Human Rights Virtual Global Youth Summit -- March 25-27, 2026

Welcome to the Virtual Youth Human Rights Summit!

March 25-27, 2026

This summit brings together passionate young leaders, activists, and students from around the world to explore key issues in human rights, social justice, and youth empowerment. Our Summit is designed to forefront conversations among youth on issues that closely affect them. Youth will share the situations in their communities, best practices for addressing key issues as well as strategize about how to overcome obstacles. 

Summit Schedule 

The heart of the summit are tracks devoted to specific topics. These tracks will meet for 2 hours each day of the three-day event, for a total of six hours per track. This format will allow for in-depth learning, extensive interaction, and work on real-world projects.

Our Tracks

Participants will engage in interactive tracks focused on the following topics. Note: tracks 1-4 will meet at the same time each day (7-9 a.m. AZ time), Tracks 5-7 will meet from 10-noon AZ time each day. 

Tracks at 7:00 - 9:00 a.m. AZ time each day

1. The UDHR as a Living Document:  Day 1: Step into your power and discover how your voice can shape a more just world in this dynamic two-hour youth workshop exploring the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Through interactive discussions with your peers from around the world, you will take on team challenges, big-picture thinking, and create your own definition of human rights! Together, you will uncover the powerful ideas of dignity, equality, and freedom that changed the world after World War II. You’ll have the chance to work in small groups to examine the 30 articles of the UDHR, debate how they show up (or don’t) in your schools and communities, and tackle real issues like climate change, censorship, surveillance, and discrimination. Then, in teams, you will take the lead by drafting your own “Rights of Young People,” reimagining what protections and freedoms your generation needs today. This is not just a workshop, it’s your chance to think critically, speak boldly, and help design a fairer future.

   More Information Forthcoming

2. Conservation and Indigenous Rights: This track focuses on the impacts of conservation initiatives on Indigenous Peoples, and on the ways Indigenous communities are responding with strength, creativity, and leadership. Around the world, many conservation efforts — including the creation or expansion of protected areas and REDD+ projects — have caused serious harm to Indigenous Peoples. These harms can include: displacement from ancestral lands, restrictions on access to forests and natural resources, loss of livelihoods, and violations of cultural and spiritual rights. At the same time, Indigenous Peoples are not only resisting these harms — they are also advancing powerful alternatives. In this track, participants will learn how communities are defending their rights and proposing solutions rooted in Indigenous knowledge, territorial stewardship, and self-determination.
   1. Track Organizers:  Elaine Porokwa, Maasai, Tanzania, Elisa Marchi, USA and Italy
   2. Track Schedule  
      1. Day 1 (March 25): Fortress conservation: Speaker: Robert Williams (bio: https://law.arizona.edu/person/robert-williams-jr), and Elaine Porokwa
      2. Day 2 (March 26): Indigenous women-led conservation  initiatives, Speakers Philippines: Bestang Sarah Deskdeken (confirmed), Mexico: Valiana Alejandra Aguilar Hernandez (confirmed ); Milka Chepkorir (Kenya)
      3. Day 3 (March 27): Indigenous initiatives, indigenous knowledge  and community documentary
3. Gen-Z Protests:  Learn from youth that participated in the successful protests in Nepal, Bangladesh and elsewhere. Special attention will be given to gender issuers and the role of graffiti art. How can the momentum be sustained after the protests?
4. Self-Care for Youth Activists: Recharge, reflect, and reconnect:  In this three-day journey we will explore mental health implications of activist work, links between inner and outer transformation, and practices of self- and collective care, while building a supportive global community. Through guided reflections, interactive discussion and exchange of experiences, inspirational videos, and embodied practices of self- and collective care, we will learn how to balance action with rest and reflection, transform challenges into growth and create personal toolkit for ongoing self-care. Join us to discover why self(care) is a radical political strategy and help us create global community of care.
   1. Track Organizer and Facilitator:  Dr Ivana Radačić is a human rights scholar, based in Zagreb, Croatia (Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences), with a strong interest in spiritual activism and well-being in human rights movements. Her work on these issues is informed by her own journey of inner transformation, which includes training in Kundalini yoga, body-oriented psychotherapy, shamanism, conscious dance, as well as communion with nature.

