Transcript Human Rights Education in ASEAN What UNESCO HAS Done and

Human Rights Education
What UNESCO HAS Done and How UNESCO Could Assist Member
States in Human Rights Education
By Dra.Hasnah Gasim
National Coordinator
of Associated School
Project Network
Definition of Human Rights Education
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According to the Plan of Action for the United Nations Decade for Human
Rights Education (1995-2004), human rights education is defined as
“training, dissemination and information efforts aimed at the building of a
universal culture of human rights through the imparting of knowledge and
skills and the moulding of attitudes directed to:
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(i) the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms,
(ii) the full development of the human personality and the sense of its dignity,
(iii) the promotion of understanding, tolerance, gender equality and friendship
among all nations, indigenous peoples and racial, national, ethnic, religious and
linguistic groups,
(iv) the enabling of all persons to participate effectively in a free society,
(v) the furtherance of the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of
peace”
UNESCO ‘s Role and Responsibilities in the
Implementation of Human Rights Education
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Development of National Plans of Action on Human
Rights Education
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Providing Support to Governments
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Providing Networks in Human Rights Education
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Publication of Documents on Human Rights education
UNESCO as an International Lead
Agency for Education
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, UNESCO is called upon “…to play a central role in
the design, implementation and evaluation of
projects under the Plan of Action of the UN Decade
for Human Rights Education”, considering the
Organization’s “…long experience in education,
educational methodology and human rights and
through its network.”
UNESCO Networks for Mechanisms in Asia Pacific
UNESCO could strengthen the following networks for
mechanisms in human rights education in Asia Pacific:
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Asia Pacific Network for International Education and
Values Education( APNIEVE)
Asia Pacific Center of Education for International
Understanding ( APCEIU)
Associated Schools Project Network
UNESCO Clubs
UNESCO Human Rights Chairs
Practice of Human Rights Education through School Life and
Outside the school
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Human rights education should provide
opportunities for young people to develop
and practice the skills to respect human
rights and citizenship through “school
life” and through opportunities outside
the actual teaching activities.
Human Rights Education should
include the following education:
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Education which builds the full development of the human personality
and the sense of its dignity
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Education which contributes to the development of individuals who
possess the skills to interact in a society
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Education which provides the learning and practice of human rights
and teaches both human rights content and experiences.
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Education which builds a universal culture of human rights by
imparting knowledge, skills and attitudes of human rights to be
used in their daily life.
UNESCO’s Actions in Human Rights Education
1.Provide Assistance in developing Educational Policies in Human Right
Education:
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UNESCO should provide assistance to
its member states in order to develop
educational policies, which promote the
values, attitudes and behavior related to a
culture of peace and democratic
citizenship ,the revision and continuous
adaptation of learning materials, the
training of educational personnel and the
exchange of information and experiences.
2.Advocate the importance of universal
values:
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UNESCO should advocate the importance
of the inclusion of universal values within
the education system and organize
national forums and workshops to
facilitate policy dialogue between all
actors interested and involved in human
rights education.
3.Secure National and Regional Capacities
for Delivering Human Rights Education
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UNESCO should secure the existing and
effective national and regional capacities
for the delivering of human rights
education and enhance the
dissemination of documents/learning
materials and best practices in the
teaching and learning human rights
education.
4. Use ASPnet to practice the teaching
of human right education
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Schools associated with UNESCO should
receive learning materials on the teaching of
human rights education
Experimental projects on human rights
teaching implemented by schools should be
shared by other schools and the best
models in teaching human rights should be
disseminated widely.
Conclusion
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Finally, we hope that UNESCO’s actions as
mentioned above could help member states
in implementing Human Rights Education so
that human rights will be implemented in the
daily life of the people which will in turn
create a peaceful community.