2024 ESSAY CONTESTS
THE QUESTION students were asked to address in 2024 was:
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stipulates: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. Yet António Gueterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, has identified hate speech as a formidable threat to human rights. Do you agree and if so, how do you think governments should deal with that threat? If you disagree, explain the reason you disagree.
THE DEADLINE for submitting essays was Human Rights Day (December 10). Students from the states and countries listed below participated.
SELECTION OF WINNERS: First, second, and third place winners of the contests will be selected by the end of January 2025 and receive $4000, $2000, and $1000 prizes respectively.
PARTICIPANTS: 415 (290 FROM U.S. + 125 FROM OTHER COUNTRIES).
PARTICIPATING STATES: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, Wisconsin, Osan AB, and Air Base Korea United States.
PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES: Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, The Czech Republic, Egypt, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, India, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, South Sudan, and Sweden.
STATES WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING HIGH SCHOOLS: Texas (17), Florida (15), New Jersey (14), California (10), Pennsylvania (10), Kentucky (9), New York (9).
STATES WITH THE MOST STUDENTS PARTICIPATING: New Mexico 31 students (30 students from Albuquerque Institute of Math and Science, Albuquerque – Teacher Lynette Trujillo). Connecticut 22 students (13 students from Staples High School, Westport –Teachers: Catherine Schager, Jonathan Feagin). New York 20 students (10 from Onteora High School, Boiceville – Teacher: Denise Maltese). Florida 18 students (4 students from West Shore Jr/Sr High School, Melbourne – Teacher: Athena Pietrzak). Tennessee 13 students (10 students from Central Magnet School, Murfreesboro – Teacher: Jennifer Burrows). Texas 18 students. New Jersey 15 students. California 12 students
COUNTRIES WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING HIGH SCHOOLS: India: (11). South Africa (11). Kazakhstan (6)
COUNTRIES WITH THE MOST STUDENTS PARTICIPATING: Kenya: 24 students from Alliance Girls High School, Kikuyu. Teachers: Mureka Moses and Leah Wachuma. Czech Republic: 7 students from EDUCAnet, Prague. Teachers: Olga Weintraub and Thomas Bolding. South Africa: 14 students. India: 12 students. Nigeria: 11 students: 5 students from Green Springs School, Lagos. Teachers: Toyin Adeshina, Akudo Chukwuma, Jonathan Robinson and Ajimoh Okpaise.