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Education for Peace, Human Rights, and Justice

Summer School at Utrecht University (Netherlands)

July 18 - 30 2005

The overall aim of the summer school is to offer an introduction and a contribution to education for peace, human rights and justice, as it is formulated by the UN Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World (2001-2010) and elaborated in EURED, a European initiative for education for peace in Europe. In a framework of international and multi-disciplinary exchange students will be invited:

• to acquire knowledge about theories, fundamental concepts and practical experiences in this field;

• to practice skills in handling aggression and of coping with violence at different levels of society;

• to reflect about the relevance of these knowledge and skills and about opportunities to realize new knowledge and skills in his/her own situation.

The main focus of the course is on how science and education can best contribute towards the realisation of a culture of peace by overcoming violence. Special attention will be paid to the problem of violence as a phenomenon occurring at every level of our culture and society: in everyday life, institutionally organised, in the world of virtual reality, and in political context.

The Summer School will reach its aims through a mix of teaching and learning methods: gathering of information and knowledge, training skills for practical situations, reflection about the problems and their solution. In this way students will be equipped and challenged to offer a contribution tot the creation of a culture of peace in their own educational institute. The Summer School is a Dutch contribution to the UNESCO/EURED project.

Content

• Theoretical and practical background of the EURED project;

• Basic theories about peace, human rights, and justice, including their impact on education;

• The United Nations concept of a culture of peace and non-violence;

• Possibilities of dealing with the problem of violence

• International research and scientific background of the problem of conflict and violence;

• How to contribute to a culture of peace and non-violence through teaching and education;

• The contribution of Europe and European cultures to an international culture of peace, human rights, and justice.
  

Organisation: Utrecht University, Faculty of Social Sciences

Target group: Graduate students, young academics and teachers who are interested in the problem field

Number of participants: 30

Fee: € 1.000 including accommodation

Accommodation: arranged by the University

Place: Utrecht, the Netherlands

Period: July 18 to July 30

Deadline for application: April 30, 2005

Contact information: L.J.A.Vriens@fss.uu.nl