CELEBRATING HUMAN RIGHTS HEROES ACROSS THE GLOBE
As is tradition, United for Human Rights bestowed Human Rights Hero Awards at its annual International Summit, spotlighting the work of five champions educating their communities and nations on the rights every man, woman and child.
In honor of United for Human Rights’ (UHR) 13th annual International Summit, five humanitarians from around the world were presented with the UHR Human Rights Hero Award. Here are their stories.
Ms. Cynthia Guerra, the Director of Promotion and Education for the Guatemalan Human Rights Ombudsman, came upon UHR online, ordered an Educator Kit, and organized a training workshop for educators from each of the 22 Guatemalan states, who have now gone on to deliver the program to more than 12,000 across the country.
Guerra further introduced UHR to the military’s Academy of Human Rights, resulting in implementation of the curriculum in all 30 Guatemalan military bases.
Guerra further introduced UHR to the military’s Academy of Human Rights, resulting in implementation of the curriculum in all 30 Guatemalan military bases.
Thanks to her tireless work, the Human Rights Attorney General’s office signed a memorandum of understanding with UHR to expand the program’s implementation within every branch of the military and throughout all of Guatemala.
Ms. Addie Richburg, founder of the legendary Pen or Pencil education program (pen for “penitentiary” and pencil for “education”), incorporated Youth for Human Rights into her program some 10 years ago, and has since overseen the human rights education of more than 240,000 at-risk youth across the nation.
Mr. Augustine Brian, World Vision Project Coordinator and director of Youth for Human Rights (YHR) Papua New Guinea, was awarded for his outstanding leadership. Featured in a recent newsletter, Brian’s story is one of overcoming the desire for revenge and instead using YHR to educate and reform the very police who violated his human rights in Papua New Guinea.
Mr. Chien-Hung Liao is a UHR Taiwanese Ambassador, and was awarded for his promotion of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, holding lectures in Taiwanese schools and translating 100 hours of dialogue in key human rights conferences.
Mr. Abeir Liton’s story is featured in this newsletter.
FACTS
THE SUMMIT
Here is your summary report of the 2016 International Human Rights Summit:
72
YOUTH DELEGATES
representing 41 countries participated in this year’s summit.
52+
HOURS OF TRAVEL
for some Delegates
to attend the summit from their home countries.
400+
ATTENDED
the first day, including UN officials, country ambassadors, human rights advocates, community leaders and non-profit representatives.
23
DIPLOMATS
from 17 UN Permanent Missions participated, sharing their human rights concerns and solutions.
5
HUMAN RIGHTS
HEROES
awarded for their outstanding work promoting and defending human rights.
MAKING HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION AVAILABLE
Join the international human rights movement by becoming a member of United for Human Rights. UHR assist individuals, educators, organizations and governmental bodies in all parts of the world to raise awareness of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
