Partial List of Human Rights Advocates and Defenders

The following are examples of individuals who have demonstrated courage and commitment to spur the positive change to make it possible for all people to experience the equality, justice and dignity called for by the UDHR.  The last page provides room to add more people to the list as part of inspiring students to consider their own actions to further the principles of the UDHR.

Who else do you think should be on this list? Submit their name and info using our form!

Listed in alphabetical order by last name

Prepared by Sandy Sohcot, Director of The World As It Could Be Human Rights Education Program © with content credit to Andrea McEvoy Spero and Jazzmin Chizu Gota as of 2023.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Human Rights Inspired Activists and Educators

Hear from human rights inspired activists and educators on the Human Rights Educator’s USA (HRE USA) podcast Human Rights Education Now! Sandy Sohcot (9 & 10) and Yvonne Vissing (episodes 17 & 18) have both been interviewed about their work and experiences in human rights education.

Interviewees include:

  • Nancy Flowers
  • David Shiman
  • Marissa Gutierrez-Vicario
  • Rosemary Blanchard
  • Sandy Sohcot
  • Human Rights Watch Student Task Force
  • Felisa Tibbitts
  • Connecticut Educators and Students Panel
  • Yvonne Vissing
  • Anita Yudkin-Suliveres
  • Dr. Monisha Bajaj
  • Sandra Sirota
  • Audrey Osler
  • Maria Hantzopoulos
  • Lina Lenberg,
  • Dr. Alex Red Corn
  • Karen Robinson
  • Glenn Mitoma
  • Elana Haviv
  • Sam Totten
  • Dr. Hugh Starkey
  • Susan Katz
  • Kristi Rudelius-Palmer
  • HRE USA Edmonds Fellows