Culver City Did It!

January 27, 2020: Culver City High School STF went to Culver City City Hall to advocate for the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The STF members argued that the Council members should endorse the CRC at a local level to ensure children’s rights within the city, provide a framework for future city policies dealing with children, and serve as a model for ratification of the passage on a broader scale…

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“When We Walk”: A Family’s Journey

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Sunday, January 26, 2020
4:00 pm | Doors open, Meet & Greet
5:00 pm | Film Screening, followed by Q&A
7:00 pm | Tacos & Drinks Reception

Presented at New Roads School at the Herb Alpert Educational Village 
3131 Olympic Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90404

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2019 Wrap Up: STFers Honor Human Rights Day

December 10-11, 2019: Canyon High School, Da Vinci Schools, and New Roads School STF Chapters ended 2019 by educating their campuses about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and climate change…

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National Organization Honors Student Task Force

December 10, 2019, International Human Rights Day: Human Rights Educators USA honors Human Right Watch’s LA-based Student Task Force (STF) with a special Youth Engagement Recognition. The youth leadership-training program, which engages high school students and educators from the Los Angeles area and empowers them to advocate for human rights issues, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year…

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Children’s Rights Advocates in Action

To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, STFers are hosting a variety of events to engage their campus communities in human rights advocacy actions. Here are some recent examples of their work…

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An Evening of Inspiration

November 12, 2019: Attendees of the 2019 HRW Voices for Justice Dinner were inspired to stand for human rights after powerful presentations from HRW’s Executive Director Ken Roth; Rohingya writer and activist Imran Mohammad; HRW researchers and advocates working in Africa, Iran and China; Egyptian comedian Bassem Youssef and a performance by the Gay Men’s Choir…

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Are Empathy and Resources Available?

November 6-8, 2019: In a recent Los Angeles Times poll, 95% of LA County voters say homelessness is Los Angeles’ biggest problem. “…The poll showed broad agreement that societal problems — especially a lack of affordable housing and mental health resources — play a major role in causing homelessness”…

In order to help their classmates better understand how youth in Los Angeles might become homeless, Santa Monica and Palisades Charter High School STF chapters hosted homeless youth advocate Tamar Chafets. Tamar shared the story of a former student at Santa Monica HS student whose family ran into housing trouble and had to move from an apartment to a motel and ultimately to a shelter. Tamar’s goal in telling the story was to help dispel myths around homelessness and encouraged students to be empathetic and supportive of all their classmates, some of whom they may not realize are food or housing insecure…

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Investigating Waste at Sierra Canyon

November 5, 2019: Realizing their campus is in an area heavily impacted by wildfires, drought and other signs of climate change, Sierra Canyon STFers decided to take steps to ensure their school community does everything it can to reduce its carbon footprint.

Students conducted a waste audit of the trash and recycling opportunities on campus. They found that less than half of the classrooms and facilities had recycling bins, and those available around campus are not properly used.

In collaboration with school administrators, STFers are putting recycle bins in every classroom, administrative offices, the library and gym, and making sure they are labeled so students can learn what is and isn’t recyclable…

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Culver City STF Meets with Mayor Sahli-Wells

October 30, 2019: In 2009, on the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), STF members urged Los Angeles, Santa Clarita and Santa Monica City Councils to pass resolutions adopting the CRC on a local level. Inspired by their success, Culver City HS STF leaders recently met with Culver City Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells to present …

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Pali Tackles Climate Change

Submitted by Palisades Charter High School STF:

October 10, 2019, the Palisades Student Task Force chapter continued their urgent activism against climate change with their second lunchtime awareness-raising event…

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Advocating for Children’s Rights

September 7, 2019: Thirty years ago, the world made a promise to all its children. When the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child on November 20, 1989, they committed to do everything in their power to promote and protect children’s rights. At their fall workshop, STF also committed to help fulfill that promise by taking action on serious rights violations…

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Save the Date: Saturday, Sept. 7 2019: STF Fall Leadership Workshop

Dear STF Leaders and Teacher Advisors, Please join us for the STF Fall Leadership Workshop (click to officially RSVP) to learn about our new fall advocacy campaign! The event will be generously hosted at the Moss Theater at New Roads School in Santa Monica. Important Information: Who: You, STF leaders, Teacher Advisors, guests, speakers When: Saturday, September 7, 9:30am-2:30pm …

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STF Turns 20: Celebration Photos

August 17: On a splendid summer day overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Ann Kerr, Coordinator of the Visiting Fulbright Scholars program at UCLA, generously hosted the Student Task Force 20th anniversary reunion at her home in the Palisades. STF alumni, teacher advisors, interns, and special guests celebrated twenty years of training thousands of young advocates to protect human rights in their school communities and around the world. Responding to the frequent question of graduating high schoolers, “How do we stay connected with STF and Human Rights Watch?”, alumni at the party committed to forming an STF Alumni Network in Los Angeles. The new group will support the Los Angeles HRW Film Club screenings and ongoing HRW digital advocacy. Details to come. Let us know if you want to take part in developing this dynamic expansion of STF activism…

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A Year in the Life of STF

Help us celebrate our 20th anniversary by checking out A Year in the Life of STF! Share our tribute to Sid Sheinberg, longtime supporter of HRW and champion of STF, catch up on the advocacy efforts of the “Vote for Human Rights” and “Human Rights on the Southern Border” campaigns, learn about STFers’ meetings with a Holocaust survivor, Congressional representatives and their staff and see what STF alumni have been up to in 2018-19…

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Congresswoman Katie Hill, “Your Opinions Matter…”

May 24, 2019: STF leaders from Academy of the Canyons, Canyon HS and Golden Valley HS met with Congresswoman Katie Hill to discuss human rights in the U.S. immigration system.

