50 stories of change

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.

Equitas 50 years overview (PDF)

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

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.