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We are excited to introduce the Human Rights Education (HRE) Network Advisory Group (NAG), a new collective of HRE practitioners from across Amnesty International who will be working together to strengthen our global HRE network and support HRE as a core capacity within our movement. This group brings together diverse experiences, local knowledge, and creative methodologies to help shape the future of HRE across the organisation. Its role is to support the Global HRE Network by offering ideas, insights, and practical suggestions that reflect the richness of our global community. After initially meeting online, members of the HRE NAG recently gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, for an important strategic moment to:

Build relationships in a face-to-face environment.
Share experiences of HRE implementation across all regions.
Define the role of the Advisory Group moving forward.
Plan key actions to help strengthen connections and capacity across the HRE Network.

For most attendees, this amazing opportunity meant a lot of travel (Alonso from Chile won ‘Most Hours/Days in Transit!’). For others, it also meant enormous amounts of preparation, both in the months leading up to the event and on the ground in the Nairobi office itself…but it was worth it! Numerous deep-dive sessions were run with and by participants to explore the untapped potential of our HRE Network and brainstorm how best to support its ongoing evolution.

Here are the top 3 takeaways of this unique intensive:

HRE is more vital than ever

As we currently witness a normalization of authoritarian practices and narratives around the world, Human Rights Education plays an increasingly critical role in empowering activists with the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to recognize and challenge such practices. Which makes this opportunity to revitalize Amnesty’s global network of HRE practitioners especially timely…and exciting! So, make sure you contribute your own insights and ideas to the future of our Network by completing the survey coming soon.

Quality time is a game-changer

Meeting ‘in real life’ was the highlight for everybody in Nairobi, which is why building stronger connections across the entire HRE Network, and particularly within geographical regions, forms a big part of the long-term vision. Online interactions like webinars are incredibly helpful (and practical!), and the commitment is always to make as many of these as possible, but it’s also true that something special happens when colleagues have the chance to work together in more sustained and meaningful ways. As a network of diverse people having a wide range of experiences in our far-flung corners of the earth we are one thing (i.e. near strangers with HRE in common); but as a group of people who have laughed, listened and learned with one another on a deeper level we are quite another (i.e. unified collaborators with all sorts of things in common!).

There is no such thing as a ‘silly question’

It turns out everybody has felt self-conscious about their level of knowledge or experience in an HRE space at one time or another, and this can limit all our learning. As the bonds of our HRE Network strengthen, increased camaraderie will help everyone to feel safe in speaking up – but, in the meantime, this is a very friendly reminder: we’re all feeling the same way in the same boat!

Meet the Members

Let’s get to know the members of the HRE Network Advisory Group, each bringing their own unique experience and energy to this collective effort. Their mandate runs for 18 months, during which they’ll be actively contributing to key processes and supporting the wider network.

***Iván López-Justiniano (he/him/él)*** is a Human Rights Education Specialist at Amnesty Puerto Rico. His work centers on advocacy and education around LGBTQI+rights. He addresses issues such as gender-based violence, homophobia, and health equity through participatory research, legal frameworks, and intersectional feminism. Iván holds a Master of Human Rights from the University of Minnesota, where he specialized in gender, sexuality, race, and ethnicity.

***Nassim Oughlissi*** joined Amnesty Algeria in 2010 as a volunteer member. In 2016, he became part of the staff as the Activism Coordinator. After several years in this role and facing the growing challenges of activism in our context, he realized that Human Rights Education could be a more effective way to promote human rights. When a position in HRE opened within the section, he decided to move into this role. He is now committed to strengthening our work through education and looks forward to achieving great results together.

***Constanța Botnar*** has been the HRE Programme Coordinator at Amnesty Moldova since 2020, and her main areas of work are child protection rights and gender justice issues. The core directive of her work is the systemic integration of HRE in formal educational settings on a national level. As a new phase in this initiative, AI Moldova has now begun formalising HRE in the university curricula of the biggest Pedagogical University in the country, ensuring that all future educators will receive HRE training as part of their base educational learning process.

***Alonso Serradell Díaz*** , 40 years old, from Santiago, Chile, at the southern end of the world!! He joined Amnesty Chile in 2019 as the Activism and Youth Officer. Since 2022, he has served as the Human Rights Education (HRE) Coordinator and has been part of various cooperative, community, and popular education initiatives that have deeply shaped his practice in the movement. His work has focused on strengthening a strategic approach to HRE, internal training, participatory methodologies, and topics such as police violence and the right to protest.

