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
Engaging Our Communities
February 12-22, 2024: Kicking off the new year with a bang, STFers at Alain Leroy Locke College Preparatory Academy, Animo Venice Charter HS, Carson HS, Cypress College, Hamilton HS, and New Roads School hosted film screenings, club fairs, and table events to engage their campus communities in our Celebrating 75 Years of Human Rights Action Plan…
Making Real World Change
February 3, 2024: “There are no walls between the things you’re personally passionate about, you’re professionally interested in and you’re academically interested in. You can use the knowledge you learn in the classroom to make real world change… That’s the cool thing about things like Student Task Force, you all are making real world change, but you’re also doing it in this academic setting… And that’s what I hope you all take away from your experience with this, is that you can make change now, today, tomorrow if you put your mind to it,” Amanda Alampi, HRW Director of Campaigns and Public Engagement, said to inspire the 67 participants at STF’s Winter Leadership Workshop….
STF Leader Spotlight: Dani R.
Meet Dani R., STF leader at Canyon High School and one of 18 young activists participating in the youth-led Genesis B. v. Environmental Protection Agency Lawsuit, a California lawsuit accusing the EPA of failing to protect young people by allowing the release of dangerous levels of greenhouse gases…
Save the Date: Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024 Winter Leadership Workshop
Please join us for STF’s 2024 Winter Leadership Workshop on Saturday, January 27 from 10:00-12:15pm PT.
You can attend in person at our Los Angeles office OR virtually via Zoom. In person space is limited, so please RSVP today with your preferred method of participation. Regardless of how you join, you will actively contribute to discussions and engage with other STFers at the workshop…
STF Leaders Spotlight: Clementine C.
Please meet Clementine C., STF leader at Palisades Charter High School and the 2023 recipient of HRE USA’s Youth in Action Award…
Sierra Canyon STF’s Schoolwide Teach-In
December 15, 2023: In collaboration with all 58 advisory classes, STFers at Sierra Canyon School round off Human Rights Day celebrations by hosting a teach-in to educate their campus community about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Audiences watched an informative video introducing them to human rights and competed in a poster making contest. Each advisory class was assigned an article of the UDHR and had to make a poster explaining the article. Most participants put in a lot of effort and made it a real competition. The winning advisories won donuts!
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 serves as a wonderful opportunity for youth like me to develop their leadership skills, work to foster the necessary transparency we currently lack, and explore global issues that are ignored in the classroom. I appreciate the STF community for being so supportive. I am carrying my advocacy skills into my future endeavors.”
“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.