Human Rights Heros

Resources from Student Resources in Context

People who fought for Human Rights / Civil Rights -  

Be a Hero for a Better World 

Advocates for human rights - 

My Hero Stories - 

Amnesty International:

• • Amnesty International is an organization that works to “protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.” Read about human rights issues and check out the Student Center that lists activities you can do to help campaign for human rights. 

Anti-Slavery: Today’s Fight for Tomorrow’s Freedom: 

• • Covers a multitude of slavery topics, from modern slavery, forced labor, trafficking, and child labor. Check out the “Slavery Today” and “Resources” tabs for photos and documents.

BBC’s “Children of Conflict”: 

• • Presents brief statistics and real-life stories (audio included) for various children’s issues, including child soldiers and child labor. 

BBC’s “I Have a Right To…” Program: 

• • A global project by the BBC that “acts as a global hub for information about human rights.” Includes case studies, debates, and links.  

Human Rights 101: 

• • is sponsored by New York Public Television and helps teens research and explore human rights issues. Includes descriptions of real-life human rights projects conducted by teens. 

Human Rights Defenders Initiative: 

• • Part of the Carter Center’s website, the Human Rights Defenders Initiative includes detailed articles and web links about 10+ countries and their human rights conditions. Click on “Countries” on the left side of the page for a complete list. 

Human Rights First: 

• • An international human rights organization. Check out the “Media Room” publications and the “Crimes Against Humanity” links (including the “Country Focus” articles). 

Human Rights Watch: 

• • Search human rights issues by region or topic. Also includes multimedia links. 

ONE: 

• • A grassroots organization aimed primarily at stopping “extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa.” Includes information about the effectiveness of aid to impoverished countries, as well issues such as maternal and child health, the environment, and education. 

U.N.’s Human Rights in Action: 

• • Includes the full text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as a simplified version in plain language. You can also view the Human Rights Fact Sheets, outlining several different human rights violations. 

UNICEF: 

• • An international organization that focuses on child- and gender-related human rights issues. Includes a Voices of Youth link where you can explore human rights issues and learn how to take action against human rights violations. 

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM): Genocide Prevention: 

• • Includes resources about recent and current genocides, going beyond that of the Holocaust. Check out the “Resources” page. 

University of Minnesota’s Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies:

• • Includes a “Virtual Museum” of artistic responses (could be a good source for visuals/illustrations?). Check out their extensive list of web links by clicking on “Websites and Bibliography” and then “CHGS Links.”