For More Information

Tracks at 10:00 - Noon AZ time each day

5. Girls’ Education: Explore how to overcome cultural barriers to girls education as well as the important role of STEM education for girls. Track Organizers:   Resiato Salyan Lembaka
6. Climate Migration:  Around the world, climate change is impacting the places that communities make their lives, changing their daily lives, and sometimes forcing people to move. In this track, participants will have the opportunity to connect with youth from around the world to share experiences, learn, and collaborate. Participants will have the opportunity to learn different skills, tools, and approaches that they might apply to addressing challenges inside or beyond their communities. Mentors will provide advice on employing podcasts, documentaries, hackathons, photovoice, poetry, rap, music, infographics, maps, and presentations to tell stories, raise awareness, and envision possible futures. Depending on interest, participants may explore opportunities to continue a track-related project beyond the summit.  Speakers:  Rafiqul Montu, Bangladesh, Others TB
7. Human Rights Education and Climate Change   Track Organizers: Anas Razzaq and Ion Vlad

Opening Ceremony

On our first day (March 25) from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Arizona time, we will have a very special opening ceremony. It will feature our special guest speakers descendants of two of the most influential members of the drafting committee of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

• Anna Eleanor Fierst, Chair Eleanor Roosevelt Foundation and Great-Granddaughter of Eleanor Roosevelt and
• Habib Malik, president and CEO of The Charles Malik Foundation 

The opening ceremony will also include special artistic performances. 

Registration:  NOTE: When you register (here) you will be asked to select your preferred tracks. We will use that information to tentatively assign you to one of the tracks. This is to give the facilitators some idea of who might be participating in their track. You will be free to move to other tracks and attend sessions of more than one track.

To Register and Participate

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much does it cost to participate in this event?  There is no cost for participants. Many of the costs are being borne by a generous gift from the Miner Anderson Family Foundation and the University of Arizona’s Human Rights Practice program.
2. Who is organizing this event?  This is a joint project that is being organized by the University of Arizona’s Human Rights Practice program with assistance from groups and individuals around the globe. We are especially thankful for the financial assistance from the Miner Anderson Family Foundation as well as our youth organizers.
3. Can my organization sign-on to co-sponsor the event?  Yes, the more the merrier. If your organization is interested in co-sponsoring, please contact Professor William Simmons at williamsimmons@arizona.edu.
   1. We are looking for nominal sponsors where organizations are not providing financial support, but they commit to marketing the event and recruiting youth from their area. Nominal sponsors’ logos and links will be included on our website, during the event, and in our emails.
   2. Financial sponsors will provide financial support as well as committing to marketing the event and recruiting youth from their area. Minimum of $250 is recommended, but more is always welcome. Your financial support will go toward  speakers, artists, and others that are critical for the event’s success. It will also help with the costs of the follow-up capacity building activities.
4. Individuals or Groups?  The registration form asks if you are a member of an organization, but if you are not, you are still welcome. It may be best for members of the same organization to be in the same track so they can work together on real world projects, but it is not necessary.
5. What do you mean by a youth?  What if I don’t fit the age range of being a youth?  The UN and other international organizations often use the age range of 15-25, while the African Union often counts youth as 15-35. We are very flexible. If you are youthful in heart or spirit, you can be a youth. And even if you do not count as a youth, feel free to attend the Summit. We just ask that the Youth lead the discussions.
6. What if I can only attend one day?  That is fine and you can note that on the registration form.  The tracks are being designed where each day builds on the previous day, but feel free to join when you can.
7. Can I move from one track to another? Can I attend more than one track?
8. What type of projects will be done in the tracks during the summit?
9. Will there be any way to show that I participated?  Yes, we have developed three different ways that you can be recognized: a certificate, an electronic micro-credential badge, and credit for prior learning. These are pretty cool!
   1. What do I need to do to receive a certificate?
   2. What do I need to do to receive a University of Arizona micro-credential badge?
      1. Participants who are actively involved with the work of the virtual summit can have the opportunity to earn microcredential badges issued by the University of Arizona. Examples include  “Cross-Cultural Interaction for Human Rights” and “International Cooperation for Human Rights.”
      2. These badges reflect professional skills developed by students in the course of their schoolwork and can be shared via LinkedIn and in other settings. They provide evidence of your active participation and that you met certain participation criteria.
      3. You can learn more about micro-credential badges at: https://registrar.arizona.edu/badge
   3. What do I need to do to receive credit for prior learning at the University of Arizona? 

Our Wonderful Sponsors

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Image	Department of Ethnic, Gender & Transborder Studies/Sociology (EGTSS) Pima Community College	Image
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To learn more about how to participate, contact Prof. William Simmons at williamsimmons@arizona.edu. 

Sponsored by the University of Arizona Program in Human Rights Practice, based in the School of Global Studies in the College of Social and Behavioral Studies and The Miner Anderson Family Foundation.  

To learn more the first Global Youth Summit held last semester, you can read the article From Stories to Solutions: Global Youth Driving Change in Human Rights and Climate Action.