COUNCIL HOLDS PANEL DISCUSSION ON DRAFT DECLARATION ON HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION AND TRAINING

The Human Rights Council this morning heard statements from dignitaries from the Philippines, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Viet Nam, the Republic of Korea and Serbia under its high-level segment and then held a panel discussion on the draft declaration on human rights education and training.

Alberto Romulo, Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, underscored the profound significance of the United Nations Human Rights Council. In order for it to meet its mandate effectively, enhancing international partnership, capacity-building and open dialogue on human rights were essential.

Micheline Calmy-Rey, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, said the Universal Periodic Review was a positive aspect of the Human Rights Council. The Special Procedures were another important tool of the Council. For the system to be effective, an active support from States was primordial. Too many States had failed to respond to requests for invitations from Special Rapporteurs.

Glenys Kinnock, Minister of State of the United Kingdom, said the Human Rights Council should, in word and deed, adhere to the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and accept the challenges faced in order to secure the freedom, well-being, and dignity of people everywhere.

Pham Binh Minh, First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam, noted with satisfaction that the work of the Council over the years had been more successful. Politicisation and confrontation must be effectively dealt with, to enable the Council to serve as a forum for constructive dialogue on how best to promote and protect human rights.

Cho Hyun, Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs of the Republic of Korea, said some States had chosen to gloss over serious human rights violations. There was a need to address the persistent refusal of some States to cooperate with the Special Procedures.

Vuk Jeremic, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, said Serbia was a place of tolerance, in which close to 30 ethnic communities lived harmoniously together, not just side by side. But there was a place within the constitutional borders of Serbia where human rights standards fell well below acceptable minimums: Kosovo and Metohija.

Opening the panel discussion on the draft declaration on human rights education and training, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said the ongoing work of the Council reflected the increased international recognition of the important role that human rights education played in protecting and promoting human rights, in preventing abuses, and in bolstering non-discrimination, equality and sustainable development. The draft defined the characteristics of human rights education and training, and underscored that imparting and receiving such education was a right.

The panellists in the panel discussion were Micheline Calmy-Rey, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, Mohammed Naciri, Minister of Justice of Morocco; Maitre Madicke Niang, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Senegal; Alberto. G. Romulo, Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Philippines; and Dargoljuba Bencina, State Secretary, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia.

Micheline Calmy-Rey, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, said education for human rights was one of the Council’s fundamental vocations. Human rights education and knowledge were essential for the progress of fundamental freedoms. Switzerland wanted the draft declaration to be clear and simple.

Mohammed Naciri, Minister of Justice of Morocco, said education in the area of human rights was essential to disseminate a human rights culture. Ongoing training and education were a means to guarantee participation by human elements to confront the challenges and make human rights a reality.

Madicke Niang, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Senegal, said a better knowledge of the norms and elementary principles of human rights had allowed the international community to promote a participatory and inclusive dynamic to build a democratic and peaceful society, conducive to the enjoyment of fundamental freedoms and human rights.

Alberto. G. Romulo, Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, said human rights education and training were essential for promoting and protecting human rights. Enhancing human rights literacy of citizens would deter violations and foster a culture of human rights.

Dargoljuba Bencina, State Secretary, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, said the essential purpose of human rights education and training was to develop a human rights culture to make it possible to sensitise all men, women and children on their own rights and the rights of others.

National delegations then took the floor to make comments on the presentations and ask questions of the panellists. They said human rights education and training was a priority for many States. Human rights education was an important part of human rights. Speakers emphasized that people could enjoy human rights only if they were aware of what those rights were. The adoption of the declaration by the United Nations would provide a unified vision of human rights education and training, clarify legal obligations of States and present them with a framework for the promotion and protection of human rights. The declaration should fill that gap and outline linkages between human rights education and learning. It should shy away from prescribing a universal curriculum that could not work in all contexts. The declaration should focus on the complementary role of human rights education and training and not promote it as a separate category of human rights.

