The Human Rights Education (HRE) Network Advisory Group (NAG) has been established to strengthen Amnesty International’s global HRE network and reinforce human rights education as a core capacity within the movement. This new collective brings together practitioners with diverse experiences, local knowledge, and innovative approaches, aiming to offer ideas, insights, and practical suggestions that reflect the richness of Amnesty’s worldwide community. After beginning their collaboration online, members recently convened in Nairobi, Kenya, for a strategic gathering that allowed them to build relationships, share regional experiences, define the Advisory Group’s role, and plan actions to enhance connections and capacity across the HRE Network.
The Nairobi meeting involved extensive preparation and travel for participants, but it enabled numerous in-depth sessions where members explored the network’s untapped potential and brainstormed strategies to support its ongoing development. One key insight from the gathering is the growing importance of HRE in today’s world, as rising authoritarian practices and narratives make empowering activists with knowledge, skills, and confidence more crucial than ever. This context underscores the timely opportunity to revitalize Amnesty’s global network of HRE practitioners.
Another major takeaway is the impact of in-person collaboration. While online interactions such as webinars remain essential, face-to-face engagement allows colleagues to build deeper connections, learn from one another, and foster stronger collaboration across regions. These personal interactions transform participants from near strangers with shared interests into unified collaborators with a greater sense of shared purpose.
The group also emphasized the importance of creating a safe space for learning. Recognizing that everyone may at times feel self-conscious about their experience in HRE, the Advisory Group encourages open dialogue and questions, reinforcing that every contribution matters and that collective learning is strengthened when members feel comfortable sharing ideas.
The members of the HRE Network Advisory Group bring unique expertise and energy to their 18-month mandate. During this period, they will actively contribute to key processes and support the wider network, ensuring that Amnesty’s HRE initiatives continue to evolve, expand, and respond to global human rights challenges.
