Know a group or individual—youth or adult—who is making a real difference in human rights?
Nominate them for one of the annual awards of Human Rights Educators USA and the University and College Consortium for Human Rights Education!
| About Awards >> O’Brien >> Nomination form >> Youth >> Nomination form (En) >> Nomination form (Es) >> UCCHRE Award >> Nomination form |
HRE USA is a project of the Center for Transformative Action.
Visit this page to get up to date on the latest HRE USA news.
See past issues of the newsletter here.
HRE USA is a project of the Center for Transformative Action.
The Kemper Human Rights Education Foundation (khref.org) is offering prizes of $5000, $2500, and $1250 to high school students judged to have written the best answers to the question below. There are two contests and two sets of prizes: one for high school students who are citizens or residents of the U.S. and one for high school students who are citizens and residents of other countries.
QUESTION
When if ever do human rights violations by a country against its own citizens justify armed intervention by other countries?
CRITERIA
Essays will be judged according to how clearly and well they answer the question and the extent to which they are supported by research. They are due on or before December 10, 2026 (Human Rights Day) and should: 1. Be written in English. 2. Not including the footnotes and bibliography be 2500 words or less. 3. Be submitted as a Microsoft Word attachment to: kemperhumanrights@gmail.com or by regular mail to: KHREF, 184 Fillow Street, Norwalk, CT 06850, USA. 4. Via footnotes and a bibliography indicate the names, titles, year of publication, and page numbers for all references. 5. Include a cover page with: i. the title, ii. author’s name and grade level, iii. name and address of the author’s high school, iv. the following statement signed by a teacher at the author’s high school: “I [teacher’s name], a teacher of [subject] at [name of the essay author’s school] am aware of [author’s name] participation in the KHREF essay contest and to the best of my knowledge the essay [s/he] submitted represents [her/his] independent work, v. the following statements signed by the author: a. I did not use generative AI tools to brainstorm, outline, draft, rewrite, summarize sources, generate thesis statements, improve paragraphs, create citations, or in any other way to write my essay and I understand it will likely be checked to confirm that is the case. b. Prior to receiving a prize I agree to participate in a Zoom interview with members of KHREF’s board. c. “I give the Kemper Human Rights Education Foundation permission to publish this essay.”
AWARDS
Winners will be announced, and awards presented by the end of January 2027.
HRE USA is a project of the Center for Transformative Action.
The Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center (KHRC) is launching its inaugural Student Ambassador Program—and we’re looking for the next generation of human rights activists.
The Student Ambassador Program is looking for student content creators who are ready to use their social media platform to amplify human rights in the United States and abroad. As a KHRC Student Ambassador, you’ll create original content on your social media platform that brings human rights issues to life for your audience, all while being supported by the KHRC Communications team. The program will run from July 6, 2026 – August 17, 2026 and is fully remote.
Deadline to apply is 5pm ET, Friday, June 19th, 2026.
Learn more and apply to the role →
HRE USA is a project of the Center for Transformative Action.
UNESCO is seeking good practices that are showing results in advancing the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) — ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.
This open call aims to identify and showcase transformative actions and success stories that can inspire cross-country learning and cooperation and accelerate progress toward SDG 4.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit in 2015, is a comprehensive “plan of action for people, planet and prosperity” aimed at ending poverty, protecting the planet, tackling inequalities and fostering global peace. The ambitious 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets adopted as part of this universal agenda are to stimulate action in areas of critical importance.
SDG 4 aims to transform lives through quality education, recognizing the critical role of education as the key catalyst for progress and enabler for achieving all SDGs. By equipping all people with the values, knowledge, skills and competencies needed to contribute to today’s rapidly changing world, education helps eradicate poverty; reduce inequalities; improve health and wellbeing; enhance productivity and decent employment; protect and promote cultural diversity; build peace and security; drive the green and digital transition and sustain the environment for current and future generations.
With a few years remaining 2030, the world is facing significant challenges to achieve SDG 4. Upscaled, collective and transformative actions are needed to accelerate progress by reaching the most vulnerable and marginalized and taking qualitative leaps in education and lifelong learning.
Governments and organizations have increasingly recognized the value of collecting and sharing good practices as a means of identifying and scaling effective policies and programmes, encouraging peer learning and driving social and economic progress. A ‘good practice’ is commonly defined as a technique or method that, through experience and research, has proven to reliably lead to a desired result.
In the context of education policy, programming and services, a practical definition of good practice is knowledge about what works in specific situations and contexts, without using excessive resources to achieve the desired results, and which can be used to develop and implement solutions adapted to similar education challenges in other situations and contexts.
>> Learn more
HRE USA is a project of the Center for Transformative Action.
For the first time in over 40 years, the International Human Rights Training Program (IHRTP) will be held outside Canada, in Bangkok, Thailand, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of Equitas’ flagship international training program.
This edition reflects Equitas’ commitment to expanding access to human rights education and strengthening engagement with partners and movements across the Global South.
Program at a Glance
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
When: Fall 2026
APPLICATION DEADLINE : Monday, June 8, 2026
Space is limited – early applications are encouraged.
>> Learn more
HRE USA is a project of the Center for Transformative Action.
The Toolkit—created by youth in partnership with UNICEF USA and Kids Impact Initiative—gives young people a practical way to analyze policies through a child rights lens and share recommendations with decision-makers. Piloted and tested with UNICEF clubs across the country, it’s designed to be used independently by youth leadership groups on local, state, and federal advocacy efforts. If you work with youth leaders, youth councils, or after school programs, we invite you to share this new resource and encourage youth feedback so it can continue to grow and improve.
Learn more about child impact statements here.
Download the toolkit here.
HRE USA is a project of the Center for Transformative Action.
Visit this page to get up to date on the latest HRE USA news.
See past issues of the newsletter here.
HRE USA is a project of the Center for Transformative Action.
We the People and Project Citizen program partners in states across the country will hold free, multi-day professional learning institutes this summer! Experience immersive professional learning with experienced educators and topical experts. Join the Center’s national network of civic education professionals. Receive materials that are ready to use with your students, along with ongoing mentorship support during the school year. Find out more and fill out an interest form at these links:
Literacy for We the People
(grades 3-8 teachers in Delaware)
Documents of Democracy
(grades 6-12 teachers in Florida, Tennessee, Texas and neighboring states such as Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Oklahoma)
Project Citizen: Integrated Civic Competencies
(grades 6-12 teachers in California, Delaware, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, and Tennessee).
HRE USA is a project of the Center for Transformative Action.
Join Rethinking Schools for a conversation on how teacher unions are leading the fight against fascism and ICE in their communities and schools. In this webinar, we will learn, celebrate, and amplify the lessons of the people heroically fighting back against ICE occupation — from Chicago to Los Angeles to Minneapolis. From the classroom to the street, we need to defend our students and together learn the most effective ways to kick ICE out of our schools and communities.
Participants will need access to Zoom. Register for the Zoom link.
Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026
Time: 4 pm PT/6 pm CT/7 pm ET
The event is free. To make events like this available to more educators and activists, we would greatly appreciate your solidarity donation.
HRE USA is a project of the Center for Transformative Action.
HRE USA 