[hre-asiapacific] Public statement by Amnesty International in support of a Second

UN Decade for HRE
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Public statement by Amnesty International in support of a Second UN Decade
for HRE

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

Public Statement
AI Index: IOR 41/015/2004    (Public)
News Service No:  091
14 April 2004

Public statement by Amnesty International in support of a
Second United Nations Decade on Human Rights Education

Amnesty International welcomes the call for a Second UN Decade for Human
Rights Education (HRE) to begin on 1 January 2005, and the recommendation
for an International Plan of Action for HRE for the decade 2005-2014, as
proposed by Costa Rica at this year's session of the Commission on Human
Rights. An International Plan of Action for HRE will be an important step
to further promote and develop understanding of HRE in the wider civil
society, and will provide a useful framework for HRE work. In order to
further strengthen this initiative, Amnesty International invites
governments, UN agencies and civil society to consider the following
points:

* The International Plan of Action must contain realistic, measurable
targets for Member States, envisage close cooperation with HRE
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and aim at implementing HRE within
the formal and non-formal education sectors, including adult and
professional sectors.

* The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the right to education should
be renewed and expanded to include the promotion and monitoring of HRE
programs in both the formal and non-formal education sectors, and receive
adequate funding.

* The provisions related to education enshrined in international
instruments, in particular the International Covenant on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights (article 13), and the International Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (article 7), and
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
(article 10), should be used to encourage governments to establish HRE
programs and to report on such initiatives through their periodic reports
to the relevant treaty monitoring bodies.

* Joint HRE initiatives should be encouraged between NGOs and UN agencies,
including UNESCO, UNICEF and UNIFEM.

* An annual review of progress in implementing the International Plan of
Action should be conducted by member states and submitted to the
Commission on Human Rights. In addition, mid-term and end of term reviews
should be undertaken, with the full participation of NGOs and civil
society.

* Member States should consider increasing their financial contribution to
the UN to support the development and promotion of HRE programs.



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