[hr-education] NGO support for a second Decade for HRE

The Summer University on Human Rights (SUHR), the International
Organisation for the Right to Education (OIDEL), Soka Gakkai
International, along with a few other Geneva-based NGOs have come together
in support of Costa Rica's initiative to sponsor a new resolution of the
UN Commission on Human Rights aimed at launching a second Decade for Human
Rights Education to run from 2005 to 2014.

Over the past years, these NGOs have worked closely with the Mission of
Costa Rica in Geneva and HREA to promote a broader view of human rights
education whereby States would recognise the crosscutting impact of HRE
and consider integrating the objectives of the current Decade as key
elements of a more global agenda.

In 2002, these NGOs worked closely with Global HRE listserv members in
formulating a draft resolution that would "put teeth" into the Decade for
HRE. The strategy was to gain strong NGO support for Costa Rica's
initiative and inform the UN Commission on Human Rights of the concern and
interests of a large, worldwide group of NGOs. As a result 113 signatories
representing 91 NGOs agreed to the recommendations that were submitted to
the Commission that year.

In 2003, the Geneva-based NGOs agreed to focus more closely on the
consultation process. The strategy was aimed at raising awareness on the
achievements and shortcomings of the Decade among Member States in order
to promote a concise resolution that would reflect the views expressed by
NGOs within the framework of the online forum initiated by HREA and the
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in 2002. The
input received by the OHCHR strongly supports the idea of a second Decade,
considering that human rights education is a long-term process and that it
is essential to maintain some focus on HRE at the international level.
These views, along with the views of responding governments and national
institutions are reflected in the report of the OHCHR on the follow-up to
the Decade (E/CN.4/2003/101). (This document can be found at:
http://www.unhchr.ch/huridocda/huridoca.nsf/(Symbol)/E.CN.4.2003.101.En?Open
Document)

Costa Rica's proposal to launch a second Decade was central to the
consultation process during the last session of the Commission on Human
Rights, but the proposition was not retained in the final resolution, as
it was not considered timely by some of the delegations present. Those of
us who have been working to ensure the follow-up of the current Decade
were disappointed with the outcome. In August, however, we were somewhat
reassured as the experts of the UN Sub-Commission on the Protection and
Promotion of Human Rights unanimously adopted a resolution recommending
that the General Assembly launch a second Decade in 2004
(E/CN.4/Sub.2/2003/L.14) (this document can be found at:
http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/(Symbol)/E.CN.4.Sub.2.2003.L.14.
En?Opendocument).

In recent resolutions the UN Commission on Human Rights and the UN General
Assembly have encouraged governments and non-state actors to continue
their efforts towards the achievement of the objectives of the Decade,
but, so far, little has been said regarding further action at the
international level. Given the recent resolution of the UN Sub-Commission
on the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights and the renewed commitment
of a number of nations to HRE, it appears that we may anticipate positive
developments provided efficient lobbying of governments and national
institutions is carried out by the NGO community in the coming weeks.
However, we must bear in mind that a number of governments have expressed
reservations as to the opportunity of a second Decade.

The purpose of this message is:

* First, to develop a common understanding amongst NGOs of what is at
stake during the upcoming session of the UN Commission on Human Rights
before sharing this understanding with governments and delegations as well
as national human rights institutions.

* Second, to invite those NGOs that are in a position to lobby governments
that have been supportive of HRE initiatives and/or national human rights
institutions that have played a key role in promoting HRE in recent years
to strongly support Costa Rica's initiative in favour of a second Decade.

* Third, to identify other Members of the Commission on Human Rights who
would be willing to commit themselves to HRE and convince governments that
have expressed reservations of the necessity to keep HRE high on the
international human rights agenda.

HREA will soon be posting another message inviting listserv members to
discuss the merits of a second Decade as a prelude to another NGO
signature campaign.  Meanwhile, I suggest that NGOs that are in a position
to lobby governments get in touch with the Geneva-based NGOs listed above
to define a common strategy and course of action.


Robert Trocmé
Director of SUHR

___________________________________

Robert Trocmé
Université d'été des droits de l'homme
Rue de l'Athénée 32
1206 Genève
Tel. + 4122 789 34 42
Fax  + 4122 789 29 22
E-mail  dir.uedh@oidel.ch




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