Making Human Rights a Reality
Youth for Human Rights volunteers worldwide are holding petition drives to make human rights education mandatory.
As Youth for Human Rights marks 25 years of empowering young people with the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), one message stands out: human rights education is essential to making the right to education and all 30 human rights a reality.
The UDHR defines the fundamental rights every person is entitled to, yet far too many young people grow up unaware of them—and therefore unable to defend them. Today, one-fifth of people worldwide report experiencing discrimination, more than 27 million are victims of human trafficking and 250 million children do not attend school—numbers that underscore the urgent need for education on human rights.
To address this, Youth for Human Rights volunteers hold events around the world to get their petition signed that calls on governments to act: “In order to ensure that the fundamental freedoms for everyone enshrined in the declaration be known, understood and enjoyed by all everywhere, we call on all governments to make human rights education mandatory in schools.”
From Hungary to the United States, France to Costa Rica, volunteers take to the streets to gather signatures and raise awareness—turning a global aspiration into a grass-roots movement to ensure every student learns the 30 basic human rights early, so they can recognize, claim and protect them throughout life.
WE REALLY WANT TO hear FROM YOU
Learning about human rights begins with the right resources. See how our Human Rights materials are making a real impact in classrooms and communities.
PRISON TEACHER, VENEZUELA
“I am truly grateful to you for such important material, which serves to impart knowledge and, at the same time, to add value to the discussions and workshops held to strengthen human rights, so that every citizen understands that we must practice values and uphold the rights of every individual.”
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST, GERMANY
“I appreciate your commitment to human rights education and advocacy. I have begun using the materials in local outreach and educational settings, particularly in workshops and informal learning circles. The clarity and accessibility of the content have been helpful in engaging diverse audiences.”
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER, UNITED STATES
“I have been teaching here for three years and have been using the videos on your website, and my students love them.”
VOLUNTEER, INDIA
“We distributed the booklets among young boys. I taught them everything about the material you sent me and basic human rights. Engaging youth in workshops, discussions and community outreach programs can empower them to understand their rights and advocate for positive change. I believe that fostering critical thinking and dialogue around human rights issues is essential for building a more informed and active generation.”
PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER, UNITED STATES
“I have used your materials and they are fantastic. The booklets are great and my students loved the music video and documentary. They were so eye-opening for them, but also so relatable.”
HISTORY TEACHER, BRAZIL
“All the content is very rich. It was exactly what I needed to improve my classes on human rights. I taught it alongside history, geography and sociology classes. Thank you very much.”
FACTS
25 YEARS IN REVIEW
United for Human Rights, along with Youth for Human Rights International, has grown into a worldwide movement:
80,000
EDUCATORS & TEACHERS
empowered with the Human Rights educational materials
6,000,000
STEPS COMPLETED
on the United and
Youth for Human Rights online courses
12,000,000
HUMAN RIGHTS BOOKLETS
distributed internationally
197
NATIONS
and territories reached with United for Human Rights
756,000,000
PEOPLE REACHED
with United for Human Rights
MAKE HUMAN RIGHTS
A REALITY THROUGH EDUCATION
The path toward the goal of a world where people treat each other with respect and dignity is through effective education. Youth for Human Rights makes it possible with its education package.
The protection of individual rights is vital to the stability of nations and the very survival of our culture. Education at all levels is the solution.
The Youth for Human Rights Education Package is offered as an interactive aid to educators.
All elements are available free of charge as a printed curriculum or an online virtual classroom, with a downloadable app for iPads and iPhones.
