Human Rights Education

The United Nations was created to protect future generations from the curse of war and to reiterate the belief in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and value of the human being, and in the equality of men and women. The end of the Cold War leads us to a single global conception of human rights. The UN's message is: Know your human rights. Knowledge of human rights is the best defense against their violation. Learning about one's rights builds respect for the rights of others and points the way to more tolerant and peaceful societies. Even though headmasters and teachers very much favor Human Rights Education (HRE), textbooks are produced and printed by the government, and it is very difficult to convince government officials to include HRE in the school curriculum. The government is spending its maximum resources on the war on terror. In such a critical time some positive steps have been taken by the government to empower civilian rule and curb armed militancy, but the overall situation of human rights deteriorated further in Pakistan. One view is that there is a strong need for improving human rights in the country while another perspective is that human rights should be acquired at an early stage of life as various studies have shown that children who learn about human rights show more rights-respective attitudes towards human beings, particularly towards minorities.

                            

The project "Promoting Human Rights in Schools" has been spreading the process of educating about human rights among teachers and students in private and public schools in 6 Districts [Sargodha, Khushab, MandiBahauddin, Chiniot, Jangh and Bhakkar] in order to advance and inculcate a human rights culture of tolerance, peace and conflict resolution. The teachers have been motivated to develop a critical analysis of their life situation, changing attitudes, changing behaviors, developing solidarity, analyzing situations in human rights terms and strategizing, clarifying values and implementing appropriate responses to injustice. The key activities of this project are training workshops with teachers, follow-up activities with students, human rights events, publications, radio programs and training workshops.

                            

  Overall Objective

To educate and sensitize teachers to the need of teaching Human Rights for building a universal culture of human rights in 6 Districts [Sargodha, Khushab, MandiBahauddin, Chiniot, Jhang and Bhakkar] of Punjab.

  Specific Objectives
  • To develop teachers' knowledge of human rights and to emphasize human rights in upbringing, shaping the school, and the class environment.
  • To develop attitudes of respect for human rights by enhancing students' understanding of human rights and by increasing students' confidence in taking appropriate action for the protection of human rights within their communities
  • To provide a platform for debate on human rights issues aimed at enhancing understanding and highlighting aspects for implementation strategies
    •   Project Stratigies
  • Preparing teachers adequately to teach human rights
  • Incorporating human rights throughout the educational system
  • Involving parents and community members
  • Fostering cooperation between the government and NGO sectors
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      Achievements
  • Establishment of human rights library
  • Development of 10 human rights publications
  • Formation of Students theatre groups and 300 theater performances by students
  • Production of 12 videos of theater performances of students which have been uploaded on YouTube.
  • Establishment of teachers network for human rights
  • Human Right Awards
  • Memberships and networking
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       Upcoming Events
    • Skill Enhancement Training Workshop in Khushab

    • Orientation Meeting with Peace Youth Group in Khushab

    • Follow Up Activity with Students in Sargodha

    Peace Garden