Speaking in the discussion were the representatives of Italy, Costa Rica, Thailand, Burkina Faso, Uzbekistan, Spain on behalf of the European Union, Colombia, on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries, Viet Nam on behalf of ASEAN, Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Brazil, Indonesia, Lithuania, on behalf of the Convening Group of the Community of Democracy, the United States, Russian Federation, Congo and China.

The next meeting of the Council will be at 3 p.m. this afternoon, when it will continue to hear statements from dignitaries under its high-level segment.

High-Level Segment

ALBERTO G. ROMULO, Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, said the future of the world depended on the joint actions of the world community. Working within the United Nations, the Parliament of the world, the international community must clearly secure that future by bolstering the fundamental pillars of global stability and progress. These pillars were: peace and security, development, democratic empowerment and human rights. If there was failure in any of these pillars, the fruits of the labour would be vitiated, as weakness of any one pillar would only undermine the foundations of the emergent global system. This underscored the profound significance of the United Nations Human Rights Council, which latter was the keystone of the new global architecture for human rights. In order for the Council to meet its mandate effectively, enhancing international partnership, capacity-building and open dialogue on human rights were essential.

The Human Rights Council was thus a vital forum wherein to forge greater trust and deeper partnerships. Countries had to be encouraged and empowered to more effectively address human rights concerns. More often than not, it was not a question of whether a country wanted to strengthen its human rights policies and programmes, but a question of limited resources, capacity, and awareness. Hence, the development dimensions of human rights were vital for developing countries, including the realisation of the right to development. Poverty continued to be the greatest barrier to realising all human rights, and the international community had a moral obligation to eradicate poverty. Nevertheless, all countries, whether from North or South, shared human rights challenges. As the review of the Human Rights Council approached, the international community must reflect on the Council's successes and weaknesses. Common understanding and mutual respect among different faiths and religions could contribute to forging a global alliance for universally-agreed human rights, and this should be the goal, with the Council as a pivotal body where all should collaborate to attain this goal.

MICHELINE CALMY REY, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, expressed her condolences to Chile and France following natural disasters there. Switzerland was grateful to High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay for all her efforts to protect and promote human rights. Switzerland also underscored the work of civil society and the ideas they provided which enriched debates. The abolition of the death penalty was one of Switzerland’s main foreign policy agendas. The Universal Periodic Review was a positive aspect of the Human Rights Council. It also had set backs. Switzerland was firmly convinced that cooperation had to overcome confrontation. Switzerland would engage in dialogue.

The Special Procedures were another important tool of the Council. For the system to be effective, an active support from States was primordial. Too many States had failed to respond to requests for invitations from Special Rapporteurs. The independence of the Special Rapporteurs was the cornerstone of the Council and it had to be preserved. Interactive dialogue had to be improved and Member States had to listen to the Special Rapporteurs. Could Members not avoid repeating the same topics and streamline their work? Switzerland would like common responses on the Council’s work and its mandate. The review of the Council’s work and mandate would take place next year. In this framework, it was possible to make the Council more efficient. The Council had made crucial achievements. Improvements were needed where human rights abuses had been flaunted. Switzerland had been one of the engines behind the creation of the Human Rights Council. It remained committed to responding to the needs of the most vulnerable groups. Its candidacy for the 2010–2013 period showed that it wanted the Council to reach its full potential as set by its mandate and to give hope to victims who watched it and waited for it to protect them.

GLENYS KINNOCK, Minister of State of the United Kingdom, said the clear role of members of the United Nations family was to ensure that collective action and multilateral diplomacy was timelier and more effective. The Human Rights Council should, in word and deed, adhere to the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and accept the challenges faced in order to secure the freedom, well-being, and dignity of people everywhere. All religious and cultural traditions should subscribe to these objectives and, wherever people lived, they had common aspirations - to live in peace and security, to be healthy and educated, and to be offered opportunities for themselves and their families and communities. And yet there was still terrible abuse, discrimination, oppression and injustice. That was why the United Nations needed to be strengthened and its performance and accountability improved so that greater success could be achieved in the tasks that were demanding and well-known. These tasks also required active recognition of the fact that it was women and girls who were most likely to experience lifelong poverty and deprivation. Women's autonomy and their ability to make and implement decisions were clearly closely linked to the advancement of children's rights.

