Students urged to champion human rights awareness

The National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) has concluded a human rights awareness campaign conducted in secondary schools and higher learning institutions from February 3 to 6, 2026, aimed at strengthening students’ understanding of their rights and civic responsibilities.
The outreach engaged students in discussions on fundamental human rights, the importance of reporting violations, and the role young people can play in promoting respect for human dignity.
The campaign reached several institutions including RP Colleges in Huye and Musanze, the University of Rwanda, the Catholic University of Rwanda, the Protestant University of Rwanda, UNILAK, the University of Tourism, Technology and Business Studies (UTB), and Mount Kigali University, among others.
During the sessions, NCHR Chairperson Umurungi Providence urged students to take an active role in raising awareness about human rights within their communities.
“As university students, you can be agents of awareness by using social media and academic research to promote and defend human rights in your communities,” she said.
Students who attended the sessions said the discussions helped deepen their understanding of human rights and their responsibility to stand against abuses.
“The campaign helped us understand that defending human rights is not only the responsibility of institutions but also of individuals,” one student said. “We learned how to recognize violations and where to report them.”
Another participant noted that students can play a key role in spreading awareness.
“Through social media and interactions in our communities, we can help others understand their rights and encourage respect for human dignity,” the student said.
The Commission says empowering young people with knowledge about human rights is essential to building a generation that actively contributes to the promotion and protection of rights in society.