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HRE USA is a project of the Center for Transformative Action.
Category: News and Updates
Giving Tuesday: Human Rights Begin with Education
This Giving Tuesday, support youth-powered change. At HRE USA, we believe that education is the foundation of justice. Every gift fuels human rights education that transforms lives.
HRE USA is a project of the Center for Transformative Action, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that accepts all funds on our behalf. [centerfortransformativeaction.org]
American Agitators Film Screening and Reception: new location
Note: American Agitators Film Screening and Reception are moved to a new location:
National Union Building, 4th Floor North
Address: 918 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004
When: Friday December 5th 5:30 pm-8:30 pm
The event is being held at the same time of the NCSS conference.
Please register using the link: American Agitators Screening, Fri, Dec 5, 2025 at 5:30 PM | Eventbrite
There is no fee to attend.
HRE USA is a project of the Center for Transformative Action.
Register now: UN Dubai Immersion Programme 2026
Applications are now open for the UN Dubai Immersion Programme, a 5-day experiential training delivered by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). The programme will take place in person in Dubai. Limited scholarships are available.
The UN Dubai Immersion Programme serves to provide an overview of the United Nations. It will help participants build knowledge of the UN’s work in Humanitarian Action, Emergency Response and international relations, preparing you for effective engagement in these fields with Dubai-based agencies.
At the end of this UN Immersion Programme, participants should be able to:
Explain key components of the United Nations system and its agencies
Familiarize oneself with Dubai as a hub of Humanitarian Action and Innovation
Apply core skills and techniques of common diplomatic practice
Develop critical knowledge for careers in international organizations
Adapt values and principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter.
HRE USA is a project of the Center for Transformative Action.
2025 UCCHRE Human Rights in Higher Education Award Nominations – Last Day!
Deadline for the 2025 UCCHRE Human Rights in Higher Education Award Nominations is Monday, December 1, 2025: Nomination form
The UCCHRE Human Rights in Higher Education Award recognizes an outstanding contribution to human rights education by an individual, organization, initiative, or publication. As the first international award in human rights education, it celebrates human rights teaching, learning, research, and practice. The University and College Consortium for Human Rights Education (UCCHRE) is a global network of higher education community members and works to further human rights education through collaboration.
Learn more and see all past recipients at ucchre.org/awards
Episodes 68 & 69 with Dr. Feliece I. Yeban are available on Human Rights Education Now!
Dr. Feliece I. Yeban is a human rights educator, scholar, and advocate whose work spans more than three decades across community organizations, universities, and state institutions in the Philippines. Grounded in the writings of Paolo Freire and Antonio Gramsci, her scholarship centers on decolonial pedagogy, community-based human rights work, and the uplift of Indigenous Filipino knowledge systems. Feliece has taught widely in both the private and public sectors, including work with law enforcement institutions, and has contributed extensively to the development of human rights cultures across Asia.
Episode 68
In this episode of Human Rights Education Now!, hosts Bill Fernekes speak with Feliece Yeban and Ava Kreutziger about the origins of her human rights education work. She reflects on teaching during the 1980s and 1990s, the aftermath of the Marcos dictatorship, and the transformative role of the People Power Revolution. Feliece discusses the influence of Freire and Gramsci, the challenges facing HRE in both private and public institutions, and the ongoing impact of U.S. support for authoritarian practices in the Philippines.
She highlights the importance of understanding both international human rights frameworks and community-rooted approaches, emphasizing that effective HRE requires careful attention to context and audience. Feliece also speaks about confronting discomfort, navigating trauma, and engaging directly with those impacted by rights violations.
Topics discussed:
- Historical context of HRE during and after the Marcos era
- Freire, Gramsci, and critical pedagogy in the Philippines
- U.S. influence on authoritarian policies
- Barriers to HRE across public and private institutions
- Community-based approaches vs. formal frameworks
- Educational inequities and elite influence
- Delivering HRE to police and state actors
- “Civilianizing” law enforcement through rights-based training
Full topic listing available for PDF download HERE.
Listen on our Buzzsprout podcast website HERE.
Episode 69
In part two of the conversation, Ava Kreutziger and Bill Fernekes continue their dialogue with Feliece, focusing on interdisciplinary approaches, Indigenous rights, and the ongoing challenge of colonial legacies. Feliece discusses her research with Indigenous Filipino communities and the need to challenge collective amnesia surrounding Indigenous knowledge and histories. She explores how systems produce both victims and violators, reframing human rights as a universal grounding for dignity and humanity.
Feliece also analyzes the current landscape of HRE in Asia, including the effects of polarization and authoritarianism under leaders like Rodrigo Duterte. She speaks about the role of digital misinformation, media accountability, and the need for institutions to embed human rights across all aspects of their work.
