Human Rights Watch
student task force
Founded in 1999, the Human Rights Watch Student Task Force (STF) is a youth leadership and human rights advocacy training program that empowers students to advocate for human rights issues, especially the rights of children.
MISSION
Implementing HRW’s mission to defend human rights, STF helps youth build a foundation for human rights, raises awareness about children’s rights violations, and develops young leaders and advocates to become instrumental voices for social justice around the world.
VISION
To equip the next generation of decision-makers with the human rights knowledge, advocacy experience, and communication skills needed to make the future of our world more just.
How We Work
STF staff guide and mentor participants to implement a shared human rights advocacy action plan across campuses. Through these action plans, STF members learn how to evaluate problems and independently discover ways to address them, harnessing the leadership skills they work on each week. STF leaders enter the program with varying levels of public speaking, project coordination, and presentation experience. The ongoing leadership training provides students with the skills and confidence needed to lead their classmates.
Watch this video from October 2022 explaining how the STF program works with students across the United States and beyond.
(Click to watch, 3:17)
How We Work
STF staff guide and mentor participants to implement a shared human rights advocacy action plan across campuses. Through these action plans, STF members learn how to evaluate problems and independently discover ways to address them, harnessing the leadership skills they work on each week. STF leaders enter the program with varying levels of public speaking, project coordination, and presentation experience. The ongoing leadership training provides students with the skills and confidence needed to lead their classmates.
Watch this video from October 2022 explaining how the STF program works with students across the United States and beyond.
(Click to watch, 3:17)
Impact
Since 1999, STF has provided opportunities for students to raise their voices for human rights, educate their communities, and engage in meaningful advocacy. Many alumni have reported that their participation in STF compelled them to prioritize human rights in their careers, including in the public, private and government sectors.
Impact
Since 1999, STF has provided opportunities for students to raise their voices for human rights, educate their communities, and engage in meaningful advocacy. Many alumni have reported that their participation in STF compelled them to prioritize human rights in their careers, including in the public, private and government sectors.
Students Reached During STF Events
Participating Schools Over the Years
Cities Around the World With STF Chapters
Human Rights Advocacy Action Plans
Recent Blog Posts
Be Brave, Break Barriers
January 25, 2026: About 30 STFers met with Margaret Wurth, a senior researcher in Human Rights Watch’s Children’s Rights Division, to hear about her journey as a human rights advocate and how she came to focus on children’s health…
SAMO Collaborates on Their SBRR
January 9, 2026, written by Maya M. from Santa Monica HS:
This week our chapter hosted a tent event to collect input for our prospective Student Bill of Responsibilities and Rights (SBRR). This event was a way to collect information on our school’s human rights temperature and overall opinions about our potential SBRR from 350 classmates…
STF Leader Spotlight: Lauren L.
Please meet Lauren L., STF Leader at Van Nuys High School, and learn about her journey as the President of her chapter…
Celebrating Human Rights
December 10, 2025: STFers honored Human Rights Day with events designed to educate and engage classmates across campuses at Alexander Hamilton, Browning School, Corona Del Mar, International School of Prague, New Roads School, Spring Lake Park, Wauwatosa East, and Whitney M. Young Magnet High Schools…
Countdown to Human Rights Day: Join STF’s Week of Action!
November 18, 2025: To kick off STF events honoring Human Rights Day (December 10), Francis W. Parker School hosted a human rights trivia recruitment event. STFers asked participants trivia questions for a chance to win a prize…
Taking the Temperature: A Human Rights Survey
STFers are collecting feedback from their allies about on-campus issues that matter the most to them. As your Chapter reviews the Taking the Human Rights Temperature survey, consider the following questions…
WHAT OUR ALUMNI SAY
“STF changes the world, one outspoken/headstrong student at a time. STF was a cause worth skipping lunch and lying in the grass for; a cause worth the ridicule; a cause worth losing points on a test for, because I spent time strategizing instead of studying. A cause worth anything I could give.”
“The Student Task Force taught me how to be an effective activist while remaining passionate and unafraid. STF taught me to be persistent, even when people didn’t hear us the first, second, or third time. We persevere through our campaigns.”
“STF pushed me to become a more comfortable public speaker and activist. I went from being an introverted and shy freshman to being an outspoken and confident advocate for human rights and environmental justice by the end of my senior year, in large part due to the leadership of the the STF community.”
GET INVOLVED
Empower yourself and make a difference by joining our community of passionate advocates. Click below to learn how you can contribute to advancing human rights and become a voice for justice.