Amplifying Your Voice in Human Rights Advocacy
- Marcia HOBBS
- Oct 18, 2024
- 4 min read
If you want to make noise in the world of human rights, you have to shout. You have to be relentless. You have to be raw. This isn’t a game for the faint-hearted or the polite. It’s a battlefield where silence is complicity and hesitation is defeat. I’ve been there, screaming into the void, wondering if anyone’s listening. But here’s the brutal truth: your voice can change the world. You just have to know how to wield it like a weapon.
The Keys to Advocacy Success: What Nobody Tells You
Let’s cut the fluff. Success in advocacy isn’t about fancy speeches or perfectly curated social media posts. It’s about strategy, persistence, and authenticity. You want to be heard? You need to understand the battlefield.
Know your audience: Who are you talking to? Policymakers? The public? The media? Tailor your message to hit them where it hurts or inspires.
Master your message: Clarity beats complexity every time. If your message is muddled, it’s dead on arrival.
Build alliances: No one changes the world alone. Find your tribe, your allies, your co-conspirators.
Use every platform: From protests to podcasts, from fashion statements to published works, every channel is a megaphone.
Be unrelenting: Change doesn’t come overnight. It’s a grind. A marathon. A war of attrition.
I’ve seen advocates burn out because they tried to do it all at once or because they didn’t have a clear plan. Don’t be that person. Be the one who outlasts, outsmarts, and outshouts.

What is the human rights advocacy?
Let’s get this straight. Human rights advocacy is not just about waving signs or posting hashtags. It’s a deliberate, strategic effort to protect and promote the fundamental rights that every person deserves. It’s about fighting injustice wherever it hides - in laws, in policies, in social attitudes.
Human rights advocacy means:
Speaking up for the voiceless: Those who are marginalized, oppressed, or ignored.
Holding power accountable: Governments, corporations, institutions.
Educating and mobilising communities: Awareness is the first step to action.
Pushing for systemic change: Not just band-aids, but real, lasting reform.
This is why I link arms with human rights advocacy every day. It’s not a hobby. It’s a commitment. It’s a fight for dignity, equality, and justice.
Using Fashion as a Form of Protest and Empowerment
You might think fashion and activism don’t mix. Think again. Fashion is a language. It’s a statement. It’s a way to wear your beliefs on your sleeve - literally. When I launched Barbwire Noose, I wasn’t just creating clothes. I was creating armour for the fight.
Here’s how fashion becomes a megaphone:
Symbolism: Designs that tell stories of resistance, pain, and hope.
Visibility: Wearing your message in public spaces forces conversations.
Community: Fashion connects people who share values and visions.
Economic power: Supporting ethical brands funds the movement.
Imagine walking down the street wearing a jacket that screams defiance against injustice. People notice. They ask questions. You start a dialogue. That’s power. That’s advocacy.

Practical Steps to Amplify Your Voice Right Now
Stop waiting for permission. Stop doubting your impact. Here’s what you can do today to turn your voice into a force:
Educate yourself deeply: Know the issues inside out. Read reports, listen to survivors, understand the laws.
Find your unique angle: What’s your story? Your passion? Your skill? Use it to connect with others.
Create content that hits hard: Write, film, design, speak. Be raw. Be real. Be unfiltered.
Engage with decision-makers: Write letters, attend meetings, demand accountability.
Build a network: Join groups, attend events, collaborate.
Use social media strategically: Don’t just post. Mobilise. Organise. Challenge.
Take care of yourself: Burnout kills movements. Rest, recharge, and come back stronger.
This isn’t theoretical. I’ve done it. I’ve seen the difference it makes when you stop waiting and start acting.

The Power of Persistence and Personal Branding in Advocacy
Here’s the raw truth: the world doesn’t owe you attention. You have to earn it. And that means showing up every damn day, even when it’s exhausting, even when it feels like no one cares.
Your personal brand is your megaphone. It’s how people recognise you, trust you, and rally behind you. Marcia BNoose isn’t just a name. It’s a symbol of defiance, resilience, and relentless pursuit of justice. Your brand should be the same.
Be consistent: Your message, your values, your presence.
Be authentic: People smell fake a mile away.
Be bold: Don’t shy away from controversy or hard truths.
Be visible: Use every platform, every opportunity.
Be a leader: Inspire others to join the fight.
This is how you build a movement. This is how you amplify your voice beyond your own reach.
Your Voice is a Weapon - Use It
I’m not here to comfort you. I’m here to challenge you. Your voice is a weapon. It can tear down walls or build bridges. It can silence oppression or amplify the unheard. But it won’t do anything if you keep it locked inside.
So, what are you waiting for? The world needs your fire. Your rage. Your hope. Your voice.
Get out there. Speak up. Fight hard. And never, ever stop.
Because if not you, then who? If not now, then when?
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