GC-OHCHR Webinar "Human Rights Education in Higher Education: Pathways for Youth Empowerment"

On 13 December 2023 Global Campus of Human Rights and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights co-organized a joint Webinar "Human Rights Education in Higher Education: Pathways for Youth Empowerment." MAHRS student Javad Mohammadi has participated in the webinar, joining other 7 students representing each regional Master's Programme.

Human rights education (HRE) is a human right in itself, as recognised in international law. Human rights education develops the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to protect and promote human rights in daily life. UN fora have highlighted that higher education institutions, through their core functions (research, teaching, and service to the community), have the social responsibility to educate ethical citizens committed to the construction of peace, the defence of human rights, and the values of democracy.

Yet, out of the about 30,000 universities worldwide, a mere fraction offers human rights courses.

Human rights education still too often faces resistance, in view of its great transformative power as a value-driven discipline promoting critical thinking and mobilisation. Eventually, human rights education can backslide even where it has already affirmed itself. It is in this context that human rights educators play a crucial role, at the very crossroads between teaching and advocacy, acting as quiet, but powerful agents of change.

The 75th anniversary of the UDHR provides an occasion to reflect upon the challenges and opportunities of promoting human rights through the inspiring work of educators and institutions at the forefront.

Access the full programme here: https://bit.ly/3MuOAT0

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