ABOUT US
Youth for Human Rights Australia Victorian Chapter was established in 2011 and was incorporated officially in 2015. We are a not-for-profit organisation registered with Consumer Affairs Victoria.
Since 2011 we have distributed thousands of human rights education booklets and fliers to young people all over Victoria and over 500 young Victorians have signed the petition to implement the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as part of getting educated about human rights.
Our aims as a group are:
- Fully educate and activate youth and adults on Human Rights.
- To be active advocates of peace and tolerance without violence, creating a peaceful saner world. We are secular and non–political in nature.
We hand out booklets on a one-on-one basis on the streets, at markets, fairs, festivals and in shops. We also make bulk copies available to the community and educational groups. Many people now also access the materials for free online, including watching videos.
Our materials are all printed and produced through generous donations and we use volunteers from many different professions to distribute the booklets and DVDs.
We also run community events to educate youth and adults through honouring important United Nations International Days like Mandela Day, Peace Day & Human Rights Day, etc. We also honour the day William Cooper led a group of Indigenous persons from his Footscray home to the German Consulate in Melbourne’s CBD to protest the injustices carried out against the Jews by the Nazis.
EXECUTIVE STAFF
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & AMBASSADOR
“Since I can remember I’ve been looking for a practical tool that can be used by young and old alike, that is secular and simple and aesthetic to view.
The Youth for Human Rights education program is just that tool I’ve been looking for. Having run this campaign in Victoria for over 13 years with my amazing volunteer team, time and time again I see the astounding changes of attitude in the recipients of the program. It helps to counter hate rhetoric, discrimination, racism, bullying, domestic violence, bring peace where there is conflict. The list is endless. I always say that one Human Rights booklet can save or change a life.
When we look at the world today, we see it is in desperate need of stable education, understanding and application of Human Rights. More than ever, we must educate our coming generations, so they can become active advocates of Peace and tolerance.
I have seen these materials spread into a war zone and how finally, with a lot of other positive factors, peace becomes reality. Every single person has to start with learning and understanding their own Human Rights and then protecting the Rights of others. Genocide is a fact where Human Rights are abused and denied.
With the majority of Earth’s nations armed with nuclear weapons, it has never been more pressing to educate ALL, including those high in Government about Human Rights. The ultimate Human Rights violation is a planet destroyed by such a catastrophic event.
Human Rights are inextricably connected and interwoven with the environment, our eco-systems and the precious species that inhabit them. We see when Human Rights violations occur such as war etc… the environment and wildlife inevitably suffer.
So, this is what drives me to keep enlightening and spreading the knowledge and the practical application of Human Rights to our youth, government and religious leaders, politicians, artists, and continue to work alongside our friends in Interfaith and communities who are also ‘freedom fighters.’”
– ELANA SAKS
EXECUTIVE STAFF
DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Connie is passionate about educating youth and adults on their Human Rights.
Here are a few words from her.
“These last few years have been quite an eye-opener for me with regards to the lack of respect for humanity. I have always been fond of people no matter who they are, what religion they subscribe to or where they come from on this planet.
“This is why I decided to join the YHR team; this allows me to help educate people on human rights and if I can make some difference in someone’s life because they have been educated on Human Rights we all win a little more on this planet. Every person deserves respect! I’m looking forward to creating some great effects!”
– CONNIE CURATO
VOLUNTEER HOURS
BOOKLETS DISTRIBUTED
PETITIONS
EDUCATED YOUTH
TESTIMONIALS
OUR VOLUNTEERS' STORIES
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
“I am passionate about the Youth for Human Rights program because it enables me to tell people that they have certain rights even in our beautiful country, where the Human Rights subject isn’t well known. I use the ‘What are Human Rights’ to enlighten the youth and donate them to street libraries as well.”
- MV
Volunteer
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
“I decided to join up with Youth for Human Rights because I realised I didn’t actually know Human Rights myself and realised there would be a lot of people in exactly the same situation.
When I looked them over I realised that people need help and hope and they need to know what their Human Rights are, so they can then understand what is being taken away from us in these crazy times.
I think if I can enlighten a few people perhaps they will become a little more causative, because silence is consent and I want to do something to help people and make them realise that they do have Rights.”