Topics discussed:
- Indigenous cultures, colonialism, and historical memory
- Seeing oppressors as shaped by harmful systems
- Progress and setbacks for HRE in Asia
- Human rights, social media, and digital misinformation
- Responsibilities of major tech companies
- Freire, Gramsci, and Filipino mass movements as role models
- “Human rights is rice”- daily struggles for dignity and survival
- Embedding human rights in institutions and creating accountability metrics
- Balancing standardized curricula with student-centered learning
Full topic listing available for PDF download HERE.
Listen on our Buzzsprout podcast website HERE.
All episodes of Human Rights Education Now! are available on:
Buzzsprout, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Deezer, PlayerFM, Pocket Casts, and the HRE USA website,
Thank you for supporting the Human Rights Education NOW! podcast!
HRE USA is a project of the Center for Transformative Action.
Mapping Deportations Curriculum Workshop
Monday, December 15
7pm – 8:15pm ET
Mapping Deportations is a new classroom-friendly digital resource that uses maps, data, and timelines to unmask the relationship between race and U.S. immigration enforcement. On December 15, site co-creator and award-winning historian Kelly Lytle Hernandez will introduce the purpose and design of Mapping Deportations, including how the history of anti-immigrant legislation and racism are intertwined.Teachers will meet in small groups to brainstorm ways to integrate the site in curriculum, followed by time to ask Hernandez questions and discuss ideas. Professional development certification provided.
HRE USA is a project of the Center for Transformative Action.
We the People: National Symposium on Civic Education
Registration is open for the We the People: National Symposium on Civic Education in Washington, D.C., March 6-7, 2026. This inspiring event will bring together educators, policymakers, researchers, nonprofit leaders, and advocates to examine new outcomes from innovative civic education programs. Join the Center for Civic Education, the Civic Education Research Lab at Georgetown University, and colleagues from across the country. Together, we will amplify our efforts to expand high-quality, evidence-based civic education.Public registration is on a first-come, first-served basis as long as space is available.
HRE USA is a project of the Center for Transformative Action.
Rethinking Thanksgiving Celebrations: Native Perspectives on Thanksgiving
From NK360°:
“As educators, we should select books and other materials that feature accurate and tribally specific portrayals of Native people, both past and present. NK360° collaborated with Dr. Debbie Reese (Nambé Pueblo) of American Indians in Children’s Literature to develop a rubric that outlines five criteria groups to consider when selecting additional Native American Literature in Your Classroom.
Projects and crafts that attempt to adapt or copy Native traditions often perpetuate stereotypes and misunderstandings of Native cultures. We discourage adopting “Native” costumes or crafts into your classroom. For more information, please see our Native American Cultures and Clothing: Native American Is Not a Costume guide. Instead, we encourage you to celebrate the vibrancy of Native cultures with some of these resources while you celebrate Thanksgiving and throughout the year.”
Read more and explore relevant resources
HRE USA is a project of the Center for Transformative Action.
Join Our End-of-Year Campaign Human Rights Begin with Education!
Dear HRE USA Community,
Today, November 20th is World Children’s Day and the anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). We are reminded of a powerful truth: every child has the right to learn, grow, and thrive with dignity.
To honor this day, we are thrilled to launch our 2025 End-of-Year Campaign: Human Rights Begin with Education. At HRE USA, we believe that human rights education is the foundation for justice. When young people understand their rights, they are empowered to challenge injustice and help build a more equitable world.
This campaign strengthens a national network of committed learners and educators, carrying forward the principles of the CRC at a moment when human rights education is more vital than ever as we approach our 15th anniversary in 2026.
Here’s how you can make an immediate impact:
- Donate: Fuel the work of human rights educators and youth leaders.
- Share: Spread the word about our campaign with your networks.
- Advocate: Be a champion for human rights education in your community.
Together, we can ensure every child not only knows their rights but has the power to defend them.
Thank you for standing with us.
In solidarity,
Human Rights Educators USA
HRE USA is a project of the Center for Transformative Action, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that accepts all funds on our behalf.
Please make checks out to the Center for Transformative Action, with HRE USA in the memo line.
Checks can be mailed to: CTA, P.O. Box 760, Ithaca, NY 14851
Free Children’s Rights Resources
- Celebrating Youth Voices & Actions, upholding Convention on the Rights of the Child!
- Human Rights Here and Now Bulletin 10: For Every Child, Every Right! A Toolkit for Educations: The CRC Changes Children’s Lives
- Human Rights Education Now! Episodes 66 & 67 with youth advocates Jude Armstrong, Jaya Field, and Ella Henry
Order Human Rights Booklets
HRE USA 