Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace. - Article 26 (2), Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948
In layman’s parlance, human rights are all the rights that a human being must be guaranteed to and get to enjoy by virtue of being a human so as to live life to the fullest possible. Any hindrance to enjoyment of rights is human rights violation. To enjoy rights, one must know the rights. To be informed of the right is in itself a human right. In other words, denial of the opportunity to learn and be informed of the rights is a violation of human rights. Abuse and violation of human rights is a daily occurrence. The world is littered with examples of violations of basic rights: political imprisonment, torture, slavery, death penalty, custodial death, genocide, poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition, refugees; violations of rights of women, children, minorities, tribals, etc. The fast changing phenomenon of change the world over invariably brings its share of challenges, particularly to those at the margins of society.
On the occasion of International Human Rights Day – the 10th of December - this write-up attempts to reiterate the need and importance of human rights education for one and all, particularly in educational institutions at all levels. The codification of international human rights began with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations in 1948. The scope and application of human rights have been expanded with the adoption of the international covenants in 1966 on civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights. The applicability, relevance and importance of the different sets rights may differ from state to state, depending on the level of awareness and human development index. However, the need for human rights education is the same everywhere.
Human rights education is a human right; it is a precondition for sustainable development, peaceful co-existence and to build democratic temperament and attitude. Therefore, teaching human rights – the inalienable and indivisible rights and also the basic standards of equity and justice – is a key and practical defence for upholding and protecting rights. The contribution it makes to preventing those rights from being denied or attacked is not supplementary; it is critical, especially in the multicultural and multiethnic a setting as the northeast of India. The Amnesty International human rights educators consider it the fourth “R”, suggesting that human rights literacy – teaching and learning about human rights – is of fundamental importance. Rights deserve their place alongside Reading, (w)Riting and (a)Rithmetic.
Why is human rights education important?
• It helps bring awareness of rights and the wherewithal for the protection and implementation of human rights;
• It helps understand the evolution of various generations of rights and how they have benefitted individuals, communities and states;
• It helps disseminate and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms through education, training and public information;
• It helps build and develop a universal culture of human rights, promotes understanding, respect, gender equality and friendship among all nations, indigenous peoples and racial, national, ethnic, religious and linguistic groups;
• It helps build a healthy democratic society especially in times of crisis and threat locally, nationally and globally.
• It helps one to participate effectively in a free society;
• It helps develop attitudes and values that uphold human rights in daily life;
• It helps prepare all young people for life in multicultural and democratic society; and
• It helps prevent, or at least minimise, abuse and violations of human rights.
The situation we are in now calls for fresh perspectives in socio-economic and political spheres where contestation for and about scarce resources are on the ascendency; modern developmental plans pose threat to concerns of sustainability and environmental hazards; and the rise of ‘ethno-nationalist’ movements and assertion of rights by various groups, communities and tribes pose threats to one and all. It is at this juncture that the need and importance of human rights education must be located and appreciated. It is in the interest of the overall growth and prosperity of all concern that human rights education should find a place of importance in the curricula at school, college and university levels.
Ketoukhrie-ü, Course-Teacher, Human Rights Education,
Patkai Christian College (Autonomous)
AG Samuel, Faculty,
Patkai Christian College (Autonomous)
