Teacher's Toolkit

Introduction

“The World conference on Human Rights considers human rights education, training and public information essential for the promotion and achievement of stable and harmonious relations among communities and for fostering mutual understanding, tolerance and peace” (Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, Part II.D, para.78). In view of the human rights education provisions included in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (article 26), and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (article 29), among other international conventions, and in concordance with the World Programme for Human Rights Education proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly, the Manitoba Association for Rights and Liberties has initiated a local Human Rights Education Program to support secondary school curriculums and youth leadership in human rights initiatives within the City of Winnipeg.

Program Goals

Through this program we aim to facilitate the development and understanding of our common responsibility to make human rights a reality in society. Our goal is to develop a culture of human rights to help prevent human rights abuses and violent conflicts, promote equality and sustainable development, and to enhance participation in democratic processes. This program is not meant to place an extra burden on an already overloaded curriculum but to assist in infusing human rights education into subjects already taught in schools. This is one of many resources available worldwide for furthering human rights education with students. It is hoped that it will be a starting point for exploration and study by teachers with a view to further developing their own classroom practice that supports human rights. It can be used in conjunction with or supplemented by other materials available from governmental agencies, national human right institutions, non-governmental organizations and other civil society entities, to which teachers may also turn for assistance and support. Several of theses resources can be found in our resource section.