This May all »Speak Truth to Power« directors and coordinators met in Sarajevo during an international summit to discuss a joined new course for the future of the program.
The three-day summit was opened by the president of RFK Human Rights Kerry Kennedy and former Prime Minister of Bosnia-Herzegovina Zlatko Lagumdžija. After reiterating the beginnings of the »Speak Truth to Power« education program and how the organization expended from the United States to more and more European countries, work started on strategic planning for the future.
Human Rights Education is a deliberate, participatory practice aimed at empowering individuals, groups, and communities through fostering knowledge, skills, and attitudes consistent with internationally recognized human rights principles. Human Rights Education builds awareness, empathy, and understanding of the basic rights shared by all people. Its goal is to help people understand human rights, value human rights, and take responsibility for respecting, defending, and promoting human rights.
In order to achieve these outcomes as best as possible, the joined focus for the next years will be on helping schools to: incorporate human rights education (HRE) throughout the school ecosystem. Promote the role of HRE as a means for informed action toward advancing peace, freedom, social justice, and the dignity and worth of all people. Reposition HRE as a centerpiece that connects to the student-centered and democracy-focused goals of other civics education, culturally responsive-sustaining education, and social and emotional Learning (SEL).
An important part is of course youth involvement. RFK Human Rights Switzerland has several years of experience now with our Youth Ambassador project, about which we informed other colleagues during the retreat.
All other affiliates contributed in a similar way by presenting projects from their own countries from which the others could learn. We will continue this international cooperation and further strengthen mutual exchange, materials, strategies and lessons learned.