Ultimately, of course, it was the job of Governments to take responsibility and ensure that they dealt with gender inequality wherever and whenever it occurred. The General Assembly review of the Millennium Development Goals would take place in September, and many targets remained dangerously distant from fulfilment. However, a priority must be to tackle the all too frequent low status and low value accorded to women. The work of the Human Rights Council had to reflect genuine acceptance of the broad responsibility to work towards good governance, the rule of law, the right to political and civil rights and the need to value liberty. It was up to the United Nations to chart and implement the essential course leading to development and equity. That was not an option. It was a moral imperative and implementing it showed that humanity was willing to take control of its future and not leave it to some vague concept of "destiny". The Council must keep at the forefront of its mind the clear responsibility that it had to support the efforts of so many individuals who worked to improve their own lives, the lives of their fellow citizens, and the lives of their children. Every woman, man and child had the same right to reach their full potential, and that was what must galvanise all to do more to ensure they could fulfil their aspirations.

PHAM BINH MINH, First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam, noted with satisfaction that the work of the Council over the years had been more effective. The success of the Council lay in a more balanced agenda addressing comprehensively human rights issues, increased universality and non-selectivity and the overall spirit of dialogue and cooperation. Yet more needed to be done in the same areas, while upholding the principles of universality, transparency, impartiality and non-selectivity. Politicisation and confrontation must be effectively dealt with, to enable the Council to serve as a forum for constructive dialogue on how best to promote and protect human rights. The Council needed to continue development of its institutional framework, avoid duplication with other bodies of the United Nations and strengthen focus on the impact of economic and financial crises, climate change, poverty, violence and discrimination, and gender inequality. Viet Nam welcomed early establishment of the open-ended intergovernmental group on the review of the Council and appreciated the initiatives to hold informal consultations as good first steps in preparing for the review process.

The past year had been a difficult one as countries and people around the world had faced tremendous challenges due to the global economic and financial crises, the food crisis, natural and man-made disasters, diseases, conflict and instability. Viet Nam was pleased to see active participation at yesterday’s panel discussion on the crises, which had shown the shared concern that these challenges must be addressed. Viet Nam continued and would continue to invest in areas that mattered most to the people in improving livelihoods, social welfare, poverty reduction, education, health care and employment. It had managed to maintain over 5 per cent growth in 2009. It would continue to promote human rights through dialogue and cooperation and as current chair of ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights would actively promote ASEAN common visions and foster solidarity with the view to ensuring the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms for ASEAN people.

CHO HYUN, Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs of the Republic of Korea, expressed his condolences to Chile as a result of the recent devastating earthquake. The Republic of Korea would help it to overcome the catastrophe with assistance from it, alongside the world community. The Republic of Korea would like to thank the President of the Council. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay had provided fresh impetus. It was time to look back at the last four years to identify achievements and shortcomings to improve the Council, which had played a crucial role in ensuring global respect for human rights and addressing violations through the Universal Periodic Review and other procedures. It was crucial to ask if human rights violations had improved. Human rights were crucial for peace and security. Governments were responsible for abiding by international standards. The Republic of Korea and others had pledged to promote and to protect human rights at a national level. There was room for improvement. Some States had chosen to gloss over serious human rights violations. The role of Special Procedures was of utmost importance for the Council to respond effectively on the ground. There was a need to address the persistent refusal of some States to cooperate with that procedure.

