Research and evaluation of programming are key to improving services in the human rights education field. Potential areas of investigation include programme development, trainings, materials usage, and impact on learners. HREA assists organisations in self-study and also serves as an independent evaluator. Current activities:
Special issue on human rights education of the Journal of Social Science Education (1-2006)
HREA facilitated a special issue on human rights education in the on-line Journal for Social Science Education. This issue was co-edited by HREA Director Felisa Tibbitts and Dr. Karl-Peter Fritzsche (UNESCO Chair in Human Rights Education at the University of Magdeburg). It includes ten peer reviewed articles written by practitioners who are engaged in the theory and practice of human rights education. Read further.
Evaluation of Strengthening Capacity Building and Networking for Juvenile Justice
At the request of UNICEF, HREA will evaluate in 2006 the project "Strengthening Capacity Building and Networking for Juvenile Justice". This project consists of six components: activities in five countries (Indonesia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines and Timor Leste) and the Regional Office’s supporting function. More information.
Evaluation of law-related education programme in Armenia
In the first half of 2006, HREA will evaluate the education programming of the Armenian Constitutional Right-Protective Centre (ACRPC) in Yerevan at the request of the Dutch development organisation ICCO.
Research in Human Rights Education Papers Series
Through the Research in Human Rights Education Papers Series HREA hopes to encourage more research on the impact of human rights education and make the results available to practitioners and funders and beyond the academic community. In 2006 HREA will publish four papers, including a study on a nationwide human rights education curriculum in German, a comparative study on training models for human rights defenders and a review of existing theory about human rights education.
Distance learning course "Research & Evaluation in the NGO Sector"
Through this course NGO staff members, human rights activists and educators will be introduced to the fundamentals of research design, qualitative and quantitative methods, data collection and applications for improving programming. Learners will participate in exercises to develop basic research skills, analyse research studies, and will practise designing a research or evaluation project. Course participants will also become better "consumers" of such studies. This course is offered annually. See HREA's Distance Learning Programme website for further information.
Assessment of human rights education at Amnesty International
In 2005, HREA assisted the International Secretariat of Amnesty International in assessing the possible roles of the human rights education staff in carrying out the new human rights education (HRE) strategy within the organisation. This consultative process involved interviews and meetings with Amnesty staff from all regions and resulted in recommendations to facilitate the strengthening of HRE within Amnesty.
Recent projects:
Special Issue of Intercultural Education on "Human Rights Education and Transformative Learning"
HREA's director Felisa Tibbitts was guest editor of a special issue of the journal Intercultural Education in 2005, which focused on HRE and transformative learning. Contributions came from authors from the school and NGO sectors in Europe, Latin America and North America. Editorial: Transformative Learning and Human Rights Education: Taking a Closer Look. More information at the Intercultural Education website (Taylor & Francis).
Documentation of Clinical Legal Programs Promoting Access to Justice
In 2004-5, HREA developed ten case studies for the Open Society Justice Initiative highlighting street law-type law clinics that promoted access to justice. These case studies highlighted clinic programs in North America such as youth courts, housing and HIV-Aids patients and migrant workers. Paralegal training programs involving law clinics were documented for Budapest, Freetown and Phnom Penh.
Literature Review of UNESCO's 'Learning to Live Together' Programming
At the request of the International Bureau of Education/UNESCO, in 2004 HREA carried out a literature review of program evaluation and impact research associated with programming falling under UNESCO's 'learning to live together' programming. Such programming includes education for human rights, peace, tolerance, citizenship and conflict resolution. The full text is available on-line.
Citizenship Education in Latin America
HREA, in cooperation with Dr. Judith Torney-Purta (coordinator, IEA Comparative Study on Civic Education), has developed a monograph on citizenship education in Latin America for the Inter-American Development Bank. The monograph focuses on promising practices, drawing on information from both inside and outside of the region. The lessons learned and full text are available on-line.
Education for Democracy Policy Development
HREA developed discussion papers on systematic programming related to education for democracy. The purpose is to foster continued discussion and reflection within the Soros Foundations network. Funding was provided by the Institute for Educational Policy (Budapest).
Evaluation of Humanitarian Aid to NGOs in Kosovo
HREA's Director Felisa Tibbitts evaluated for the Ford Foundation the Foundation's humanitarian aid in the aftermath of the war in Kosovo. The report appraised the effectiveness of this aid to various human rights organisations.
Other HREA programmes and projects
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