Dear Colleagues,
As the first topic of our global consultation on the Plan of Action for the Second Phase of the World Programme for Human Rights Education (WPHRE), we propose to focus on training institutions for teachers and educators. (Human Rights Council resolution A/HRC/RES/12/4, para.2)
The Report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the consultative process leading up to the identification of this sector within the focus of the second phase mentions the following:
“Teachers, educators, trainers, leaders and staff of education institutions also featured prominently in the replies, and their adequate preparation through teacher training in human rights was seen as a general prerequisite to effective and sustainable human rights education efforts. Twenty-two respondents pointed to the urgent need to provide professional support for teachers and several cited inadequate teacher training as one of the obstacles hampering effective implementation of the first phase. Training officials who develop school textbooks were also mentioned.” (A/HRC/12/36, para.74)
Listserv members might want to bear in mind potential learners, mentioned in the same report, with whom individual educators and teacher training institutions should consider or might interact.
“Specific groups of rights holders were also raised in various submissions as in need of human rights education in order to be able to defend their rights, namely: vulnerable persons in general; children, including migrant and disabled children; migrants and migrant labourers; persons with disabilities; women, minorities and indigenous people; deprived and rural communities; and the elderly.” (para.79)
In addition, the report A/HRC/12/36 noted:
“Certain respondents recalled that the right to education needed to be linked with human rights education and the rights-based approach to schooling.” (para.81)
and
“The importance of human rights education for combating discrimination and inequality as a cross-cutting issue.”(para.82)
In formulating your responses, please pay attention to the requirement that the plan of action:
“shall be properly structured, formulated in realistic terms, with an indication of at least minimum action, and including provisions to support activities undertaken by all actors.” (Human Rights Council resolution A/HRC/RES/12/4)
Given the above, we invite you to share your thoughts in relation to the following questions:
* What might be realistic and effective strategies to include in the Plan of Action for integrating human rights education within the ongoing and permanent work of training institutions for teachers and educators?
* Which actors (both rights-holders and duty-bearers) might be mobilized for these strategies, both within and outside of the formal framework of such institutions?
* What challenges or difficulties are foreseeable, and what counter-measures could be provided for in the Plan of Action?
* What would be the “minimum action” for the implementation of human rights education in training institutions for teachers and educators?
We look forward to a productive sharing of insights and experiences. Please submit your input by Sunday 7 March.
Best wishes,
The moderators:
Steve Courchesne
Frank Elbers
Kazunari Fujii
Felisa Tibbitts
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