The Republic of Korea’s achievements were encouraging. Some valuable mechanism had been misused. For the Council to ensure effectiveness it required the participation of all States based on dialogue. The Republic of Korea had actively taken part in the activities of the Council. It had engaged fully in the Universal Periodic Review process. It had recently bolstered the monitoring mechanism of the Review. It had fully cooperated with all the Special Procedures. The international community was faced with challenges such as conflict, natural disasters, the economic crisis and climate change. It was crucial to ensure that the pursuit of economic, social and cultural rights did not divert from protecting civil and political rights. The Republic of Korea attached importance to human rights as a universal value. Over the past year it had become concerned about the situation of refugees and migrants in the country. It would co-host a sub regional conference on alternatives to detaining refugees in Seoul over the summer.

VUK JEREMIC, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, said Serbia was proud of its record as a leader in human and minority rights protection in Southeast Europe. It had nearly accomplished its goal of total compliance with all relevant international standards. In accordance with the new procedures of the Universal periodic Review, Serbia had submitted a comprehensive report to the Council on its work since 2008. It proposed a decisive set of measures the Government intended to take in order to overcome the few challenges that still had to be addressed. This included harmonizing its national legislative framework with the existing human rights conventions and strengthening the effectiveness of existing domestic mechanisms. Serbia was a place of tolerance, in which close to 30 ethnic communities lived harmoniously together, not just side by side. But there was a place within the constitutional borders of Serbia where human rights standards fell well below acceptable minimums: Kosovo and Metohija. In the last decade the population of Kosovo Serbs, Roma, Bosniaks and others had been cut by half. According to UNHCR, more than 210,000 remained internally displaced. In addition, hundreds of others had been killed and thousands more had disappeared without a trace. According to the United Nations Committee of Human Rights, discrimination against Serbs and Roma was widespread. Endemic corruption in Kosovo remained a serious problem.

Serbia reminded the Council of the fundamental significance of Orthodox holy sites in Kosovo for Serbian identity and expressed concern over presentation of those sites by the Kosovo authorities without mentioning their Serbian origin and cultural heritage. The 2008 unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo’s ethnic Albanian authorities must be viewed through the dark reality of Kosovo today. The attempt at secession had brought into question the fundamental tenets of the contemporary international system and had divided the world. Two-thirds of United Nations Member States had not supported it and Serbia thanked them for their principled solidarity and dedication to uphold the international law. Serbia reiterated their commitment to upholding human and minority rights and adhering to the highest standard of protection.

Panel Discussion on a Draft Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training

Opening Statement

NAVI PILLAY, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, introducing the panel discussion, said the draft declaration on human rights education and training was now before the Council. This ongoing work reflected the increased international recognition of the important role that human rights education played in protecting and promoting human rights, in preventing abuses, and in bolstering non-discrimination, equality and sustainable development, as well as peoples' participation in democratic decision-making processes. The draft defined the characteristics of human rights education and training, and underscored that imparting and receiving such education was a right. It contained recommendations for action at the national and international level, reminding Governments of their existing obligations to train duty bearers. The text noted that human rights education and training required not only the mobilisation of public authorities, but also the contributions of civil society, national human rights institutions, and the private sector.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights had advanced human rights education globally through methodological and training support and technical assistance. A central framework for activities in this field was the World Programme for Human Rights Education, a global initiative structured in consecutive phases. The first phase from 2005-2009 focused on the integration of human rights education in primary and secondary school systems. The evaluation of this phase would be presented to the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly. In cooperation with relevant inter-Governmental organizations, the Office was tasked with preparing a Plan of Action for the second phase of the World Programme, to be presented to the fifteenth session of the Human Rights Council. All parties should aim their efforts at ensuring that the Declaration was expeditiously adopted by the Council and the General Assembly.

