Education About Human Rights: Strengths and Weaknesses of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training

Abstract

Human Rights Education (‘HRE’) has been a focal point of the UN’s work ever since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was proclaimed in 1948. However, after 60-plus years of the UN mandating and promoting HRE, there is evidence that HRE is still not widespread, especially within schools. The UN therefore decided to increase its efforts to promote HRE, by adopting the Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training. The Declaration on HRE has its flaws, but we are better off having this flawed instrument than no instrument at all.

Keywords: UN, United Nations, Declaration on Human Rights, education and training, HRE, schools

JEL Classification: K00, K10, K30, K33