[hr-education] Re: Human rights/children's rights values

Dear colleagues,

I just wanted to contiue with your discusion on tolerance and add this
point I am really for "dialogical dialogue". For me, dialogue is not only
a process of talking. It is a process of "trust-building, active
listening, comprehension and tolerance", while the two sides can be
assertive too. The result may not be a consensus at the first point, but
at least understanding the values that are not the same as one's values.

Regards, 

Saeid Nouri Neshat 
Training Office and Human Rights Educator 
NGO Training Center 
Iran 




On 26 September 2006, Robert Bowie wrote: 

Tolerance is a complex phrase which can be used in a negative
context, to tolerate meaning to put up with. However it can be
considered a value even in these terms when applied to, for instance,
political views we dislike but accept as rightfully existing or being
expressed. No-one would expect political enemies to have to like each
others political views. When this sort of thinking is moved to
culture it is much more tricky as there is a desire to be open to
others and other ways of living. I rather like the phrase
understanding, tolerance and friendship which is often used in UN HRE
documents. It suggests a plane of direction and the multifaceted
dimension of the encounter between cultures. Understanding is not
enough on its own because comprehension can be accompanied by
prejudice and hostility, tolerance on its own seems to suggest a
distance between groups but with friendship as well, a more positive
dynamic is created. Perhaps these values need to be taken only as
part of a dynamic. 

I am always struck by the fact that I find it a challenge to go back
and stay with my parents, whom I love dearly. I really do have to
tolerate things about them which I find challenging and sometimes
disagreeable, but I still love them (the dog rules the house for
instance). My love does not obscure irritation and for this reason I
need tolerance among my virtues. Tolerance alone, however, would not
do. If this is the case for those I know, am close to, and am similar
to, then it must also be the case for others. In another context,
sometimes when I see an old couple who have lived their life together
in love - it is apparent that they know each other, are friends with
each other and have learnt to put up with the annoying little habits.
If good marriages, and happy families require tolerance, perhaps
interculturalism or multiculturalism, or whatever we want to call
needs tolerance too. 

Bob Bowie 
Faculty of Education 
Canterbury Christ Church University 
UK 



On 25 September 2006, Michael Kerr wrote: 

> Wim et al - I'll try to look for a more fully elaborated list - but
> just a quick response to your query. I would certainly take issue with 
> your having included "tolerance" in your short-list of values, let 
> alone one to which we should collectively aspire!? 
> 
> Though through much of our multilateral work we're very much saddled 
> with "tolerance" being articulated as a value or principle of merit - 
> I believe it is so only because that is the barest mimimum to which
> diverse state-parties could agree - and found therefore across an all 
> too broad a range of national and international human rights and 
> related instruments!! 
> 
> Anywhere "tolerance" of diversity is named as a value, objective or
> goal - we in fact should aspire to "awareness, understanding, 
> appreciation and welcoming" of that diversity. We should in fact be
> working at every opportunity to expunge this terminology whenever and 
> wherever it may be found !! 
> 
> We "tolerate" things that we'd rather not have anything to do with - 
> given the choice - but that we in fact have no choice but to cope with 
> and accept - certainly not a very healthy and/or sustainable 
> position!! 
> 
> My quick thought - Michael. 
> 
> Michael Kerr 
> Coordinator 
> Karuna Community Services 
> # 310 - 15 Maitland Place 
> Toronto, Ontario M4Y 2X3 
> Canada 
> Phone : 416-966-3882 
> Fax : 416-971-6780 
> 
> Nurturing healthy, equitable and sustainable community across and 
> beyond the greater Toronto region. 
> 
> ----- Original Message ---- 
> 
> Dear colleagues, 
> 
> It is clear that human rights standards (and children's rights 
> standards) are underpinned by values, which we could name 'human 
> rights values', respectively 'children's rights values'. It is clear 
> as well that respect for diversity, equality, tolerance, freedom and 
> solidarity are examples of such values. 
> 
> Human rights education, in our understanding, is not only education
> about and for (and through) human rights in the legal sense of the 
> term, but also education for human rights values, which are applicable 
> in daily life. This raises the question: which are those 'human rights 
> values' (or 'children's rights values'). 
> 
> What we are looking for now is a list of such human rights values or 
> children's rights values which has a solid base (this means: a list
> which is more than just intuitively compiled but grounded in some 
> resarch work). 
> 
> We would be very grateful if you could help us. 
> 
> Many thanks in advance 
> 
> Wim Taelman 
> 
> Wim Taelman (coordinator) 
> VORMEN vzw (Flemish Organisation for Human Rights Education) Lange 
> Gasthuisstraat 29 B-2000 Antwerpen 
> (Belgium) 
> www.vormen.org 





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