world premiere. Tickets can be purchased here. As legendary organizer Dolores Huerta, who is featured in the film, recently said: “Bringing Fred’s life to the screen is the medicine our society needs right now. He empowered people to be engaged in the democratic process.”
Purchase a Ticket to the World Premiere!
UCCHRE Webinar: Student Activism and Well-being in Higher Education
Amnesty International invites applications for Global Civic Space Fellow
Amnesty International invites applications for an 18-month part-time fellowship to explore the global phenomenon of shrinking civic space and document grassroots resistance strategies from marginalized and overlooked voices.
Fellows will analyze current trends in civic space restrictions, investigate emerging resistance and human rights movements, and convene activists to co-create a practical toolkit for defending civic space worldwide. The fellowship aims to ensure that Amnesty’s work remains innovative, grounded in lived experience, and contributes to new knowledge on resistance strategies.
Deadline for all applications: 06/03/2024
Rate: Fixed Rate of USD 25,000 for the duration of the fellowship
Location: This fellowship does not include relocation. The consultant must work from their preferred location and possess the necessary work authorization.
OBJECTIVES AND DELIVERABLES
The Fellowship project aims to:
- Support human rights defenders, academics, and practitioners with lived experience to document and analyze grassroots resistance strategies against authoritarianism and civic space restrictions in their regions.
- Use this research to develop concrete recommendations and practical tools that can inform Amnesty’s global civic space advocacy.
- Produce regular short written outputs, including blog posts and opinion pieces, to be independently published.
- Convene activists and thought leaders in the region through virtual, in-person, or hybrid meetings to share ideas, incubate new strategies, and foster collective learning.
- Deliver a final in-depth think-piece for Amnesty International’s internal strategy and advocacy, with external publication at Amnesty’s discretion.
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
- Fluency in written and spoken English; fluency in a relevant regional language is desirable.
- Demonstrated experience working on civic space resistance—either formally (academia, NGOs, journalism, law, policy) or through grassroots activism.
- Strong writing and research skills, with experience producing publications related to civic space and human rights activism.
- No formal academic qualifications or certifications are required to apply.
Please refer to the Terms of Reference attached for more information on this fellowship opportunity.
BIDDING INSTRUCTIONS
To apply, please submit:
- A short bio (maximum one page) outlining your recent experience.
- Relevant case studies or descriptions of past work on civic space issues.
- Your proposed approach to this fellowship opportunity, including how you would structure your research and engagement.
As standard, payments are made by Amnesty International 30 days after receipt of a valid invoice for the agreed work milestone completed.
Applications must be in PDF, Word, PowerPoint or Excel format.
WHAT WE HOPE YOU WILL DO NEXT
If you are talented, passionate about human rights and want to use your skills, knowledge and experience to change the world then we would encourage you to click ‘Apply for this Role’ below.
Freedom, Justice, Equality. Let’s get to work.
N.B. We reserve the right to close a vacancy BEFORE the closing date in the event of an overwhelming response or a change in business priorities, therefore we encourage you to apply now if you are interested.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:
Amnesty International believes in a world that is fair, inclusive and equitable. Together, we’re committed to being an anti-racist organisation with a diverse workforce that can better tackle the global human rights challenges that face our world today. We know that different voices, ideas, perspectives, experiences and knowledge, working together will enable us to better the lives of people around the world.
We are committed to building and sustaining an anti-racist, culturally diverse and inclusive organisation, where all employees feel valued, have a sense of belonging and an equal opportunity to fulfil their potential. We therefore strongly welcome applications from suitably qualified people regardless of their background; including underrepresented groups, LGBTQI+ individuals and those who may have or are living with a disability.
To see our full statement please visit this link: Racial equality, equal opportunities, diversity and inclusion policy – Amnesty International
Amnesty International is committed to being an inclusive employer and providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process for all. If you would like to receive any information in a different way or would like us to do anything differently to help you apply for our roles, please get in touch with the team by emailing recruitment@amnesty.org
The UN Young Leaders Online Training Programme is Open for Applications
Are you interested in learning about a career at, or working with, the United Nations? The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is offering four editions of the Young Leaders online training programme for young participants from all over the world, designed to provide a first-hand experience of the United Nations.
Unfold your potential as a young global leader with this unique training opportunity. Get direct access to the UN´s institutions and staff, and build your knowledge of the United Nations, including the UN System, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), conference diplomacy, and sessions on entry points to launch a career at the UN.
The Young Leaders Online Training Programme is open for registration in four editions.
- January Edition – runing 06 January – 01 February 2025
- April Edition – running 21 April – 16 May 2025
- June Edition – running 09 June – 04 July 2025
- August Edition – running 28 July – 22 August 2025 – on UNITAR´s e-Learning platform.
The four-week course includes live webinars and e-workshops with UN experts, as well as virtual guided tours through the UN premises.
