By Johanne Mortensen and Brendan Sweeney
Since the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 60 years ago, the right to education has been recognized as an entry point to the enjoyment of all human rights. The concept includes human rights education, the right to learn about these rights, and the ways and means to protect and promote them in society.
In 2004, the United Nations General Assembly initiated the World Programme for Human Rights Education which aims to support existing human rights education programmes as well as building upon the achievements of the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education (1995–2004).
Based upon an initiative by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR), four partner organizations – the Council of Europe (CoE), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the OSCE/ODIHR – decided to develop a compendium that would provide examples and guidance for all those involved in human rights education in the school system.
The publication entitled, Human Rights Education in the School Systems of Europe, Central Asia and North America: A Compendium of Good Practice describes 101 good practices from Europe, North America and Central Asia – and will function as a resource for practitioners and policymakers as well as a platform for exchange among institutions and individuals.
The Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) has contributed to the compendium with the materials for a course, which was elaborated in collaboration with Ungdomsbyen (Youth Town) and Danida. Entitled Children’s Rights and Lives – Coincidences at Play: A Teaching Kit the course, which focuses on the rights of children in Denmark and abroad, has been running successfully for a number of years in Danish schools.
Chief Adviser at DIHR, Anette Faye Jacobsen, who helped to create the teaching kit, expressed her pleasure about being accepted as a contributor to the new compendium.
“I am proud and happy that our teaching materials about the rights of children have been recognized internationally in this way, and I hope that Coincidence at Play will inspire teachers all over the world,” she said.
A complete version of the compendium will be available in CD-Rom format and online in December 2009. However, you can access a PDF file about the compendium and the Danish contribution by clicking on the right-hand link.
For further information, please contact Brendan Sweeney at