The conference 'Educating for Human Rights, Peace and Intercultural Dialogue' will be held on the Parramatta Campus of the University of Western Sydney from 4-6 November 2010.

It will examine the contribution of human rights culture to the good functioning of the civil society; highlight key trends and achievements in human rights education in particular, and aim
to secure greater commitment for future human rights education.


Topics and Themes

Plenary Sessions, workshops and presentations of case studies and best practice from around the world – including from the Indian sub-continent, the Asia-Pacific Region, Latin America, the USA, Europe, New Zealand and Australia. Embrace the diversity of human rights education experts and practitioners across a range of critical issues, including the key themes of:

What are the Global Trends in Human Rights Education (HRE)?

• Analysis of key UN initiatives, including the World Programme for HRE, the Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training and the Draft Human Rights Education Competencies and their implementation and impact.
• Key national initiatives in HRE – in search of best practice.

Global Citizenship: What Values should be given Priority in Modern Education?

• Human rights as unifying standards for a society.
• What is the culture of human rights?
• The nexus between the human rights and well functioning democracy.
• Key values in education: human rights, peace and social diversity.
• Universal values versus religious specificity.
  

How to Nourish Human Rights Culture?

• The role of government and the law in shaping human rights culture.
• The role of civil society in educating about human rights, incl. education by the trade unions and NGOs.
• Can the media shift the public opinion on human rights issues?
• Human rights in professional training, e.g. for lawyers, social workers, police and in military.
  

Where and How to Educate about Human Rights?

• Do we need a human rights-based approach to schooling?
• HRE in primary and secondary schools.
• Universities and HRE.
• Contribution of national bills of rights to HRE.
• Implementing the HR based approach in community organisations.
  

Human Rights of Most Vulnerable Groups, Indigenous People and Development

• What are the linkages between the HRE and development?
• Human Rights as Community Development?
• Education to advance women’s rights in developing nations.
• Rights of people with disabilities.
• Realising economic rights, incl. the rights of homeless?
• The application of human rights in a natural disaster and war contexts.
• How to secure human rights of Indigenous populations in mining areas?

View conference program, and register here.

For more information, please view the conference website.