Over 50 years, Equitas and its many partners have had a positive and sustained impact on communities in Canada and all over the world.
The series We are human rights changemakers is a special initiative to celebrate Equitas’ 50th anniversary in 2017. We invite you to discover stories of 50 inspiring human rights changemakers. These are but a few of the hundreds who have changed lives around the world through human rights education with Equitas’ support.
Equitas would like to thank all the personal historians who offered precious support in writing these stories.
VILES ALIZAR
̶ Haiti
Rebuilding Haiti through Citizen Engagement and Human Rights Education
THÉRÈSE CASGRAIN
̶ Canada
Advancing Women’s Rights and Human Rights in Quebec
JOHN P. HUMPHREY
̶ Canada
Drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
DARLEY POLONY
̶ Canada
Celebrating the Right to Be Different Among Youth in Montreal, Canada
PHILIP ACKERMAN
— Canada
Amplifying the Voices of Young Refugees in Toronto, Canada
JULIENNE LUSENGE
– DRC
Giving a Voice to Women Victims of Sexual Violence in the DRC
ALAA MURABIT
– Libya
Igniting the Spark for Women’s Leadership and Engagement in Libya
NAWRES CHRITI
– Tunisia
Stimulating Youth Engagement in Tunisia
COLETTE LESPINASSE
̶ Haiti
Empowering Marginalized Populations in Haiti Through Radio
ERMIZA TEGAL
– Sri Lanka
Pushing for Citizen Empowerment and Transitional Justice in Sri Lanka
AGINATHA RUTAZAA
– Tanzania
Moving Forward Together to Empower Marginalized and at Risk Women in Tanzania
SAFA RAWIAH
– Yemen
Ending Child, Early and Forced Marriage in Yemen
IMEN HAMZA
– Tunisia
Promoting the Emancipation of Young Tunisian Women Through Social Engagement
ZHANNA HARUTYUNYAN
– Armenia
Promoting Women’s Political Participation in Armenia
BERTHE TATEY
– Togo
Changing Practices that Discriminate Against Widowed Women in Togo
ALI OUATTARA
– Ivory Coast
Ending the Cycle of Abuse Through Human Rights Education in Ivory Coast
RITA IZSÁK-NDIAYE – Hungary
Defending Minority Rights from Local to Global
MICHAEL COOPER – Montreal, Canada
Volunteering for Equitas to Bring Social Change
RUTH SELWYN – Montreal, Canada
Leading Equitas as a Hub for International Human Rights Education
PEARL ELIADIS – Montreal, Canada
Shaping Equitas’ Vision and Values
GEORGE MWAI GICHUKI – Kenya
Building Bridges to Raise Awareness for LGBTQI Rights in Kenya
AKUDO OGUAGHAMBA – Nigeria
Empowering Sexual Minority Women in Nigeria
ALBERTO ROQUE GUERRA – Cuba
Promoting LGBTQI Rights in Cuba
CHRYSOGONE ZOUGMORÉ – Burkina Faso
Mobilizing the population for a democratic transition in Burkina Faso
ANTON BURKOV – Russia
Fighting Against Shrinking Spaces for Human Rights Defenders and Citizens in Russia
WIDIA LARIVIÈRE – MONTREAL, CANADA
Igniting Indigenous youth engagement and participation in Canada
OMAID SHARIFI – Afghanistan
Using Art as an Education Tool to Promote Peace in Afghanistan
CATHERINE MOTO-ZEH – Cameroon
Ending child marriage in Cameroon through education for the rights of young girls
FRANÇOIS CRÉPEAU – Montreal, Canada
Raising awareness of the rights of migrants in Canada and the world
KHALIL RADWAN – Jordan
Teaching Human Rights to Young Refugees in Jordan
TOM HIGASHIO – Vancouver, Canada
Teaching Human Rights to Kids in Vancouver’s Community Centres
MARIE CHRISTIAN – Winnipeg, Canada
Advocating for Children’s Rights in Foster Care in Winnipeg
STEPHEN TOOPE – Toronto, Canada
Reengaging a new generation in the promotion of human rights
CHARLOT JEUDY
– Haiti
Defending the rights of LGBTI people in Haiti
PATRICK CAMILLE
– Haiti
Promoting active citizenship in Haiti to lift the barriers to development
AMPARITA STA.MARIA – Philippines
Reinforcing the Law to Protect Women Migrant Workers in Southeast Asia
LUCIEN KABORE – Burkina Faso
Secure dignity for marginalized populations in Burkina Faso
BRIAN BRONFMAN – Montreal, Canada
Bringing Peace into Action in Montreal and Around the World
FREDERIC DIOUF
– Senegal
Building a regional network for human rights education in Francophone Africa
SALLY SALEM
– Egypt
Designing Positive Training for Youth Citizenship and Participation in Egypt
ADRIANA CORREA
– Colombia
Documenting Human Rights Violations in Colombia
HENRI TIPHAGNE
– India
Standing Up for Human Rights in India through Legal Representation and Education
FERNANDA LAPA –
Brazil
Implementing Human Rights Education at Every Level in Brazil
JORGE SAMANEZ
– PERU
Promoting inclusive development in Peru through human rights education
ROMAN KOVAL
– Ukraine
Engaging Youth for Conflict Resolution in Ukraine
ASMA JAHANGIR
– Pakistan
Standing up for the Rights of Women, Girls and Religious Minorities in Pakistan
MONIQUE DAUPHIN
– Montreal, Canada
Empowering young mothers of the black community of Montreal
SAMSON SALAMAT
– Pakistan
Promoting Human Rights and Religious Plurality in Pakistan
GLORENE DAS
– Malaysia
Raising the Voices of Migrant Workers in Malaysia
HERLAMBANG PERDANA
– Indonesia
Promoting Alliances and Protecting Academic Freedom in Southeast Asia
Thank you to our partners in Canada and around the world who make human rights education possible every day.
Our international programs are made possible in part thanks to the support of the Government of Canada provided through Global Affairs Canada.
Thank you to TD Bank Group, proud sponsor of our 50th anniversary and to Begg Design for their support in rolling out the visual identity of the celebrations.