STFers shared a comprehensive overview of the work they did this spring to educate their peers on America’s immigration history and about current issues at the U.S. southern border…

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“The Power In Your Hands”

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April 30, 2019: At the 2019 Year-End Leadership Workshop, more than 60 STF leaders and teacher advisors heard from guest speakers who emphasized the importance of speaking up for the human rights of others.

After accepting letters to Congressman Ted Lieu recognizing his leadership in fighting for human rights in the U.S. immigration system, Daisy Paniagua-Uribe, Congressman Lieu’s Field Representative, commended the students for standing up for human rights on the U.S. southern border. She encouraged participants to write letters, call district or Washington, D.C. legislative offices and request meetings with their elected officials to make sure their concerns are heard….

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Our Most Exciting Film Screening Yet! Sun., June 2, 3:45pm

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Sunday, June 2, 2019
3:45pm | Doors open
4:30pm | Film screening and panel discussion
6:45pm | Cocktail reception
7:15pm | Optional tour of Universal Studios

Presented at Universal Studios Hollywood
Sound Stage 29100
Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608

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Facts: Human Rights on the Southern Border

March 12 – April 12, 2019: STF chapters continued to share STF’s Human Rights on the Southern Border exhibit, launched by Palisades Charter HS STF on March 1. Academy of the Canyons, Canyon HS, Carson HS, Da Vinci Schools, Golden Valley HS and New Roads School STF chapters hosted the traveling exhibit for hundreds of students, teachers, parents, community members and a representative from Congresswoman Katie Hill’s office…

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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: HRW LA Summit June 2-5!

Each year, Human Rights Watch hosts an International Council Summit for board members, donors, staff and guests to discuss what is happening within the organization. This year, the Council Summit is in Los Angeles and we are asking for volunteers from STF to assist with the event. If you are interested in helping out, please let us know ASAP…

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HRW and STF Mourn Loss of Sid Sheinberg

March 8, 2019, HRW: Human Rights Watch mourns the death of our friend, supporter and board member Sid Sheinberg, a legendary Hollywood executive who died at home on March 7 aged 84. Sheinberg and his wife Lorraine worked tirelessly for decades to support human rights and were instrumental in helping Human Rights Watch to establish work on the rights of women and LGBT people…

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Human Rights on the Southern Border at Palisades Charter HS

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March 1, 2019: Palisades Charter HS’s Human Rights Watch Student Task Force presented their special exhibit, “Human Rights on the Southern Border,” on Friday, March 1 in their school auditorium.

The exhibit was produced by Pali’s Student Task Force, with the support of the Latino Student Union, to provide significant facts about the people and geography along the 2,000-mile U.S. southern border, why people cross it, and examples of basic human rights violations documented by human rights organizations…

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An Inhumane Immigration System

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January 31, 2019: As headlines about immigration dominate the news, 60 Student Task Force leaders, teacher advisers and supporters gathered for the 2019 Winter Leadership Workshop to launch Human Rights on the Southern Border campaign.

Grace Meng, a senior researcher with HRW’s U.S. Program, shared the story of a young mother and her daughter who fled gang violence in Honduras and explained why the U.S. immigration system is inhumane and disrespects human rights…

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STF Winter Leadership Workshop Thursday, January 31

Please join us for the STF Winter Leadership Workshop (click to officially RSVP) to learn about our new spring advocacy campaign!

Important Information:
When:
 Thursday, January 31, 4:15-6:15pm
Where: HRW Office (map)
11500 W. Olympic Blvd, Suite 505
Los Angeles, CA 90064

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Meet the “Transmilitary”

Tuesday, January 29, 2019
6:00 pm | Doors open
6:30 pm | Film Screening, followed by Q&A
8:45 pm | Reception

Presented at the United Talent Agency
9336 Civic Center Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Purchase tickets today!

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STF Celebrates 70 Years of the UDHR

December 10, 2018: Thanks to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and nations’ commitments to its principles, the dignity of millions has been uplifted, untold human suffering prevented and the foundations for a more just world have been laid. While its promise is yet to be fulfilled, the very fact that it has stood the test of time is testament to the enduring universality of its perennial values of equality, justice and human dignity. To educate about and to honor the 70th anniversary of the UDHR, members of the HRW Student Task Force hosted film screenings, art contests, photo challenges, posted visual displays around campus and filmed videos expressing why the anniversary is so significant…

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