training policies and other related policies · knowledge content of hr, institutions, but also...
TRANSCRIPT
Training Policies and other
Related Policies
Dr. Sandra Reitz
Head of Department Human Rights Education
German Institute for Human Rights
Outline
1. Human Rights Education – Definition
2. Human Rights Education – Actors
3. Human Rights Education – Policies
4. HRE Policies – German School System (key
documents & current plans)
2
Human Rights Education - Definition
UN Declaration on Human Rights Education and
Training (HRET), Article 2, Paragraph 2:
“Human rights education and training encompasses:
(a) Education about human rights, which includes
providing knowledge and understanding of human
rights norms and principles, the values that underpin
them and the mechanisms for their protection;
(b) Education through human rights, which includes
learning and teaching in a way that respects the
rights of both educators and learners;
(c) Education for human rights, which includes
empowering persons to enjoy and exercise their
rights and to respect and uphold the rights of others.” 3
Culture of
human rights
Knowledge
Content of HR,
institutions, but
also relevance
Attitudes
Open discussions,
reflections, role-
plays
Skills
Exhibits, applying
HR to target
group’s work
in a respectful, participatory way
If not covered, danger of:
Ignorance Disinterest “Paralysis”
Human Rights Education - Definition
4
Different Definitions:
• International Government Organization, Governments and
UN: Focus on legal documents
→ HRE contributing to social order, peace, continuity
• Non-Government Organizations: Focus on educational
approach & empowerment
→ HRE contributing to social justice, transformation,
limiting state power
Human Rights Education - Actors
Cf. Flowers, Nancy (2004). How to Define Human Rights Education? - A
Complex Answer to a Simple Question. In: Georgi, Viola B. & Seberich,
Michael (Eds.). International Perspectives in Human Rights Education.
Gütersloh: Bertelsmann Foundation Publishers. Pages 105-128.
5
6
National Human Rights Institutes (NHRIs):
• State bodies with a constitutional and/or legislative mandate to
protect and promote human rights
• Basis: Paris Principles (adopted by UN General Assembly in
1993)
• Financed by public funds
• Independent from government (different status: „A“ grants
participation in the work of the Human Rights Council and other
UN mechanisms, 69 NHRIs with A status in 2011)
• “Effective NHRIs are an important link between government and
civil society” (http://nhri.ohchr.org/EN/AboutUs/Pages/RolesTypesNHRIs.aspx)
Human Rights Education - Actors
7
Human Rights Education - Policies
UN Declaration on HRET, Article 8
1. States should develop, or promote the development of, at the
appropriate level, strategies and policies and, where
appropriate, action plans and programmes to implement human
rights education and training, such as through its integration
into school and training curricula. In so doing, they should take
into account the World Programme for Human Rights
Education and specific national and local needs and priorities.
2. The conception, implementation and evaluation of and follow-
up to such strategies, action plans, policies and programmes
should involve all relevant stakeholders, including the
private sector, civil society and national human rights
institutions, by promoting, where appropriate, multi-stakeholder
initiatives. 8
HRE Policies – German Education System
General Conditions
• Education Policies: Responsibility of 16 „Länder“ (federal
states), in spite of some centralisation tendencies
• Further differentiation: different school forms (3-4 different
secondary schools, including grammar schools)
16 different education laws
Curricula: 16 („Länder“) * 3-4 (school types) * 6-15
(subjects relevant to HRE) = 336-960 curricula!
Teacher education dependent on „Land“ (federal state),
often differentiated by school form
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Current policies & documents relevant to HRE
1. Recommendation of the Standing Conference of the
Ministries of Education and Cultural Affairs on the
Promotion of Human Rights in Schools (1980/2000):
“Human rights are not only realised by the actions of the
state, but above all by the attitude and the commitment of
the individual. School must make a substantial
contribution to this by forming the character accordingly.
Human rights education is a major task in the
pedagogical mission of school and is defined in all
Länder constitutions and school laws as one of the
primary aims of education. It encompasses all areas of
school activity.” 10
HRE Policies – German Education System
Current policies & documents relevant to HRE
2. Forum Menschenrechte (NGO Human Rights Coalition/
Forum): Standards of Human Rights Education in Schools
(2005):
• Picked up dominant discussion on educational
standards (for main subjects)
• Defined key competencies for HRE in primary and
secondary schools
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HRE Policies – German Education System
Current policies & documents relevant to HRE
3. “Länder” survey by the Secretariat of the Standing
Conference of the Ministries of Education and Cultural
Affairs to prepare a national report within the framework of
the United Nations Action Plan for the World Programme
for HRE (2008):
• “Human Rights” only mentioned in 2 federal states’
school law (Bremen, Schleswig-Holstein (the latter
possibly restrained to German Constitution)),
• HRE mostly mentioned only indirectly, interpreted into
“Citizenship /Civic Education”
• HRE mentioned mostly in subjects: social sciences,
history, ethics/religion
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HRE Policies – German Education System
Current Plans & Ideas
• Encourage “Länder” to mention Human Rights in their
school law (responsibility of Parliaments)
• Initiative started by Amnesty International Germany:
Meetings with Ministries of Education to send information
about material & teacher training offers through their
channels – experience so far: very open
• Use strong documents for legitimation (UN Declaration on
HRET, Recommendation of the Standing Conference of the
Ministries of Education, UN World Programme for HRE)
and phrasing (Standards of HRE)
• Use UN State Reporting (esp. UPR, CRC, ESC) 13
HRE Policies – German Education System
Current Plans & Ideas
Create “demand” for HRE, especially by
HRE in school law: legitimation both for
teacher & pupil education
→ use existing concepts, material, courses
Offer teacher education/ curriculum consulting
Encourage second survey by Secretariat (for
current status)
Continue to critically analyze content (cf.
Flowers: NGO “vs.” IGO)
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HRE Policies – German Education System