Equitas > EquiTalks: Voices of Human Rights Education

EquiTalks: Voices of Human Rights Education

This podcast aims to make the voices of human rights education heard, whether it’s the people who work hard at Equitas, partners in Canada and around the world, or perhaps even you one day.

This is a podcast which seeks to elevate voices of human rights education – whether it’s the people working hard within Equitas, our partners in Canada and across the world, or maybe even you one day. We believe in sharing ideas about human rights and learning from each other to advance equality and social justice – we invite you to join us on this journey.

Each episode will contain conversations that seek to enhance your understanding of the potential of human rights education and how it can be innovatively used to strengthen communities and individuals. These accessible discussions will dive into the journeys of human rights defenders and their lessons learned and visions for human rights and social justice.

Welcome to EquiTalks: Voices of Human Rights Education!

Episode 11: Aginatha Rutazaa and Mercy Mukeni, defending women’s rights in Tanzania and Kenya

In this 11th episode, we discuss with Aginatha Rutazaa, Managing Director, Tusonge Community Development Organization in Tanzania and Mercy Mukeni, Coordinator, Women’s Empowerment Link in Kenya, both partners of our Advancing Equality project. You will learn more about our common work to end gender-based violence and empower women to participate in decision-making spaces through gender budgeting for accessible human rights education training for all women.

“We need to avoid generalizing, not all women are deprived their rights. The gender analysis with an intersectionality eye will give more understanding of the individual groups we work with.”

– Aginatha Rutazaa

“For women to come up and address issues of gender-based violence, human rights practice must be backed up by policies and laws.”

– Mercy Mukeni

Episode 10: Mariano Ruiz, LGBTQI+ rights defender in Argentina

Mariano is President and founder of Derechos Humanos y Diversidad Asociación Civil in Argentina. He’s also Project Coordinator at Fundación AMAL Argentina and is an LGBTQI+ rights defender in his country. He participated in the 41st edition of Equitas’ International Human Rights Training Program (IHRTP) in 2023. In this episode, he talks about how human rights education helps protect the human rights of LBGTQI+ people and refugees in the Latin American context.

“There’s a gap between social change and legal change and I’m working to close that gap.”

Podcast_Episode 10 - Mariano Ruiz EN (2)

Episode 9: Aly Sanou and Louna François, Advancing Equality Through Human Rights Education in Burkina Faso and Haiti (French episode)

Aly Sanou is the general secretary of the Mouvement Burkinabé des droits de l’Homme et des peuples, and Louna François is a regional project coordinator. Both work conjointly with Equitas as part of the Advancing Equality Through Human Rights Education project, which thrives for the empowerment of women, girls and the advancement of Gender Equality. In this episode, we discussed questions of marginalized people’s inclusion and participation in decision-making processes. For example, how can we make sure they are accessible to single mothers, low-income people, people living with a disability, people who have gone through trauma, etc.? What difference does it make to consider those questions?

“The key to change the world and making it safer is human rights education. I urge all human rights educators to persevere, even if things are not always easy, because it is through action that we can build a better world. ” – Aly Sanou

“We have to broaden our scope, reach more people and invest in the youth. They too can influence others. Young people can witness social models where there is no solidarity; if we do not show them other models, a way out, things will not improve.” – Louna François

Episode 8: Fatou Bintou Thioune and Sadikh Niass, Rencontre africaine pour la défense des droits de l'Homme in Senegal (French episode)

Fatou Bintou Thioune is Project Coordinator and Sadikh Niass is the Executive Secretary at RADDHO. Both are collaborating with Equitas via the Advance Equality Through Human Rights Education project. In this episode, they speak about a few good practices to promote gender equality they have learned through their experience, notably on how to ensure trainings are inclusive and adapted to different contexts.

