Teachers in a Multicultural Environment

2.1 Universality and Human Rights Based Approach to Education

The right to education, at the universal level, was firstly recognised as a human right in article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), stating that “everyone” has the right to education. The word “everyone” is emphasized in order to stress that the right to education is deemed to be available to all, without exception. Among other important universal, regional and national documents, there are relevant texts on the protection of the right to education, such as declarations, recommendations, plans of action and, in particular, the Education for All movement (EFA), ensuring the right to education for all, regardless of individual and cultural differences. It emphasizes the need to provide access to education for traditionally marginalized groups, including, among others, migrants and linguistic and cultural minorities. The right to education is, therefore, a human right, universal and inalienable, supported by several international commitments. The concepts, rights and education, are absolutely mingled, since they mutually define each other.

A human rights based approach to education, contradicting the needs-based development approach to education, aims at “assuring every child a quality education that respects and promotes her or his right to dignity and optimum development” (UNESCO, 2007). This approach intents a “holistic perspective, addressing to the access to education, to the educational quality and to the environment in which education takes place, based on universal human rights principles”, accounting for dynamic and “different learning environments and different learners and needs an effective implementation. A schooling that is respectful of human rights – both in words and in action, in schoolbooks and at the schoolyard – is integral to the realization of quality education for all, aiming at social transformation” (Ibid). Human rights education (HRE), according to the Action Plan of the United Nations Decade for HRE, can be defined as training, dissemination and information efforts aimed at building a culture of human rights through the imparting of knowledge and skills and the molding of attitudes. The article 1 of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training underlines that “human rights education and training is essential for the promotion of universal respect for and observance of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, in accordance with the principles of the universality, indivisibility and interdependence of human rights.” Such education requires, inherently, the adoption of human rights-based principles, including “non-discrimination and inclusion, dignity and respect, accountability, participation and empowerment of learners, educational staff and parents within their organizational structure, governance processes and procedures” (OSCE, 2012).

Online Resources

• A Human Rights Based-Approach to Education for All: a framework for the realization of children’s right to education and rights within education. 2007This document brings together the theory and practice on human rights based approaches in the education sector, providing a framework for policy and programme development from the school level to the national and international levels.
• Manual on Rights-Based Education: global human rights requirements made simple. 2004This manual is a reference tool outlined for policy-makers and practitioners in education and aims at translating globally-accepted human rights standards into guidelines for national education strategies and has been written as a reference tool for, as well as for those working in international development co-operation.
• Understanding Human Rights: manual on human rights education. 2012The manual consists of a general introduction into the basics of human rights, a special part with selected modules and an additional resources part, which contains methodological hints, useful information and references to further reading and on-line resources.
• The Human Rights Education Toolbox: a Practitioner’s Guide to Planning and Managing Human Rights Education. 2016This toolbox aims contributing to an ongoing learning process among educators on how to strengthen educational planning and implementation, through a structured approach, being human rights-based principles reflected in the content and in the methodologies applied.
• Guidelines on human rights education for secondary school systems. 2012These guidelines, supporting systemic and effective human rights learning for all young people, offers a list of key materials to assist in planning, implementing and evaluating human rights education in schools.
• All Human Beings... A manual for human rights education. 1998This practical illustrated manual/guide provides ideas for educational activities to be developed in primary and secondary schools, providing useful documentation, specific teaching materials and practical exercises.
• Human Rights Education in the School Systems of Europe, Central Asia and North America: A Compendium of Good Practice. 2009This compendium includes descriptions and actual samples of successful education initiatives in the fields of human rights and democratic citizenship education, as well as educational practices aimed at fostering mutual respect and understanding from Europe, North America and Central Asia.
• Human Rights Education in Primary and Secondary School Systems: A Self-assessment Guide for Governments. 2012This publication aims at assisting national authorities responsible for the school system with practical guidance to integrate human rights education in primary and secondary education and details important theoretical information regarding human rights education and human rights-based approach to education important for teachers.
• A Path to Dignity: The Power of Human Rights Education. 2011It is a 28-minute movie presenting three stories illustrating the impact of human rights education respectively on school children (India), law enforcement agencies (Australia) and women victims of violence (Turkey).
• Human Rights Based-Approach to Development CooperationA common understanding among UN agencies, funds and programmes applying a consistent Human Rights-Based Approach to common programming processes at global and regional levels, and especially at the country level
• Guidelines for Inclusion: Ensuring Access to Education for All. 2005A UNESCO’s guideline to assist countries in making National Plans for Education more inclusive.
• United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training. 2011Resolution of the General Assembly on 19 December 2011 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/66/457)] 66/137 adopting the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training.