Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva Carlos Sorreta pushed for the mainstreaming of human rights education (HRE) in school curricula and professional development programs.
In his remarks on the margins of the 60th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Sorreta emphasized the importance of human rights education in an international environment marked by conflict, polarization, and widening inequalities.
“Human rights education is vital to fostering a culture of respect for equality and the inherent dignity of the individual, regardless of creed, color, and other markers of identity. It is humanity’s first line of defense against discrimination, intolerance, and all other acts that undermine the enjoyment of human rights,” he said.
Executive Director of the Geneva Office for Human Rights Education Professor David Kirkham presented GO-HRE’s flagship program, Colega, a curriculum for children based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,
This program is currently implemented in countries like the Philippines, Ghana, and Guatemala, among others.
Meanwhile, Executive Director of Arigatou International Maria Lucia Uribe discussed how Ethics Education, as a component of quality human rights education, can contribute to conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
The panel discussion built on the Philippines’ longstanding advocacy for HRE in the multilateral arena, particularly in the Human Rights Council.
