Young Bermudians Complete Human Rights Visit
Four young Bermudians – Zarah Siddiqi, Zayne Sinclair, Gabriel Smith and Christopher Jackson – completed a week-long educational visit to Geneva, Switzerland, to strengthen their human rights advocacy skills and experience international insights.
A spokesperson said, “Four young Bermudian community leaders have completed an educational visit to Geneva organised by the Human Rights Education Network [HuRen], bringing fresh ideas, international connections and practical approaches to their work.
“Zarah Siddiqi, Zayne Sinclair, Gabriel Smith and Christopher Jackson participated in the programme from 17–24 October 2026, accompanied by HuRen Founder and Executive Director Françoise Palau-Wolffe.
“Selected by local organisations including Bermuda Is Love, the National Youth Policy Working Group and Mirrors, the four young leaders form HuRen’s first youth cohort.
“Their journey began with HuRen’s Human Rights for Changemakers course in October 2025. Their participation in a youth-led baseline study of human rights education needs in Bermuda alongside young researchers from the Geneva Graduate Institute in February 2026 followed the initiation phase. The Geneva visit builds on these experiences and forms an integral part of their development as future HuRen human rights educators.
“The programme connected participants with international institutions, humanitarian organisations and grassroots advocates in Geneva and nearby Annecy, France. It included meetings with representatives from Interpeace, the World Meteorological Organization, the Sphere Humanitarian Summit and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
“A workshop with communication expert Dr. Susan Laverick helped participants gain confidence in their advocacy skills and develop strategies to maximize their impacts. Visits to the only Red Cross refugee day centre in Switzerland and to a local chapter of the Ligue des Droits de l’homme offered further opportunities to reflect on the practical protection of rights and human dignity at a grassroot level.
“In a concluding reflection session, the four participants considered what they had learned and how they would apply their experiences.
“For Zarah Siddiqi, Interpeace’s work on youth movements in South Asia offered a particularly meaningful connection. The Sphere Humanitarian Summit deepened her understanding of the expertise and standards underpinning humanitarian assistance, while discussions about displacement resonated with her family’s history.
“With a particular interest in conflict resolution, Gabriel Smith explored how organisations build trust and encourage participation. His reflections focused on creating spaces where people feel connected, heard and able to contribute to decisions.
“Zayne Sinclair concentrated on organisational sustainability and measuring impact. He also identified opportunities to consider how approaches developed for Bermuda might benefit other island communities.
“For Christopher Jackson, advice from Interpeace reinforced the importance of young people communicating their values clearly and engaging confidently with policymakers. He valued the Sphere handbook as a practical framework for understanding human rights in humanitarian settings and was particularly impressed by the Red Cross centre’s coordinated referral system, which connected people with support while protecting confidentiality.”
Dr. Seymour, HuRen Board member and curator of the Geneva programme, said, “At a time when respect for universal human rights is increasingly under threat, meaningful action continues around the world. The connections between young Bermudians with global policymakers in Geneva offers powerful evidence that local action and global commitment go together. Today’s youth are already helping to build a future rooted in dignity, justice and hope.”
A spokesperson added, “As members of HuRen’s future Youth Advisory Board, Zarah, Zayne, Gabriel and Christopher will help guide the organisation’s educational work and share their learning within their respective circles. They have also been instrumental in selecting the 2026-2027 HuRen Youth contingent.
“HuRen extends its heartfelt thanks to the Bermuda Foundation for its generous financial support, which made this educational programme possible. HuRen also gratefully acknowledges Bermuda College for supporting the delivery of the initial Human Rights for Changemakers course, laying the foundation for participants’ continued learning and development.”
