Northern Justice Watch is looking for youth speakers to join our International Youth Forum 2026 - How Crimes Against Humanity Fracture the Social Fabric: Position Type: One-Day Event Speaker

Date: Sunday, August 16, 2026

Hybrid: Improve Canada: 7250 Keele St, Vaughan, Ontario & online participation available Applicants should be comfortable speaking in English, open-minded, respectful, and willing to participate in an interactive discussion. You do not need to be a lawyer, academic, or established expert: students, young professionals, researchers, advocates, community organizers, journalists, volunteers, and people with relevant lived experience are all encouraged to apply! Apply by sending us an email at [email protected] with a brief statement & which session you are interested in!

Session I: How Do Crimes Against Humanity Change a Society?

Session Time: 11:20 AM–12:15 PM

Session I will explore what happens to communities when fear, mistrust, silence, and social division become normalized. Topics may include declining trust in institutions, self-censorship, collective memory, stigma, displacement, and what younger generations inherit from conflicts and divisions they did not create.

Responsibilities - The selected speaker will:

Participate in a guided discussion with the forum moderator.

Share approximately 25–30 minutes of insights, experiences, or perspectives.

Prepare two or three key ideas, examples, or stories to contribute to the conversation.

Participate in audience discussion and Q&A.;

Provide a short speaking brief and suggested moderator questions before the event.





Engage respectfully with speakers and participants from different communities and backgrounds.

The format is conversational rather than a formal lecture, and speakers are encouraged to speak from their own experience and perspective rather than representing an entire community.

Session II: What Happened to Our Shared Sense of Justice?

Session Time: 12:50–1:40 PM.

Session II will compare experiences across societies and communities to identify both shared patterns and important differences following responsible human-rights violations. The discussion may consider experiences affecting Yazidi, Uyghur, Bosnian, Tigrayan, Hazara, Ukrainian, and other communities, as well as responses that have helped protect people, preserve memory, rebuild trust, and pursue accountability.

Preferred Qualifications - We welcome applicants who:

Have studied, researched, worked with, advocated alongside, or have lived connections to communities affected by serious human-rights violations.

Have an interest in human rights, transitional justice, accountability, peacebuilding, collective memory, international affairs, or community advocacy.





Can thoughtfully compare different experiences without assuming that all communities have experienced the same circumstances.

Are curious about what communities can learn from one another.

Are comfortable engaging respectfully with different perspectives.

Can communicate complex ideas in an accessible and conversational way.

Session III: From Stigmatization to Solidarity

Session Time: 2:35–3:30 PM.

Session III focuses on moving from understanding the effects of mass violence toward building cooperation and solidarity. Speakers will explore how the suffering of one community can become a concern for others, how trust can be rebuilt in practice, and where people from different backgrounds can work together on practical initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications - We welcome applicants who:

Are involved or interested in community-building, advocacy, social justice, reconciliation, dialogue, coalition-building, civic engagement, or human rights.

Have experience connecting people from different social, cultural, or professional backgrounds.

Have strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Enjoy networking, listening, exchanging ideas, and facilitating meaningful conversations.

Can suggest practical ways to move from awareness toward cooperation and action.

Are interested in developing projects, partnerships, or initiatives that could continue after the forum. Help us bring different youth perspectives into the same room and turn meaningful dialogue into stronger connections, shared learning, and future action! Questions can be sent to [email protected]!

📌 NJW International Youth Forum 2026 Speaker Recruitment (Vaughan)
🏢 Northern Justice Watch
📍 Vaughan