Human Rights Education Now!
Human Rights Education Now! is a podcast that aims to (1) inform a broader audience in the U.S. and internationally about human rights education (HRE) stories, practices, related issues and theories, (2) expand awareness and knowledge about HRE USA and its programs, and (3) engage partner individuals, groups and organizations in changing the conversation about rights in the U.S. to one employing a human rights education lens.
Human Rights Education Now!
Episode 68: Human Rights Education in the Philippines, Part One
Dr. Feliece I. Yeban is a human rights educator, scholar, and advocate whose work spans more than three decades across community organizations, universities, and state institutions in the Philippines. Grounded in the writings of Paolo Freire and Antonio Gramsci, her scholarship centers on decolonial pedagogy, community-based human rights work, and the uplift of Indigenous Filipino knowledge systems. Feliece has taught widely in both the private and public sectors, including work with law enforcement institutions, and has contributed extensively to the development of human rights cultures across Asia.
In this episode of Human Rights Education Now!, hosts Bill Fernekes speak with Feliece Yeban and Ava Kreutziger about the origins of her human rights education work. She reflects on teaching during the 1980s and 1990s, the aftermath of the Marcos dictatorship, and the transformative role of the People Power Revolution. Feliece discusses the influence of Freire and Gramsci, the challenges facing HRE in both private and public institutions, and the ongoing impact of U.S. support for authoritarian practices in the Philippines.
She highlights the importance of understanding both international human rights frameworks and community-rooted approaches, emphasizing that effective HRE requires careful attention to context and audience. Feliece also speaks about confronting discomfort, navigating trauma, and engaging directly with those impacted by rights violations.
Topics discussed:
- Historical context of HRE during and after the Marcos era
- Freire, Gramsci, and critical pedagogy in the Philippines
- U.S. influence on authoritarian policies
- Barriers to HRE across public and private institutions
- Community-based approaches vs. formal frameworks
- Educational inequities and elite influence
- Delivering HRE to police and state actors
- “Civilianizing” law enforcement through rights-based training
Full topic listing available for PDF download HERE.
Listen on our HREUSA podcast website HERE.
Introduction and Closing Music Credit: “Awakening-Spring” by Ketsa, from the Album Night Vision. Available at the Free Music Archive: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/night-vision/awakening-spring/
This music is used in accordance with this Creative Commons License: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Information about that license is available here https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Human Rights Education Now! is produced and distributed in accordance with Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International. Information about this license is available here: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/