“If you cannot build human rights from the grassroots, we are in trouble as a world.” – Caster Semenya, Olympic Champion and Human Rights Advocate
In Budapest, Hungary, from 9–11 December 2025, SGI participated as a partner in the Global Youth Forum on Human Rights Education. Bringing together youth and educators from around the world to strengthen human rights education (HRE) for, with, and by young people, the Forum was co-organized by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Council of Europe, in cooperation with the European Youth Forum and Amnesty International.
The Forum created a space for collective reflection and action at a time when human rights face growing challenges globally. Participants reaffirmed that HRE is not an optional addition but “the foundation and the DNA of a culture of democracy and human rights,” and that every human rights educator is also a human rights defender.
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Human Rights Education and Youth Empowerment workshop, co-organized by SGI and Amnesty International
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Elisa Gazzotti of SGI speaking at the Human Rights Education and Youth Empowerment workshop
SGI was represented by Elisa Gazzotti, who co-organized an 11 December workshop with Amnesty International titled “Human Rights Education and Youth Empowerment.” The session featured “Changemakers: Stories of Young Human Rights Educators,” a multimedia tool that highlights creative, youth-led approaches such as art, storytelling and podcasts to make human rights education accessible, particularly for marginalized communities.
Five young educators from Morocco, South Africa, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia and Mexico shared experiences and practical tools for empowering young people through HRE. Reflecting the Forum’s spirit, one of the key messages emphasized that “learning human rights is an act of protection and a practice of collective resilience.”
Human Rights Day on 10 December was marked by a multilingual reading of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Gazzotti read Article 26, which affirms the right to education, in Italian.
The Forum concluded with a shared message titled “Joy Is Resistance,” reaffirming that HRE is a right in itself and a powerful force for dignity, solidarity and social transformation.