This programme is open to university students, high school students, and other aspiring young leaders of similar backgrounds. Junior and mid-career professionals from the public and private sectors are equally welcome to apply.
UNITAR will offer scholarship opportunities for a limited number of participants to attend the training free of charge. For enquiries related to scholarships and criteria required, kindly send an email to: Multilateralism@unitar.org
For more information on the application deadlines, content, and costs, please visit the official UNITAR website.
TAAS Module 6: Challenging U.S.-Centric Models, Building International Youth Solidarity
As one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, the United States of America can often find itself at the center of human rights spaces and discussion. This module seeks to dismantle U.S.-centric models of understanding human rights in favor of a model that uplifts international solidarity. Participants will analyze comparative case studies of human rights issues in the U.S. and globally and will examine what international solidarity looks and feels like.
Monday, February 24, 7-8:30 pm EST
Facilitators:
Carrie Booth Walling is Director of the Human Rights Program at the University of Minnesota – a hub of interdisciplinary research, teaching, and community outreach in the field of human rights in the College of Liberal Arts. She is Director of Graduate Studies for the Graduate Minor in Human Rights, a faculty member in the Institute for Global Studies and affiliated faculty at the Hubert H. Humphrey School for Public Affairs. Walling specializes in human rights, human security, transitional justice, the United Nations Security Council and mass atrocity crimes. Passionate about everything human rights, Walling’s recent book, Human Rights and Justice for All: Demanding Dignity in the United States and Around the World encourages readers to see the human rights issues in their neighborhoods and equips them to engage in human rights advocacy to promote policy change. Walling is also author of All Necessary Measures: the United Nations and Humanitarian Intervention.
Elizabeth Schwab is an undergraduate at Boston College studying Communication and International Studies with a concentration in Social Justice and Ethics. She is a Gabelli Presidential Scholar at Boston College, a National Stamps Scholar, and a McGillycuddy-Logue Fellow at Boston College. She has researched ethical volunteering with vulnerable groups while teaching English to Syrian and Ukrainian refugees in Germany. With experience working with The New York Times, she specializes in the intersection between journalism and human rights education.
Attend the next Teach Climate Network Workshop on February 19!
Join the Teach Climate Network and presenter Patrick Chandler on Wednesday, February 19th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm CT for a workshop about using climate science in lesson planning for the classroom.
The National Climate Assessment is a major scientific report developed by several government agencies that describes climate change in the United States. This session will highlight the science found in the report, and then explore resources that support introducing the NCA5 to non-scientific audiences through the NCA5 Educator’s Guide.
The Climate Energy and Literacy Awareness Network (CLEAN) Team will introduce a guide that connects the information in the report to teaching guidance and resources. Patrick will describe how the new design and updates to the guide make it a powerful tool for education and outreach professionals and how to support their efforts in classrooms, communities, and beyond.
Patrick Chandler is an Education Specialist for the Climate Literacy Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN) and other Cooperative Institute for Environmental Sciences (CIRES) climate education projects. His current focus is developing support and resources for teaching climate change across the curriculum in both science and non-science classrooms. Previously, Patrick designed educator guides and workshops for the CU/United Nations’ Right Here Right Now Global Climate Summit (RHRN) centered on helping teachers bring a human rights lens to climate change. Before starting with CIRES, Patrick was the Education Director for the Washed Ashore Project, raising awareness about marine debris through art/science partnership exhibits; taught biology for Kenai Peninsula College; was the International Coastal Cleanup Coordinator for Alaska; and the Special Programs Coordinator for the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies. He has over fifteen years working in and developing environmental education, art, stewardship, and science programs and received his Ph.D. in Environmental Studies from CU, Boulder focused on art and science partnerships to catalyze community action on environmental and social justice issues.
We understand that some of these workshops do not work for educator’s schedules, so all registrants will receive a recording and additional resources in their email within 1 week of the event. We are striving to make our events more welcoming to all, with specific goals about racial equity and inclusivity. Your answers during registration will help us to know how we are doing.
Zinn Education Project: Presidents’ Day
We need to remind students that this country has been at its best when people have organized to question and challenge presidents — opposing presidential support for slavery, war, invasion, environmental destruction, segregation, mass deportations, and injustice of all kinds. Our students need stories of this resistance to inform and inspire their own activism.
As we approach Presidents’ Day, students are witnessing the three branches of government being collapsed into one. It’s time to help students think critically about the presidency — and to question and challenge the president.
We offer lessons on past presidents and on issues relevant to this administration, including immigration, voting rights, education, McCarthyism, Palestine, climate, and more.
Teaching about Reconstruction and the Reconstruction Amendments (13th, 14th, and 15th) sheds light on current events. For example, the administration is attacking birthright citizenship, as guaranteed by the 14th Amendment. Students can learn that the 14th Amendment turned the Constitution into a document cited in legal arguments for equality. It is no wonder that the Trump administration is laser-focused on weakening it.
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