Statements by Panellists

MICHELINE CALMY REY, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, said the fight against discrimination was at the core of protecting and promoting human rights. The elimination of all forms of discrimination should be the main objective of the international community. There were far too many prejudices and misunderstandings today. Switzerland was committed to ensuring that all segments of society understood the importance of respecting human rights through training, by sensitising people and through dialogue. Education on human rights was one of the Council’s fundamental vocations. Human rights education and knowledge were essential for the progress of fundamental freedoms. Many programmes had been set up including a global one on human rights education. Still, there was no instrument, which outlined the obligation of States in that regard. Civil society favoured such a declaration. The engagement of States in that regard was pending. Switzerland had initiated with Morocco a United Nations draft declaration on human rights education and training. Human rights had to be diffused and known through long-term action. The protection of human rights was an ongoing process and required the mobilization of everybody at all levels of society. One of the pillars of the declaration would be to mainstream human rights education since a good knowledge of such rights would contribute to making them a concrete reality. Those who needed them the most were often unaware of them. Switzerland wanted the declaration to be clear and simple.

MOHAMMED NACIRI, Minister of Justice of Morocco, said that the objectives of this panel were noble and consistent with the values of human rights and this Council. Human rights education and training had a crucial importance in the world today, particularly in the view of profound changes for individuals and communities. Awareness about human rights among citizens was sine qua non for basis of institutions and rule of law. Education in the area of human rights was essential to disseminate human rights culture, so that everybody could strengthen the values through responsible behaviour. In addition, ongoing training and education were a means to guarantee participation by human elements to confront the challenges and make human rights a reality. The adoption of the United Nations draft declaration on human rights education and training would present a legal framework to integrate human rights in a society.

Morocco spoke about the human rights education and training activities it undertook, which included the elaboration of the national education programmes for human rights and a global plan for democracy and human rights. It had established a national education programme in human rights as a part of the United Nations decade to integrate human rights in school programmes. There were training education programmes in institutions, prisons and within the Government. Morocco continued education in tolerance and responsible conduct and believed it was necessary to equip the future generations with the noble values of human rights and spread them among the largest number of citizens possible. Morocco had used national and international experience in this area and began the process of coordination of all efforts in human rights education, which included training of law enforcement officers, public information campaigns and the national plan to promote human rights, which had taken place through the creation of a commission in October 2009 to establish mechanisms to implement the programme. Morocco had played a role in the Arab group of experts to prepare an Arab human rights education plan to strengthen human rights promotion among Arab nations.

MADICKE NIANG, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Senegal, said it was thanks to a better knowledge of the norms and elementary principles of human rights that the international community was able to promote a participatory and inclusive dynamic to build a democratic and peaceful society, conducive to the enjoyment of fundamental freedoms and human rights. Such a society was better equipped to develop economic and social development. This was something which should be consolidated, through human rights education and training. It was the youngest in society, and those who educated them, who should be targeted as a priority, although all components of society should be educated in human rights, in particular legislators and the judiciary. Senegal had placed human rights in its curricula, including in institutions for training police officers. Development and effectiveness of the enjoyment of human rights were moving forward together harmoniously, and this was something that should be ensured, as this would have a more positive effect on the development of individuals, and peace for all.

ALBERTO G. ROMULO, Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, said human rights education and training were essential for promoting and protecting human rights. Enhancing human rights literacy of citizens would deter violations and foster a culture of human rights. It was crucial to promote tolerance and understanding. The Philippines had taken part in the first phase of the World Programme for Human Rights Education. The Philippines Commission on Human Rights had been awarded the prestigious UNESCO Prize for Human Rights Education for the work it had done in that field. The country highlighted two concepts, international cooperation and the value of sectoral approaches to promoting human rights education, which were particularly important. The potential of international cooperation was vast and countries had barely tapped into it. Expertise in human rights education and training could be matched by work elsewhere with greater partnerships aimed at enhancing awareness and capacities on human rights. The United Nations Declaration could galvanize such cooperation.

South East Asian members had a new intergovernmental commission on human rights, mandated to advise States on fulfilling international human rights obligations. The United Nations draft declaration could reinforce and compliment such regional mechanisms in the human rights and training fields. It was crucial for human rights education and training to be tailored to specific groups. In the Philippines, human rights training had been institutionalised for the police force and the armed forces. The draft declaration did not have an exhaustive list of mediums or sectors. The Philippines believed that the declaration should be a seen as a tool for all to use readily. The Philippines hoped the Council’s work would go from strength to strength through the high level discussion. It looked forward to a fruitful discussion on the topic this morning.

