Kemper Foundation for the Promotion of Human Rights Education

09/28/2026

2 Essay Contests: One for U.S. high school students, the other for High school students abroad (in other countries). Prizes of $5000, $2500, and $1250. The question: When if ever do human rights violations by a country against its own citizens justify armed intervention by other countries? The Criteria: Essays will be judged according to how clearly and well they answer the question and the extent to which they are supported by research. They are due on or before December 10, 2026 (Human Rights Day) and should: 1. Be written in English.
2. Not including the footnotes and bibliography be 2500 words or less. 3. Be submitted as a Microsoft Word attachment to: [email protected] or by regular mail to: KHREF, 184 Fillow Street, Norwalk, CT 06850, USA.
4. Via footnotes and a bibliography indicate the names, titles, year of publication, and page numbers for all references.
5. Include a cover page with: i. the title, ii. author’s name and grade level, iii. name and address of the author’s high school, iv. the following statement signed by a teacher at the author’s high school:
“I [teacher’s name], a teacher of [subject] at [name of the essay author’s school] am aware of [author’s name] participation in the KHREF essay contest and to the best of my knowledge the essay [s/he] submitted represents [her/his] independent work,”
v. the following statements signed by the author: a. I did not use generative AI tools to brainstorm, outline, draft, rewrite, summarize sources, generate thesis statements, improve paragraphs, create citations, or in any other
way to write my essay and I understand it will likely be checked to confirm that is the case. b. Prior to receiving a prize I agree to participate in a Zoom interview with members of KHREF’s board.
c. I give the Kemper Human Rights Education Foundation permission to publish this essay. Our website: khref.org

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07/03/2026

2026 ESSAY CONTESTS $5000, $2500, AND $1250 PRIZES
The Kemper Human Rights Education Foundation (khref.org) is offering prizes of $5000, $2500, and $1250 to high school students judged to have written the best answers to the question below. There are two contests and two sets of prizes: one for high school students who are citizens or residents of the U.S. and one for high school students who are citizens and residents of other countries.
QUESTION
When if ever do human rights violations by a country against its own citizens justify armed intervention by other countries? For Criteria information visit our website khreg.org

01/31/2026

01/31/2026

Winners 2025 Abroad Essay Contest

01/30/2026

Winners 2025 U.S. Essay Contest

12/17/2025

SUMMARY OF PARTICIPATION IN KHREF’S 2025 ESSAY CONTEST
U.S. 283 ESSSAYS
38 STATES: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washinton, West Virginia, Wisconsin

HIGHEST NUMBER OF SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING
STATE #
California 22
Texas 17
Georgia 12
New York 12
Arizona 9

MOST STUDENTS PARTICIPATING
SCHOOL # TEACHER(s)
Archer High, Lawrenceville, Georgia 45 Joni Jameson

Albuqueque Institute of Math and Science, NM 27 Lynette Trujillo

North Houston Early College High, TX 5 Sandra Garza, John Sigren, Audrie Lopez

ABROAD 103 ESSAYS
29 COUNTRIES: Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, India, Kosovo, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauricius, Mexico, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Sweden, Tanzania, Turkey, Zimbabwe.

MOST PARTICIPANTS
COUNTRY SCHOOLS STUDENTS
India 9 11
Bangladesh 5 7
South Korea 5 6
Nigeria 4 13
Canada 4 7
Turkey 4 5
Tanzania 2 10
Czech Republic 2 5

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11/08/2025

Reminder: The Kemper Human Rights Education Foundation (khref.org) is offering prizes of $5000, $2500, and $1250 to high school students who are citizens or residents of the U.S. judged to have written the best answers to the following question:
Many claim climate change poses a threat to human rights. Do you agree? Provide a clear explanation of the reasons you think specific proposals to deal with the issue are beneficial or harmful.
Deadline is December 10, 2025. Flyer on khref.org web site.

11/08/2025

REMINDER: this year The Kemper Human Rights Education Foundation (khref.org) is offering prizes of $5000, $2500, and $1250 to high school students who are citizens and residents of countries other than the U.S. judged to have written the best answers to the following question:
How are leaders in your country and/or other countries undermining or promoting human rights? Refer to specific policies and actions to support your view.
The essays are due on December 10th (Human Rights Day). Flyer information on khref.org web site.