Human Rights Educator

A Human Rights Educator’s goal is to equip people with the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to claim and defend their rights and the rights of others.

Tasks | Skills | Salary | Requirements | Workplaces | Career Paths | Related Courses | Master’s Programmes

Tasks: What Does a Human Rights Educator Do? 

A Human Rights Educator specializes in designing and delivering educational programs to foster a better understanding of human rights. They create curricula, lead workshops, and empower individuals to become informed advocates for human rights, ultimately promoting respect for human dignity and equality within society. Typical tasks of human rights officers could include:

• Create curricula, lesson plans, and educational resources that facilitate the teaching of human rights.
• Lead workshops, seminars, and training sessions to educate individuals and groups about human rights.
• Empower learners to think critically about human rights issues, encouraging them to analyze and address violations effectively.
• Work in collaboration with educational institutions, organizations, and community groups.
• Assess and measure the impact of human rights education programs to continuously improve their efficacy and relevance.

Skills: What Skills Does a Human Rights Educator Need?

A Human Rights Educator should possess a strong background in pedagogy, which includes expertise in designing and delivering effective educational programs. This involves developing clear learning objectives, creating engaging and inclusive curricula, and employing a variety of teaching methods to cater to diverse learning styles and needs.

• Pedagogical Expertise: Proficiency in instructional design, curriculum development, and teaching methods to effectively convey human rights concepts and principles. This includes the ability to adapt materials for various age groups and educational settings.
• Empathy and emotional intelligence: A high degree of empathy to connect with learners on a personal level, understand their diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and create a safe and inclusive learning environment.
• Facilitation Skills: The capability to facilitate group discussions, workshops, and training sessions, fostering open dialogue, active participation, and mutual respect among participants.
• Human Rights Knowledge: A deep understanding of international human rights laws, treaties, and declarations, as well as current human rights issues, enabling educators to provide accurate and up-to-date information to learners.
• Openness: An open-minded and receptive attitude to new ideas, perspectives, and feedback, allowing for continuous learning and adaptability in the evolving field of human rights education.

Salary: What Do Human Rights Educators Earn?

The salaries of Human Rights Educators can vary depending on the employing organization. Smaller NGOs tend to offer relatively modest salaries, while larger NGOs and intergovernmental organizations like the United Nations more competitive compensation. For instance, a Human Rights Educator at the OHCHR in Geneva, starting at the P3-Level (higher entry level), receives approximately 11,000 CHF per month (tax-free). In contrast, a Human Rights Educator working with a smaller NGO may earn an annual salary of around 25,000-30,0000 EUR. The table below offers a comprehensive breakdown of Human Rights Educator salaries within the United Nations. Human Rights Educators at the UN are frequently called Training Officers.

Note: UN salaries consist of base salaries plus post adjustment. Post adjustment is a fancy term for a payment bonus you receive every month depending on your duty station and other factors. In the table below Afghanistan includes danger pay and hardship allowance. The UN salary numbers below include post adjustment.

Workplaces: Where do Human Rights Educators work? 

Many Human Rights Educators work in schools, colleges, and universities, where they teach human rights courses, conduct workshops, and engage with students on human rights issues. Human Rights Educators can also be found in numerous human rights-focused NGOs such as Amnesty International or Equitas.  Some government departments and agencies also hire Human Rights Educators.

Career Paths: How to become a Human Rights Educator?

Like many jobs in human rights, there isn’t a fixed career path. But if you’re interested in becoming a Human Rights Educator at the UN, gaining experience at human rights NGOs and earning a master’s degree is a good route. Getting into the UN as a Human Rights Educator can be challenging for beginners, so it’s often easier after a few years of experience. While online courses provide foundational knowledge, a master’s degree is typically needed for most Human Rights Officer positions.

Related Online Courses

If you want to become a Human Rights Educator, the courses below can help you develop basic skills and they are a great way to explore your own interests. They are not a replacement for a higher education degree. You can audit the courses for free or opt-in for a paid certificate.

Master’s Programmes to Become a Human Rights Educator