Action Blog: Action and Advocacy

MENTEE student Hiram Lugo discusses the hardships of being undocumented in the United States and the value of supporting undocumented students. (English and Spanish versions available)

With the 116th United States Congress sworn in just over a month ago, it is a crucial time for us to be thinking about how we as advocates can align ourselves with our Congressmen and Congresswomen to fight for the quality, inclusive, free education for all that GCE-US is so passionate about.

Washington, D.C. (January 18, 2019) –  Global Campaign for Education welcomed the signing into law of the Protecting Girls’ Access to Education in Vulnerable Settings Act by President Trump on January 14. GCE-US, together with partners including Girl Up and JRS/USA , supported this legislation since it was introduced in 2017.

On Wednesday, January 9th, the Women’s Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act (WEEE Act) was successfully signed into law. The bipartisan legislation was led in the House of Representatives by former Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) and Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL), and sponsored in the Senate by John Boozman (R-AR) and Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD).

GCE-US Youth Advocate, Taylor Rogers, shares her experience advocating at the GCE Youth Caucus, of the Global Campaign for Education’s 6th World Assembly 2018. 

GCE-US, Girl Up, and She's the First speak to Donell Edwards, of the CRW Network, on their work toward ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education globally. 

Thank you for your advocacy for global education! YOU have an opportunity to personally influence policy. Please share your input on the new U.S. Government Strategy on International Basic Education by July 22 >>> https://www.usaid.gov/education/usg-strategy-draft.

Please tell your leaders what you want the next international education policy to look like today 

In July, the Global Campaign for Education-US has the opportunity to speak on multiple panels for the Global Scholars program which operates through American University. It is essential to have discussions concerning advocacy for younger generations and to remember to empower and support our youth as they continue on their journey towards advocacy work. Young people such as the students participating in the Global Scholars program are a part of the future generation who will one day shape the world we live in. Let’s empower them.   

In June, the United States government decided to leave the United Nations Human Rights Council. This decision ultimately brings forth different implications questioning the stance the US is choosing to take within the global arena regarding human rights. To protect human rights for all global citizens (including the right to quality education), it is critical now more than ever to uphold the dignity of the institutions we take membership in as opposed to abandon them outright.

GCE-US holds a Youth Advocacy Summit which gives youth advocates a platform to speak to their representatives to advocate for global education on Capitol Hill. The summit includes a training day with panelists from various coalition members within the Global Campaign for Education and a day of scheduled congressional meetings where the Youth Advocates can directly speak to their representatives about why access to quality education around the world matters to them. Read about my experience here.