In human rights work, it is a challenge to navigate the difficult and complex emotions one experiences as a professional while maintaining one’s humanity and empathy. In this module, participants will better understand methods to avoid becoming burnt out or emotionally drained in their human rights work by exploring different wellness strategies and opportunities for community support.
Monday, March 10, 7-8:30 pm EST
We are pleased to announce the availability of our latest installment of podcast episodes in Human Rights Education NOW! Episodes 50 & 51 feature conversations with Dr. Candace H. Blake-Amarante and Jean-Sébastien Vallée.
Dr. Candace H. Blake-Amarante is the Knowledge Manager at Equitas, where she creates and shares knowledge on human rights education. An author, she focuses on children’s rights and incorporates the voices of children with chronic illnesses in her works, including The Dream Machine and You, Me and Victor Hugo! She holds a Ph.D. in political science from Columbia University.
Jean-Sébastien Vallée is the Director of Education and Communications at Equitas, with 20 years of experience in education and human rights. He has developed educational tools and facilitated training programs worldwide. Formerly a human rights educator at the Québec Human Rights Commission, he holds a Master’s in Second-Language Education from McGill University.
Episode 50: Equitas, Part One
Candace and Jean-Sébastien were drawn to human rights through their professional experiences—Candace via her doctoral research and storytelling, and Jean-Sébastien through his work in language education. Their current roles at Equitas emphasize practical, collaborative approaches, including creating dialogue spaces and survivor-centered initiatives. They address challenges in engaging public institutions, supporting Indigenous rights, and implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s recommendations. Equitas is actively working to decolonize its policies by incorporating non-Western perspectives, challenging mainstream narratives, and fostering equitable knowledge-sharing through projects like “Power of Equality.”
Full topic listing available for PDF download HERE.
Listen on our Buzzsprout podcast website HERE.
Episode 51: Equitas, Part Two
Candace and Jean-Sébastien emphasize the importance of engaging young people in human rights work by connecting activism to historical and disciplinary knowledge. They discuss how educators must integrate a human rights perspective into their teaching, fostering self-reflection and transformative learning beyond facts to include attitudes, skills, and behaviors. The conversation highlights the challenges of decolonizing education, advocating for the inclusion of colonization studies in curricula and fostering a sense of global community beyond national identities. They highlight the importance of “togethering” — uniting people across borders to build a more inclusive human rights movement. Addressing rising authoritarianism, Equitas is working on projects to create safe spaces for activists and provide training to counter oppression. Influential human rights defenders and theorists inspire their work, including Janusz Korczak, Aly Sanou, and Charlot Jeudy. Ultimately, they advocate for embedding human rights education more deeply into Canadian policies and curricula.
Full topic listing available for PDF download HERE.
Listen on our Buzzsprout podcast website HERE.
Thank you for supporting the Human Rights Education NOW! podcast!
The deadline for the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) sessions proposals is February 28, 2025 – NCSS Annual Conference Call for Proposals | Social Studies. The 2025 NCSS Conference will be held in Washington, DC from December 5-7, 2025.
Please consider submitting a session proposal—there is a “human rights” content area.
Chris Buckley and Jake Skrzypiec, our the NCSS Human Rights Education Community Co-Chairs as well as serving as our HRE USA Connecticut Regional Reps among other roles (ccd here). If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of them. We are happy to provide input or if someone is interested in finding a collaborator, we can try to assist as well. We plan to have an HRE USA/Woven Teaching booth, film launch, and community gathering. More to come on those fronts.
Submissions due February 28, 2025
Visit this page to get up to date on the latest HRE USA news.
Curated by Institue of Humane Education (IHE), explore 15+ stories of changemakers looking to create a more just, sustainable, and humane future: WATCH NOW!
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.
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!
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:
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
Please refer to the Terms of Reference attached for more information on this fellowship opportunity.
BIDDING INSTRUCTIONS
To apply, please submit:
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
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.
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.
HRE USA 