How do you go from recognizing an injustice to knowing how to respond? How do you turn an idea into an initiative that involves others? For those who are just beginning to defend human rights, these questions can be as important as the causes that move them to act. Commitment is a starting point. Knowledge, guidance, and opportunities to exchange ideas help them find ways to take action.
That vision inspired Generation Human Rights: Empowering Young People for Truth and Justice (Generación DDHH), an initiative led by the Due Process of Law Foundation (DPLF) in coordination with a network of Venezuelan civil society organizations.
The program will bring together 18 young university students interested in defending human rights and democracy in Venezuela. Through specialized training and mentorship, they will have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge, develop skills, and explore ways to get involved in their communities.
Learning to See Venezuela Through a Human Rights Lens
Human rights are part of everyday life. They are reflected in the ability to pursue an education, express an opinion, take part in public decision-making, or seek justice in the face of abuse. Understanding how these rights are protected and what responsibilities institutions have helps people examine those experiences from a broader perspective.
In online and in-person sessions, participants will learn about international mechanisms for protecting human rights, ways to investigate international crimes and bring those responsible to justice, and the role of civil society in efforts to pursue justice, restore democracy, and transform institutions. They will also examine experiences in Venezuela and elsewhere in Latin America to identify lessons they can apply to the challenges they face in their own communities.
The training will encourage participants to ask specific questions. What problems need attention? What strategies might work in their communities? Working through these questions will help each participant sharpen their analytical skills, develop informed arguments, and identify opportunities to act.
Learning from Experienced Human Rights Defenders
Each participant will have a mentor affiliated with a Venezuelan organization experienced in defending human rights. The mentoring relationship will give participants a space to share concerns, weigh alternatives, and receive guidance as they develop their own initiatives.
Through mentorship, young people will learn from those who have documented human rights violations, supported victims, and advocated for justice. At the same time, the participants’ own questions and perspectives will offer new ways to look at that work. Generación DDHH aims to make this exchange across generations an opportunity to build relationships and learn together.
From Idea to Action
Throughout the program, participants will have the opportunity to work on projects that address issues or concerns that matter to them. They will learn to develop proposals, set objectives, plan activities, communicate their ideas, and evaluate the results of their work. The training will also cover personal and organizational security, risk prevention, and self-care.
Working on these projects will help participants apply what they learn to real situations and explore different ways to contribute. They might conduct research, create opportunities for dialogue, organize activities, or join existing advocacy initiatives. There are many ways to defend human rights. Each participant can discover how to put their skills to work for the causes they care about.
A Community for Growth and Exchange
Generación DDHH is made possible by the joint efforts of organizations that share a commitment to defending human rights in Venezuela. They are Acceso a la Justicia, Aula Abierta, the Human Rights Center at Andrés Bello Catholic University (CDH-UCAB), the Center for Justice and Peace (CEPAZ), and the Venezuelan Program for Education and Action on Human Rights (PROVEA).
Their involvement will give participants a chance to learn about the different paths Venezuelan civil society organizations have taken and build relationships with people who share their concerns and goals. Within this network of knowledge and experience, participants will find opportunities to develop their own ideas.
Generación DDHH aims to be a place where a new generation can learn and come together, strengthen its voice, expand its opportunities to participate, and help defend human rights and democracy in Venezuela through its own initiatives.
By Karen Arita, Communications Coordinator · karita@dplf.org | Cover photo by Visual Tag via Pexel. File photo.