***Liz Malcolm (she/her)*** joined Amnesty Australia in 2024 and is responsible for creating a fresh approach to Human Rights Education in Australia. Guided by the People Power Strategy, Liz is currently focused on raising awareness of issues at the heart of the Indigenous Rights campaign and helping to build a rights-respecting society in general. While she brings her own experience and ideas to this role, she deeply values the insights of her colleagues, communities, and HRE peers around the world.

***Emily Maranga*** joined Amnesty Kenya in 2021 as the Human Rights Education and Activism Manager, before the Program transitioned into the Movement Building Program. In her current role, she supports national and community efforts to strengthen human rights awareness, youth leadership, and collective action through evidence-based advocacy and capacity building. Her work also includes coordinating and mentoring Human Rights Friendly School clubs, nurturing a new generation of informed and active citizens. She also oversees impact reporting and learning processes that enhance accountability and inform future action

***Adjevi-Zan Lassey*** is passionate about human rights and knowledge sharing. This passion led him to take on the position of Human Rights Education (HRE) Coordinator at Amnesty Togo in 2018, after having volunteered for the cause a few years earlier. He works in both formal and non-formal education for HRE. Under his leadership, AI Togo has carried out advocacy efforts for the integration of HRE into school curricula. He coordinates the production of educational tools for online training (social media and MOOCs).

***Altantuya BATDORJ*** is passionate about human rights and knowledge sharing. This passion led her to take on the position of Human Rights Education (HRE) Coordinator at AI Mongolia from 1999-2005. She not only works in both formal and non-formal education for HRE in her country, but also plays some role in HRE advocacy works in the region. Under her leadership, AI Mongolia is seen as the leading organization on HRE in Mongolia.

What Next?

The Advisory Group is now working to turn these insights into action. You’ll soon receive a short survey to share your own experiences, needs, and ideas for the future of the HRE Network. Your input will help shape how we support capacity building, resource sharing, and collaboration going forward.

Gratitude

So many people went above and beyond to make the Kenya workshop such a resounding success, but special thanks go to Kate Moriarty, Ruth Zaldibar Garcia, Emily Maranga, Philcollins Omondi, and the entire Amnesty Kenya community. Finally, our sincere gratitude also goes to Sophia Scherer and the extraordinary team of four interpreters who worked tirelessly throughout to translate participants’ every word. The level of selflessness, skill, and patience was exemplary!

Let’s keep building a strong, inclusive, and impactful HRE Network together!!!

The post Strengthening Human Rights Education Together: Meet the HRE Network Advisory Group appeared first on Amnesty International.

Responding to the news of the conditional royal pardon granted on 5 November 2025 to former member of parliament, Mthandeni Dube, resulting in his supervised release, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Vongai Chikwanda, said:

“Mthandeni Dube’s release may bring relief to his family, but justice remains incomplete while his human rights are restricted by sweeping conditions and Bacede Mabuza who was arrested together with Dube, is still in prison. Both Mthandeni Dube and Bacede Mabuza should never have been imprisoned in the first place solely the peaceful exercise of their human rights. The Eswatini authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Bacede Mabuza and quash both MPs’ unfair convictions.

Mthandeni Dube’s release may bring relief to his family, but justice remains incomplete while his human rights are restricted by sweeping conditions

Vongai Chikwanda, Deputy Regional Director, Amnesty International, ESARO

“Mthandeni Dube’s release is subject to far-reaching limitations on his human rights, including prohibitions on political activity, public speaking and media engagement, as well as restrictions on travel and residence. These conditions, imposed under the supervision of His Majesty’s Correctional Services, unduly restrict human rights and effectively extend punishment beyond the prison walls.

The continued criminalization of Mthandeni Dube and Bacede Mabuza underscores Eswatini’s ongoing crackdown on peaceful dissent.

Vongai Chikwanda

“The continued criminalization of Mthandeni Dube and Bacede Mabuza underscores Eswatini’s ongoing crackdown on peaceful dissent. Eswatini authorities must take immediate and effective steps to protect civic space ensure and uphold the human rights of everyone including to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.”

Background

MPs Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube were arrested on 25 July 2021 after supporting calls for constitutional and democratic reform in Eswatini. On 31 July 2024, they were sentenced to 85 years and 58 years respectively under the Suppression of Terrorism Act (2008) and Sedition and Subversive Activities Act (1938). On 25 July 2025, Amnesty International designated both men as prisoners of conscience.

On 5 November 2025, His Majesty’s Correctional Services announced Dube’s conditional royal pardon, imposing strict limitations on his political engagement, public communication and movement. Bacede Mabuza remains in prison, serving an 85-year sentence imposed under repressive laws after proceedings that failed to meet international fair trial standards.

The post Eswatini: Authorities must unconditionally release Mthandeni Dube and Bacede Mabuza appeared first on Amnesty International.