Our work is motivated and defined by the stories and courage of 50+ human rights defenders from around the world. Representing a diverse array of cultures and ideas, these defenders and their activism encourage students to further engage with international human rights law, standards and advocacy and to realize how one person can truly make a difference. Our list of defenders is always growing, as we work to discover new stories that can inspire a generation to take action. 

We feature our Defenders in a variety of ways, whether it be through interviews from Kerry Kennedy's book Speak Truth to Power: Human Rights Defenders who are Changing Our World or teacher-developed lesson plans. Beginning with the story of a specific human rights defender, each of these lesson plans outlines a series of activities inspired by the defender's advocacy and designed to encourage students themselves to "Become a Defender." They are available in 7 different languages for students at all levels, ranging from elementary school to law school. In addition, they align with Common Core Learning Standards.