NHRC Chairperson says Human Rights Education should make more conscious effort to alter the world reality
New Delhi July 6, 2007
The NHRC Chairperson Justice Shri S. Rajendra Babu had called for discovering 'Human Remedies for Human Maladies'. In his Presidential address at the National Consultation on Incorporating Human Rights Education in the School and University Education System in New Delhi today, he said through the learning of human Rights as a way of life, fundamental change can be brought about to eliminate or eradicate poverty, ignorance, prejudice and discrimination based on sex, caste, religion and disability.
The Chairperson said Right to Education forms an integral part of major international instruments on human Rights. He said that Human Rights Education cannot be reduced to a single introduction of human Rights content. He said that such education brings about a profound reform which touches upon curricula in-service and pre-service training, textbooks, methology, classroom management and organization of the education system at all levels. Justice Shri S. Rajendra Babu stressed that human rights education should not be theoretical but must be relevant to people's life. He said such education is needed to everyone whose decisions or policies affect the life of other human beings. Human Rights Education serves as a means of understanding and embracing principles of human equality, dignity and commitment to respect and protect the rights of all, he added. The Chairperson called for an attitudinal change in human behaviour so that knowledge of human rights is disseminated.
Referring to the recent changes in the global scenario, including massive violation of human rights, the Chairperson said such experiences suggest that human beings have to make far more conscious effort to alter the world reality and human rights education should aim at this.
Justice Shri Y. Bhaskar Rao, Member, NHRC in his Opening remarks stressed the need to give optimum benefits to all the fellow human beings. He emphasized that relevant inputs should be provided to the government so that policies can be formulated to safeguard the human rights. Prof S.K Thorat, Chairman, UGC highlighted that what is required is the sensitivity about violation of rights and only education can bring about that sensitivity. He said that knowledge should be for the elevation of all the human beings.
The Chief Guest Shri Arjun Singh, Minister of Human Resource Development, released the recommendations of NHRC on introduction of Human rights at school and college level. The recommendations which have come out in the form of two publications consist of model curriculum for universities and module for teacher training in school education. In his inaugural address the Minister stressed the need that education should act as a sound foundation to inculcate human rights value. Human Rights should become an essential part for the protection and promotion of wide range of knowledge for betterment of social, economic and cultural affairs. Shri Arjun Singh said that the rights are already enshrined in the Constitution and only awareness is needed. Concepts of human rights should be made universal frame of reference, the Minister added.
The day long consultations aim to look into all the recommendations brought out by the Commission.
(Backgrounder)
Ever since its inception in the year 1993, it has been the endeavour of NHRC to create an awareness about Human Rights. Keeping this in mind, the Commission made an effort to introduce Human Rights Education Curriculum through the UGC in the year 1999. In the year 2001, the model on Human Rights Education was developed and introduced by the UGC in different universities and colleges. With the changing global scenario, a need was felt to have a re-look at the model. In order to come out with a broader perspective on Curriculum for Human Rights Education at University and College level, the Commission collected the syllabus on Human Rights from those universities and colleges where the subject was already been taught.
The Commission's aim was not limited to collect the syllabus and make appropriate changes but also to see to it that Human Rights Education becomes a lucrative area of study, with a higher degree of opening and credibility in the job market.
To achieve this, the Commission constituted a Task Force on Human Rights Education on June 7, 2006. The Task Force consisted of eminent academicians and legal experts in the field, drawn from various parts of the country.
On the basis of the deliberations of the Task Force, the Commission held five Regional Conferences at Goa, Cochin, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad and Jaipur from October 2006 to February 2007. The Task Force looked into the recommendations made at the five Regional Conferences and also took into account the UGC Model Curriculum on Human Rights and made the final recommendations.
The Model Curriculum prepared by the Task Force focuses not only on the local issues but also provides an exposure to field experiences. It is expected with such vast knowledge, those who take up Human Rights as a subject at degree or post graduate level will get an overview of the issue and be able to develop Human Rights Culture.
The Commission also worked with NCERT to bring out a Module on Human Rights Education for Teaching Professionals imparting educations in primary and higher secondary level.
The Commission's recommendations both on introduction of Human Rights at College and School level aim to achieve the objective of sensitizing the people towards Human Rights.