DRAGOLJUBA BENCINA, State Secretary and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, said the essential purpose of human rights education and training was to develop a human rights culture to make it possible to sensitise all men, women and children on their own rights and the rights of others. These two activities made it possible to ensure better respect for human rights and promote the development of a free, pluralistic and tolerance society. Human rights education and training of State officials to prevent human rights violations and to strengthen tolerance in society should not be ignored. In Slovenia, human rights education was a fully-fledged part of police and judiciary officials' training. A training project had been conducted to eliminate discrimination against the Roma people.

Human rights education and training contributed to prevent human rights violations, but there was another positive effect, which was rarely taken into account. Slovenia believed that human rights education and training was a tool which could be effective in preventing conflicts and for post-conflict transformation to ensure reconciliation and rehabilitation aimed at the prevention of a resurgence of conflict. Human rights education was at the heart of the mandate of the Human Rights Council. Last year, the Council, in resolution 10/28, asked the Advisory Committee to present to the Council at its thirteenth session a draft declaration on human rights education and training. The debate starting today should result, this very year, in the adoption of the declaration on human rights education and training, which would guide, complete and promote policies and national and international initiatives in the field of human rights education and training, and lead to the implementation, by all States, of their obligations with regard to the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Discussion

National delegations took the floor to make comments on the presentations and the draft declaration on human rights education and training. Speakers expressed appreciation for the role of the Platform and the Advisory Committee, and the adoption of the open, cross-regional approach and the participation of civil society in the process. Human rights education and training was a priority area for many States and a number of speakers outlined national programmes and activities. Human rights education and training was an important part of human rights. It promoted the culture of change and respect, had the potential to prevent human rights violations and was an important part of pledges that Governments had made. But human rights education and training was more than just lessons in schools and required action of all on all levels so that a culture of human rights could take firm root in a society. That culture was one in which every individual knew their own rights and rights of others. People could enjoy human rights only if they were aware of what those rights were.

The adoption of the declaration by the United Nations was a necessary step for the international community and it would be a tool to consolidate democracy and the rule of law, and strengthen the existing international instruments, speakers said. It would provide a unified vision of human rights education and training, clarify legal obligations of States and present them with a framework for the promotion and protection of human rights. The declaration was seen by many as a tool that could be easily used and adopted by all stakeholders and would provide a common understanding of all elements necessary in human rights education and training. Several human rights education and training initiatives in the past had taken place, but they did not have a comprehensive document that consolidated experiences, roles or concepts. The draft declaration should fill that gap and outline linkages between human rights education and learning. The final name of the declaration should be reconsidered and the declaration itself should be brief and accessible to ensure its universal application. It should promote best practices in furthering human rights education and training and should address the ways all stakeholders could promote human rights education and training, but should shy away from prescribing a universal curriculum that could not work in all contexts.

Some speakers noted that the international community should be careful not to create a new right, but to emphasize the complementary dimension of human rights education and training to human rights and the right to education. The international community should not lose sight that what was important was the enjoyment of the right and not human rights education and training per se. The declaration should focus on the complementary role of human rights education and training and not promote it as a separate category of human rights.

Speaking in the discussion were Italy, Costa Rica, Thailand, Burkina Faso, Uzbekistan, Spain on behalf of the European Union, Colombia on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries, Viet Nam on behalf of ASEAN, Pakistan on behalf of Organization of the Islamic Conference, Brazil, Indonesia, Lithuania on behalf of the Convening Group of the Community of Democracy, United States, Russian Federation, Congo and China.

Concluding Remarks

MOHAMMED NACIRI, Minister of Justice of Morocco, expressed his satisfaction with the debate today. He also expressed his thanks to the drafting committee, experts and everyone else involved in the education and human rights training area, including High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.


For use of the information media; not an official record

HRC10/010E