Human Rights Watch
student task force
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)
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
Animo Venice STFers Receive GirlsBuild $2,000 Grant
We are delighted to share that the STF leaders at Animo Venice Charter High School were one out of 60 groups across the U.S. awarded a grant from GirlsBuild Project, which encourages students to use technology to lead a civic engagement project that impacts their community…
Pali Students Join Global Climate Strike Rally
September 15, 2023: Palisades Charter High School students stood up for the Earth and the environment on Friday, September 15, holding a Youth Climate Rally adjacent to the Village Green.
“We refuse not to act,” protest leader Carter Yean said to the crowd. “This situation terrifies me. It should terrify every single one of you! Because it is our future. And we are here to take it back!”…
Building Our Action Plan: Celebrating 75 Years of Human Rights
September 9, 2023: Human Rights Watch Student Task Force (STF) leaders, teachers and guest speakers joined and kicked off this year’s Celebrating 75 Years of Human Rights Action Plan at STF’s hybrid Fall Leadership Workshop (Click to watch the workshop online)…
Save the Date: STF Fall Leadership Workshop
Please join us for STF’s 2023 Fall Leadership Workshop on Saturday, September 9 from 10:00-12:15pm PT, where we will launch our “Celebrating 75 Years of Human Rights” Action Plan…
Demanding Accountability
As we wrap up the 2022-23 academic year, STFers from Canyon, Da Vinci, Palisades Charter and Wildwood high schools engage their classmates in advocacy and demanding decision-makers uphold basic human rights. Scroll to see photos of these year-end efforts…
The Journey
April 12 – 26, 2023: STFers at Amino Venice Charter, Carson, Da Vinci, Hamilton, New Roads, Palisades Charter and Wayne Hills high schools hosted events that encouraged their classmates to speak up for human rights abuses in the U.S. immigration system…
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.