Human rights have been violated for years in many centuries and in various communities and cultures. Such violation contributed in building unbalanced societies where individuals were not able to practice their simple rights. In fact, human rights instead should create a platform where tolerance, equality and justice are main concepts and where discrimination, abuse and violence have no place. Education on the other hand is an essential human right for creating a powerful opportunities in terms of jobs creation, ending poverty and enabling individuals to participate with their opinion freely.
Individuals have some needs and requirements that fall under specific rights, if such rights are not provided then these needs will not be met. Such issue can create potential possibility for conflicts creation within societies. In order to overcome these conflicts, roots that cause such issues have to be first addressed and held.
“”Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”” – Nelson Mandela. Human rights education is not only a weapon, it is also a symbol of light for guiding people regardless of their age, religion, gender or ethnicity; to know their rights and defend these violated ones. It plants the sense of responsibility towards the individuals and serves the public interest.
The 26th universal declaration of human rights states that everyone has the right to be educated and education shall be accessed free for everyone. Such education enables humanity to create a culture where human rights are the main concerns and it involves values and skills to promote human right protection. These concepts and values that are held formally under education could be transferred further to be considered first informally among individuals within the societies and later institutionalized and taken for granted on daily bases.
Education in general is seen as one of the main human rights. One of the Millennium Goals is to achieve universal primary education, and to insure that by this year “2015” children everywhere and specifically in South Asia and Africa will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling. Since MDGs were lunched in many developing countries, they have successfully completed campaigns towards universal primary education.
By recognizing the importance of human rights education there has been a great progress and promising future for the generation. As a result, when society’s individuals are aware of their rights they will be responsible and active participants in their societies which will drive them to avoid violence and discrimination. Moreover, to live in a harmony while respecting other rights as the way they want their rights to be respected.
Reporter: Ms. Merwa Abdelkader