“We are here to provide a common understanding of human rights. We must give the opportunity to all members of society, with no distinction, to know about their rights and to appropriate them.” – Fatou Bintou Thioune

“It is important to have partners, like religious guides, who can intervene in environments that are less accessible to us to dissipate the most widespread stereotypes.” – Sadikh Niass

Episode 7: Nadjet Bouda, Program Officer for the Middle East and North Africa area at Equitas

Nadjet Bouda is a Senior Program Officer at Equitas, covering the Middle East and North Africa area. In this episode, she talks about how to create healthy and efficient collaborations with local human rights organizations beyond cultural differences, all the while ensuring their independence and reinforcing their capacities.

”The communities we work with always have something to bring, and it is, I would say, more important than what we bring as an organization, who arrives with its own methodology. It was up to us to take our approach and adapt it with the strengths of the communities.”

Episode 6: Rania Derbel, Regional coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa area at Equitas (French episode)

Rania Derbel is a Regional coordinator at Equitas, covering the Middle East and North Africa area. In this episode, she talks about her background in psychology and her involvement in refugee camps before shifting her work towards human rights. She also addresses some good practices to achieve equitable collaboration when working with Equitas’ international partners.

”For us, an equitable partnership is based on a equal involvement in what we do. Our role is not to do things for them, or to take their hand, but to be there to provide guidance and accompaniment.”

Episode 5: Omaid Sharifi, President of ArtLords, curator, artist and activist

Omaid is the President of ArtLords, an artistic movement founded in 2014 in Afghanistan involving artists and activists in the collective creation of public art, such as murals and street theater. Omaid aims to encourage critical thinking about social issues in the people who look at ArtLord’s works. In this episode, we discussed the importance of critical thinking and how it can be fostered through art, as well as how art can be a useful and liberating tool to heal from trauma.

“Our murals are inviting people to ask questions and promoting critical thinking. What do you really think of these issues that are happening, and why are they happening? What can you do about it?”

Episode 4: Nika Naimi, Cybercrime Prevention Specialist and Education Specialist at Equitas (French episode)

Nika has been with Equitas since October 2020 and tells us about her personal and professional journeys that have led her to work in human rights education today. In this episode, she shares with us her vision for inclusive communities and how she believes youth are at the heart of social change despite the effects the pandemic has had on human connections.

”People are starting to become agents of change, especially youth. They are challenged and passionate about becoming agents of change in their communities to defend human rights through concrete action.”

Episode 3: Libertad Benito Torres, Gender Justice Advocate and Gender Advisor at Equitas

Libertad is a firm believer in social justice and gender equality. She applies these beliefs in her role as a Gender Advisor at Equitas, working towards to supporting Equitas in implementing gender mainstreaming and intersectional perspectives in not only our external projects but also within our internal structures. In this episode, we discussed her human rights journey which includes themes such as inclusive feminisms, recognizing power dynamics within social movements, and the role of her childhood in inspiring her to dismantle structural gender inequalities.

“Social injustices are always going to be there, and if you’re there for the long run, you need to take care of yourself.”

Episode 2: Elom Ezuho, Senior Haiti Program Officer at Equitas (French episode)

Elom is a strong advocate for justice and equality. Growing up in Togo in West Africa, Nelson Mandela’s story motivated his interest in human rights from a very young age. He studied development economics, always keeping in mind a link with human rights, because it was a way for him to participate in changing dynamics. In this episode, we learn more about his journey, the reasons and inspirations that led him to work for the promotion and defense of human rights as well as his conception of human rights.

“What human rights defenders do is simply natural and nothing extraordinary: it is simply the basis of life itself. ”

Episode 1: Amrita Kauldher, Anti-Racism Educator and former Education Specialist at Equitas

Amrita is passionate about anti-racist pedagogy and social justice education, she has pursued these interests through studying anthropology, teaching, and developing curriculum and workshops such as on culturally responsive teaching practices. During our conversation, we discussed themes such as inclusive education, respecting youth voices, teaching during the pandemic, and her involvement in the British Columbia Ministry of Education’s K-12 Anti-Racism Action Plan.

“…The core of human rights education begins with empathy and really seeing, honouring, and accepting people.”