Dear all, Following the series of NGO preparation and consultation meetings since last year, on 15 April 2006, the NGO Working Group on Human Rights Education has been established in Geneva. The Working Group (WG) is part of the Special Committee of NGOs on Human Rights, which is one of the specialized Committees of the CONGO (Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the UN). Since the WG was established at the meeting of 15 April of the Special Committee of NGOs on Human Rights, it held several meetings in June in connection with the first session of the UN Human Rights Council. The following are related information to share with you all: The basic purpose of the WG is to ensure participation of NGOs in the process of the global policy making on human rights education in relation to the UN institutions, principally the UN Human Rights Council. The GENERAL TASKS of the WG include (not exclusive, and with future prospects): - NGO networking, information sharing, and coordination. - Lobbying. - Transmission of information, proposals and experiences of NGOs to the UN bodies, particularly the Human Rights Council in the policy making process. - Consultation with Human Rights Council member state(s) on relevant resolution(s). - NGO joint statement(s). - Also, working on the right to education in connection with human rights education. Other issues, including, women, children, indigenous peoples, minorities, etc are all within the cross-sectoral range of work in the main context of the work on human rights education. Over the years till date, Soka Gakkai International (SGI), Pax Romana, and Organisation internationale pour le droit à l'éducation et la liberté d'enseignement (OIDEL/SUHR) have been engaged in mutual collaboration in some of the above-mentioned tasks particularly at the UN Commission on Human Rights which lead to this joint initiative for better NGO coordination and networking. Several reports on those activities have been posted on the HREA listserv. Many other NGOs also joined from time to time those activities including NGO joint statements and side events parallel to the Commission. In addition to CONGO member organisations, NGOs which are not a CONGO member are also welcome to join the work of the WG, in particular NGOs which are in consultative status with the UN ECOSOC and which have representation in Geneva. Online communication and information sharing is still possible with other NGOs. During the first session of the Human Rights Council (19-30 June 2006) in Geneva, the WG produced one NGO joint written statement, joined by 25 NGOs and one NGO joint oral statement, joined by 21 NGOs. Most of those joining NGOs are the participating organisations of the WG. The submitted joint written statement is now available on the website of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (Document No. A/HRC/1/NGO/29, including the list of the NGOs that joined.) At: http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/sdpage_e.aspx?b=10&se=2&t=7 The joint oral statement was read out on 29 June, at the morning plenary session of the Council that dealt with the Agenda Programme theme “Dialogue and Cooperation on Human Rights”. The list of the joining NGOs (in addition to Soka Gakkai International which read the statement on behalf of all joining NGOs) is available at the bottom of the UN press release at: http://www.unog.ch/unog/website/news_media.nsf/(httpNewsByYear_en)/ 9CC388867D99068AC125719C004EC02C?OpenDocument The 4 main recommendations made by the joint oral statements are as follows: 1. In order that human rights education and learning be treated as one of the substantial issues, when the Council determines the list of Agenda Items on substantial issues, one of the Agenda Items shall be entitled as follows: Human rights education and learning as well as advisory services, technical assistance and capacity-building. 2. All the mandate-holders shall review the role of human rights education and learning in preventing human rights violations within their mandate and include the final review in their respective report. 3. In the discussion of the modalities of the Universal Periodic Review, the Council shall take into account human rights education and learning as one of the essential elements for consideration 4. The Minister of Education of all member states of the UN shall respond as soon as possible to the joint letter of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Director-General of UNESCO addressed to them on 9 January 2006 encouraging the national implementation of the Plan of Action for the first phase (2005-2007) of the World Programme for Human Rights Education. According to the Office of the High Commissioner, the number of responses received so far from state members to this joint letter has been very few. A response to this letter should be considered as a determinant of their commitment to human rights education and learning as well as to dialogue and cooperation on human rights. On the occasion of the Human Rights Council, the WG also organised an informal consultation of NGOs with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education, Mr. Vernor Muñoz, on 20 June in Geneva, to discuss the latest report and the mandate of the Rapporteur as well as the relevance of human rights education in the context of the right to education, with the understanding that those two themes are inter-related. During the latter half of the morning session of the Council, on 29 June, on “Dialogue and Cooperation on Human Rights” focusing on, among others, human rights education and learning, the Deputy United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Mehr Khan Williams, mentioned that “The World Programme for Human Rights Education aims at supporting existing human rights education and learning activities, and building on the achievements of the UN Decade for Human Rights Education (1995-2004)” and concluded that OHCHR’s (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights) work is geared towards strengthening the capacity of partners to protect and empower people. During the whole morning session of the same day, 29 June, with the given two Agenda Programme themes of “Programme of Work for Future Sessions of the Council” and “Dialogue and Cooperation of Human Rights” a number of states referred to human rights education and/or the World Programme for Human Rights Education in their statements. They included: Switzerland: Referred to the promotion of human rights education as part of the mandate given to the Council based on General Assembly Resolution 60/251 on the establishment of the Human Rights Council, operative paragraph 5 (a), and suggested to think about new methods of work, for instance that all relevant actors could organise a time for discussions during each session of the Council to take advantage of the expertise, schools and universities as well as other independent experts for that purpose. Indonesia: Also suggested that the Council should be able to take up substantive human rights questions at all sessions, including human rights education. Austria (on behalf of the European Union): Stated that EU fully supported the World Programme for Human Rights Education to advance the implementation of programmes in all sectors, building on the achievements of the UN Decade for Human Rights Education (1995-2004), and also, said, “We need to further develop educational materials and mainstream human rights education in national education systems. Ghana: Mentioned that certain countries need to be provided with the financial capa city, logistics and technical assistance to enable them to promote and implement human rights education. Mexico: As Switzerland did, reaffirmed the promotion of human rights education and learning as part of the mandate of the Council, and acknowledged the invaluable contribution of the World Programme for Human Rights Education. Holy See: Deeply believed that respect for human dignity was the common ground and the necessary component on which the human family can engage in as successful human rights education, promotion and protection. Côte d’Ivoire: Referred to the promotion of education and training on human rights as a priority for the Council, reminding of General Assembly Resolution 60/251 as inviting States to review their vision and practice with regards to human rights education. Thailand: Believed that the Council could play a vital role in promoting human rights education as well as the existing guidelines adopted by States at the UN by continuing dialogue with States and by providing a forum for States to share and exchange views and best practices, mentioning also on its national plan on human rights education for 1997-2007. It also referred to human rights education as a life-long learning process which shouldn’t be confined to formal education settings. Nepal: Listed consolidation of national institutions, intensification of human rights education and awareness programmes, observance and compliance of human rights norms and standards, as well as cooperation with the treaty bodies as some areas of cooperation on human rights. Tanzania: Said that it had given priority to human rights education, and that a curriculum for human rights education had been introduced in civic education in secondary schools and as a subject in higher learning institutions when law was taught. ~~~~~ Considering the forthcoming session of the UN Sub-Commission on Human Rights to take place in the summer, and the second session of the Human Rights Council scheduled from 18 September to 6 October 2006, the WG continues its work keeping in mind the contents of the joint statements made during the first session of the Human Rights Council and the NGO consultation with the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education. Kazunari Fujii Chair, NGO Working Group on Human Rights Education (Of the Special Committee of NGOs on Human Rights Of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the UN) Main representative to the UN SGI UN Liaison Office, Geneva ======== Global Human Rights Education listserv ======= Send mail intended for the list to < >. Archives of the list can be found at: http://www.hrea.org/lists/hr-education/ **You are welcome to reprint, copy, archive, quote or re-post this item, but please retain the original and listserv source.
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