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HSN Manual on "Understanding Human Rights” and
Principles on Human Rights Education

The European Training and Research Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (ETC) has been entrusted by the Austrian chair of the Human Security Network with the elaboration of a declaration on 10 principles and a manual on human rights education to be presented to the meeting of foreign ministers of the Human Security Network in Graz in May 2003.

During the manual elaboration phase, further suggestions and ideas as well as partners are welcome. In the end the ETC will be in charge of finalizing the concept and assuring a value product.

Conceptual Background of the Manual

This Manual is envisioned as a tool for assisting different facilitators/educators/multipliers in Human Security Network states and beyond in their human rights education and learning work in various cultural settings. As designed, it should be a helpful starting point for understanding human rights and human wrongs and opening a discussion venue for shaping a strong culture of prevention through transformative human rights education means.

The Manual aims at presenting a selected collection of theory sensitized through practice, and at additionally offering skill-building and attitude-shaping for future human rights educators from various target groups. It will offer a variety of themes with the main goal of finding a common ground and shared human perspective for all of them but it will also present contradictory views from a culture-sensitive perspective.

The text should be easy-to-read and understand as well as well illustrated and supported by a number of real-life examples.

Target Group of the Manual

The target group of the manual are human rights learners, who can also serve as facilitators/educators/multipliers (teachers, journalists, civil society, administration, military) in their community, family, office, in formal as well as in informal settings. As it is meant for use beyond Human Security Network states, it should have a global focus and an approach underlying the universality of human rights through a culture-sensitive perspective.

Therefore, experts from the South, in particular from the Human Security Network states, will be invited to collaborate in the manual’s elaboration.
Structure and content

The manual should consist of three parts, i.e. a general introduction into the basics of human rights, a special part with ten "core issues” in form of modules, which should give a good understanding of the functioning of human rights in daily life and a third, so called "additional resources part”, which contains useful information, further reading and on-line resources or institutions to be consulted:

• The general part will introduce the concept and the main principles of human rights and will also deal with issues of practical relevance for the implementation and enjoyment of human rights.

• The "special part” should consist of 10 "core issues” or modules where understanding of selected human rights issues will be provided. A preliminary list of topics contains: children rights, gender issues, fair trial/rule of law, personal integrity, prohibition of torture; discrimination, racism and intolerance; freedom of religion; right to education; poverty; health; social standards; freedom of expression/freedom of the media; democracy and freedom of assembly and association. The topics should be developed in a uniform scheme through an intercultural perspective.

• The third part on "additional resources” will contain further resources and tools in form of the text of the bill of rights as well as further references and information with regard to pedagogical materials and institutions of human rights education etc.

Working method

Naturally, existing experience especially of institutions situated in Human Security Network states and NGOs will be consulted and guidance from other manuals available will be taken when finalising the concept. The cooperation with other institutions and NGOs could consist in consultations on the concept and content of the manual as well as outsourcing of the writing of different parts or modules. The time frame is as follows: the first raw draft of the manual should be ready for an expert meeting scheduled for end of November 2002 and the whole manual should be completed by early April 2003. The manual should be drafted in English.

For more information, please contact the Project Co-ordinator Ms. Minna Nikolova at:

minna.nikolova@kfunigraz.ac.at

ETC
Schubertstr.29
A-8010 Graz
Austria

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