About the Foundation

MISSION and VALUES

The foundation's three-part mission strives to accomplish the following:

• Recognize, Support and Honor the heroes of the human rights movement. Each year the Foundation hopes to award the Lantos Human Rights Prize to an individual or organization that exemplifies the ideal that human rights are universal, indivisible, and truly the birthright of every human being. This annual event will be an opportunity to bring the attention of the world to this fundamental truth.
• Educate and Mentor a new generation of young leaders to instill a deep understanding of the fundamental truth that we are our brothers' keepers. The Lantos Foundation plans to establish the Lantos Congressional Fellows Program in an effort to continue the vital human rights work that Congressman Lantos spearheaded. The purpose of this program will be two-fold: 1) To give bright, young scholars and future leaders with specific interest in human rights the opportunity to work in the U.S. Congress and gain a greater understanding of the American legislative process and 2) To provide the U.S. Congress with a perspective on human rights and to ensure that human rights remains an important focus of the Congressional legislative agenda. The Foundation also plans to develop a human rights curriculum for middle schools and high schools that eventually can be taken to school districts across the country.
• Partner with and Provide Assistance to other human rights organizations working in the trenches. Through the Lantos Foundation Front Line Fund, we intend to reach out to the brave individuals and groups around the world who are on the front lines. Struggles for human rights often take place out of the public spotlight, and these courageous men and women desperately need to know that they are not forgotten and not alone.