Schools
Human Rights Framed by Young People Exhibition What is human rights education?
Human rights education means putting human rights at the heart of education. Ireland has an obligation under international human rights law to promote human rights education.
That means both the process of education and the environment in which learning takes place must:
- embody the principles of human rights
- promote a culture of respect for human rights
- increase knowledge and understanding of human rights
- encourage action to defend them
Human rights education promotes three ways of learning:
- knowledge - provides information about human rights and the mechanisms for their protection
- values, beliefs and attitudes - promotes a human rights culture through the development of values, beliefs and attitudes which uphold human rights
- action - helps develop skills and know-how to defend human rights and to prevent human rights abuses
Why human rights education in schools?
Children have a right to an education that develops their full potential and fosters respect for human rights.
Human Rights Education in Schools:
- promotes equality and the participation of children and young people
- foster respect for human rights in the school, the home and the wider community
- contributes to social cohesion and conflict reduction - through supporting intercultural understanding, respecting difference and promoting social justice.
Where can I find out more about human rights education?
Many organisations provide online and practical support for introducing Human Rights in the whole school approach and in the classroom. Please find below a sample of the myriad of resources currently available on Human Rights Education.
- Teaching Resources for Primary Schools
- Teaching Resources for Secondary Schools
- Resources for Children and Young People
- Policy Guidelines for Schools
For a comprehensive range of human rights education resources get in touch with Human Rights Education Associates (HREA), which is an international non-governmental organisation that supports human rights learning.