Pakistan International Peace & Human Rights Organization
Nindo Shaher District Badin Sindh Pakistan
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EDUCATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
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Proble Analyses
We feel that a comprehensive, integrated and holistic approach is called for, to popularize education for human rights from school level to graduate and post-graduate levels. A similar effort is also called for to bring about attitudinal changes to accept the value of human rights education as an important component of self-development. This ultimately results in creating awareness right from childhood. Elementary education shall be free and compulsory. Education shall be directed, in conformity with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to the full development of the human personality and the strengthening of respect for human rights. It should enable society to address the civil, social, political, economic and cultural problems preventing enjoyment of human rights, to improve the quality of life of the people, and to resolve conflicts through peaceful means.
AIMS & OBJECTIVES
PIPHRO suggests the following principal aims of education for human rights:
to strengthen respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;
to develop fully the human personality and the sense of its dignity;
to develop attitudes and behaviour to promote respect for the rights of others;
to ensure genuine gender equality and equal opportunities for women in all spheres;
to promote understanding and tolerance among diverse national, ethnic, religious, linguistic and other groups;
to empower people to participate actively in the life of a free society;
to promote democracy, development, social justice, communal harmony, solidarity and friendship among nations;
CONTENT OF EDUCATION FOR HUMAN RIRGHTS
Education for human rights should be aimed at the full enjoyment of human rights and Fundamental Freedoms and for that purpose have regard to the following:
All human rights are universal, indivisible, inter-related and interdependent, and all are essential for the full development of the human personality.
While regional and national particularities are to be borne in mind, it is the duty of States, regardless of their political, civil, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms contribute to the stability, security and well-being necessary for socio-economic development.
Human rights, democracy, peace and development are interdependent and mutually reinforcing.
The rights of women and the girl child are an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of universal human rights.
Human rights education should be aimed at the full and equal participation of women in political, civil, economic, social and cultural life. Awareness towards the prevention of gender-based violence, sexual harassment and exploitation should be a component of education programmes.
The promotion and protection of the right of the child are a priority and require the dissemination of knowledge of the relevant standards. Special efforts are needed to eradicate child labour, child prostitution and child pornography.
Special attention should be paid to the rights of persons belonging to various vulnerable groups - national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, indigenous people, refugees and internally displaced persons, migrant workers, persons with HIV/AIDS and other health problems, the disabled and the elderly.
Special attention should also be given to the mobilization of public opinion against major threats and challenges to human rights such as terrorism, organized crime, corruption, trafficking of human beings for exploitative purposes, drug trafficking, violence, etc.
Education for human rights should be multidisciplinary and should include the following:
Knowledge of internationally recognized human rights standards enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants, international conventions, declarations and protocols, and international procedures and mechanisms for human rights protection, as well as norms of international humanitarian law.
Knowledge of national laws and procedures related to human rights.
Skills necessary for the application of these standards and procedures in everyday life.
Behavioural patterns based upon vigilance against violations of human rights wherever they occur.
Knowledge of social realities and the impact of the globalization process.
CONCLUSION/RECOMMANDATIONS
With a view to accelerating the process of promoting education for human rights, the PIPHRO adopted the following recommendations:
1. To provide free and compulsory primary education for all children.
2. To strictly observe the provisions of human rights instruments, and to become parties to human rights treaties, if they have not yet done so.
3. To disseminate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other human rights standard-setting instruments as widely as possible in national and local languages.
4. To establish, if they have not already done so, national human rights institutions, in accordance with the Paris Principles (1991) and to ensure adequate procedural safeguards for their functioning in a truly independent manner.
5. To adopt, if they have not yet done so, national plans in accordance with the aims of the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education (1995-2004) and take urgent measures for their implementation.
6. To allocate sufficient resources to satisfy the needs related to the promotion of education for human rights.
7. To draw up and implement sensitization and educational programmes for public functionaries in order to ensure respect for human rights for all.
8. To draw up training programmes designed for professionals having special responsibilities related to the protection and implementation of human rights, in particular the army, security forces, police, prison, immigration and other government personnel at different levels, especially in areas of armed conflicts.
9. To ensure that judicial processes are so organized to make them easily accessible, simple and sensitive to human rights concerns.
10. To ensure that ministries of education and educational authorities at various levels accelerate their efforts to formulate appropriate syllabi for the teaching of human rights. to develop teaching aids for various target groups for an easy understanding of human rights. and to evolve and implement training programmes for teachers.
11. To take measures in order to protect human rights activists and human rights defenders in full conformity with the Declaration on the Rights and Responsibilities of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted on 10 December 1998, the date of the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
12. To create cells for education for human rights which shall be responsible for promoting and consolidating education for human rights. They shall plan the introduction of education for human rights at all stages of school, college and university curricula. They shall also elaborate and implement programmes for non-formal education for large segments of society who are outside the ambit of formal education. They shall prepare teaching and training materials in the form of books, audio-visual aids, etc. covering the entire spectrum of education for human rights. They shall also promote short-term courses, seminars, workshops and various other forms of training activities, including summer and winter schools. Further, field work and experiential learning in the field of education for human rights shall be encouraged.
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PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL PEACE & HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION
P.O NINDO SHAHER DISTRICT BADIN SINDH PAKISTAN
POSTAL CODE NO:72250
PHONE NO:092-227-720227
Email:
[email protected] /
[email protected]
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