Have you ever imagined that something you take for granted and rarely think about, your rights and personal dignity, could depend on something as random and unfair as the place where you were born?
Unfortunately, it happens far more often than we think.
This is why, on a campus where diversity is not only a reality but a driving force for change, the RFK Human Rights Student Leadership Council has become one of the most transformative initiatives at CIS University. Created in 2023 as a pilot project led by Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Spain, this council brings together students of different nationalities and professors from CIS University with a shared purpose: to promote the values of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and turn them into concrete actions within the university community.
The mission of this council is as clear as it is inspiring: to encourage young people to take action in favor of social justice, equality, and peace.
Through training sessions and in-person meetings held throughout the semester, students identify potential human rights issues within their immediate environment and develop proposals to address them. In some cases, these ideas become real initiatives on campus or awareness-raising activities aimed at the broader academic community.
The program is coordinated by the Director of RFK Human Rights Spain, Professor Anthony Verrecchio, who also teaches the course Human Rights in Society. He works alongside other members of the university to build a bridge between academic learning and meaningful social action.
“The main goal is for students to be able to analyze local and global human rights issues, debate them respectfully, and design small actions capable of having real impact,” explains Verrecchio.
The council’s mission is built around three fundamental pillars:
- Identifying and discussing current human rights issues.
- Designing action plans to raise awareness or directly respond to these challenges.
- Providing practical tools for the entire CIS University community to participate in social justice initiatives.
This semester, 25 students representing around ten different nationalities are part of the council, reinforcing its multicultural character and global outlook.
Beyond its academic dimension, the RFK Human Rights Student Leadership Council offers benefits that extend well beyond the classroom: sociability, new friendships, teamwork, leadership development, and meaningful opportunities for professional growth. “Many young people feel a strong connection to certain causes, but they don’t know how to begin,” says Verrecchio. “The council gives them a real space to participate, debate, learn from others, and feel like active contributors to something that truly matters.”
To conclude, Professor Verrecchio shares a reflection that captures the spirit of the program:
“We are fortunate to have brilliant and deeply committed students on our campus. For me, as a human rights professor, it is a gift to see these ideas come to life in our students’ hands. Initiatives like this help build a more just society, and I am proud that CIS University is part of that work.”