Careers in Human Rights Law and Advocacy for High School Students 

In today’s world, the need for advocacy in human rights is essential. Marginalized minorities seek answers and guidance in all walks of life, but there never seems to be enough resources to fulfill the need. That is why we at NSHSS believe a career in human rights law is an amazing step toward making a change. But what you may not be aware of is just how large the human rights advocacy field is. No matter your inherent interests or strengths, there is a place for you to help make a difference. If you are somebody who is interested in this field, take a look below for the wide range of career paths you can explore for your future, and for the future of those around you.  

A good lawyer can make the difference for an individual or family who is struggling in a new country. By taking on this incredibly challenging yet rewarding role, you are doing the nitty-gritty work that can really make a world of difference in a person’s life.  

The victims of human rights abuse are like any other victims, they need to be heard. If you are considering anything like therapy or social work, consider setting your sights on the human rights side of it, and become a sounding board for those who feel they have no voice.  

If you are somebody with a facility with languages, you might become the best advocate there is. In any situation, communication can make or break the choices a person or institution makes. Use your language skills to speak when others cannot.  

Unfortunately, we all know that money does in fact make the world go ‘round. By becoming a grant writer, you can help advocate for the financial side of programs that need money to help those less fortunate.  

And speaking of money, money can be a trick thing to handle. If you have a talent for managing accounts and are considering a field in banking or any type of accountant, consider directing your skills toward nonprofit programs. These programs need just as much help as the large businesses we all know and love. And with the right accountant, money can really turn the tides on somebody’s future.   

This acronym stands for Geographic Information Systems. This person would be responsible for mapping out the territories and corresponding population of different areas around the world and using that data to build things like campaigns, programs, and accounts.  

When it comes to human rights, every human has the right to learn as much as they want to learn. And becoming educated can really build a person’s future from the ground up. If you are interested in teaching in any capacity, consider doing so for those who do not always have the same resources you are familiar with. A good educator, no matter the grade, can make up for the lack of good resources such as technology and new textbooks.  

Perhaps you are somebody with a zeal for detailed work and carry an inherent ‘administrative know-how’. If that sounds like you, don’t forget that every human rights program and politician first needs to campaign. These campaigns can be very difficult due to language barriers, lack of resources and funds, and legal troubles. But with the right manager, they can lead to major changes in the human rights struggle.  

The best way to drum up support for human rights advocacy is by spreading the word. This can be done through things like social media posts, blogs, website blurbs, or even videos. For those interested in writing, media outreach, or content creation of any kind, this is a great way to put those powers in the hands of people who, in one or another, do not feel they have a voice.  

Finally, we don’t want to forget about the people behind the scenes. The need for engineers is high in order to maintain the digital world we all live in. For everything from accounting software, to content creation, to internal administrative emails, tech engineers will always have their hard work cut out for them, and this way you can still help out those in need in the process. 

If you have ever considered any of these career paths, even in relation to what we’ve posted here today, then consider further the chance to truly make a difference with the path you choose to take. The world changes fast, and not everybody has the means or support to keep up with. Together we can do more than you think. For more information on human rights advocacy and ways to make a difference, visit our NSHSS website and check out blogs. Together, as one team, we can be honored as we strive to do more.