Photos by Amira Belhedi and Kristin Ghazarians
February 1, 2025: Dedicating time to learning and strategizing for human rights advocacy, Human Rights Watch Student Task Force leaders came together for their 2025 Winter Leadership Workshop.
Starting in breakout groups, participants shared their prior knowledge and questions about genocide. These discussions set the stage for a powerful session with guest speaker, Carine Kaneza Nantulya, Deputy Director within the Africa division and a key member of HRW’s global strategy team.
Helping STFers launch their Genocide Awareness and Prevention Action Plan, Carine provided critical insights into genocide, international law, and the global fight for justice. “If you don’t put human rights and the protection of civilians at the heart of the infrastructure for peace and security on the continent, we will not have peace and we will not have security,” she said.
Workshop attendees also heard from Sonja Verdugo Baumgartner, a veteran housing advocate. She shared her personal experience with the devastating impact of forced evictions and the urgent need for systemic change, “More than anything, we need advocacy. Being the voice and building up leaders to advocate for themselves. Uplifting the voices of [unhoused] people is the most powerful thing that you can do.”
To close out the workshop, students developed advocacy strategies, brainstorming ways to take action on genocide awareness and prevention and protecting the unhoused in their communities.
Stronger Together,
The STF Team: Kristin, Gabbi, Amira, and Emma
Click to watch full workshop, 1:23:16