******
The NHRC Chairperson Justice Shri S. Rajendra Babu had called for discovering 'Human Remedies for Human Maladies'. In his Presidential address at the National Consultation on Incorporating Human Rights Education in the School and University Education System in New Delhi today, he said through the learning of human Rights as a way of life, fundamental change can be brought about to eliminate or eradicate poverty, ignorance, prejudice and discrimination based on sex, caste, religion and disability.
The Chairperson said Right to Education forms an integral part of major international instruments on human Rights. He said that Human Rights Education cannot be reduced to a single introduction of human Rights content. He said that such education brings about a profound reform which touches upon curricula in-service and pre-service training, textbooks, methology, classroom management and organization of the education system at all levels. Justice Shri S. Rajendra Babu stressed that human rights education should not be theoretical but must be relevant to people's life. He said such education is needed to everyone whose decisions or policies affect the life of other human beings. Human Rights Education serves as a means of understanding and embracing principles of human equality, dignity and commitment to respect and protect the rights of all, he added. The Chairperson called for an attitudinal change in human behaviour so that knowledge of human rights is disseminated.
Referring to the recent changes in the global scenario, including massive violation of human rights, the Chairperson said such experiences suggest that human beings have to make far more conscious effort to alter the world reality and human rights education should aim at this.
Justice Shri Y. Bhaskar Rao, Member, NHRC in his Opening remarks stressed the need to give optimum benefits to all the fellow human beings. He emphasized that relevant inputs should be provided to the government so that policies can be formulated to safeguard the human rights. Prof S.K Thorat, Chairman, UGC highlighted that what is required is the sensitivity about violation of rights and only education can bring about that sensitivity. He said that knowledge should be for the elevation of all the human beings.
The Chief Guest Shri Arjun Singh, Minister of Human Resource Development, released the recommendations of NHRC on introduction of Human rights at school and college level. The recommendations which have come out in the form of two publications consist of model curriculum for universities and module for teacher training in school education. In his inaugural address the Minister stressed the need that education should act as a sound foundation to inculcate human rights value. Human Rights should become an essential part for the protection and promotion of wide range of knowledge for betterment of social, economic and cultural affairs. Shri Arjun Singh said that the rights are already enshrined in the Constitution and only awareness is needed. Concepts of human rights should be made universal frame of reference, the Minister added.
The day long consultations aim to look into all the recommendations brought out by the Commission.
(Backgrounder)
Ever since its inception in the year 1993, it has been the endeavour of NHRC to create an awareness about Human Rights. Keeping this in mind, the Commission made an effort to introduce Human Rights Education Curriculum through the UGC in the year 1999. In the year 2001, the model on Human Rights Education was developed and introduced by the UGC in different universities and colleges. With the changing global scenario, a need was felt to have a re-look at the model. In order to come out with a broader perspective on Curriculum for Human Rights Education at University and College level, the Commission collected the syllabus on Human Rights from those universities and colleges where the subject was already been taught.
The Commission's aim was not limited to collect the syllabus and make appropriate changes but also to see to it that Human Rights Education becomes a lucrative area of study, with a higher degree of opening and credibility in the job market.
To achieve this, the Commission constituted a Task Force on Human Rights Education on June 7, 2006. The Task Force consisted of eminent academicians and legal experts in the field, drawn from various parts of the country.
On the basis of the deliberations of the Task Force, the Commission held five Regional Conferences at Goa, Cochin, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad and Jaipur from October 2006 to February 2007. The Task Force looked into the recommendations made at the five Regional Conferences and also took into account the UGC Model Curriculum on Human Rights and made the final recommendations.
The Model Curriculum prepared by the Task Force focuses not only on the local issues but also provides an exposure to field experiences. It is expected with such vast knowledge, those who take up Human Rights as a subject at degree or post graduate level will get an overview of the issue and be able to develop Human Rights Culture.
The Commission also worked with NCERT to bring out a Module on Human Rights Education for Teaching Professionals imparting educations in primary and higher secondary level.
The Commission's recommendations both on introduction of Human Rights at College and School level aim to achieve the objective of sensitizing the people towards Human Rights.
******