IHRC Report Human Rights Education in Ireland An Overview Fidelma Joyce Senior Human Rights Awareness Officer Irish Human Rights Commission
Presentation Format IHRC as NHRI IHRC and Human Rights Education IHRC Study Methodology IHRC Study Structure Sectoral Findings and Recommendations IHRC Opportunities Developing a National Action Plan on Human Rights Education
Irish Human Rights Commission The Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) is an independent statutory body. It is recognised as an A Status National Human Rights Institution by the United Nations. It derives its powers and functions from the Human Rights Commission Acts 2000 and 2001. The role of the IHRC is to ensure that the human rights of all people in Ireland are promoted and protected in law, policy and practice. The Irish Human Rights Commission will merge shortly with the Equality Authority to become the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission
IHRC and Human Rights Education UN Paris Principles IHRC Statutory Function Strategic Plan Goal Business Plans, focus on: Civil and Public Service through the Human Rights Education and Training Project Post-Primary Education
IHRC and Human Rights Education As an NHRI, IHRC committed to: UN World Programme for Human Rights Education Council of Europe Human Rights Education Frame-work Collaboration with the OSCE and EU-FRA and others including NHRIs UN Guidelines for National Action Plans on HRE Role for NHRIs in their development Recommend a baseline study IHRC study aimed to: Map the extent of human rights education in a range of sectors Enhance our knowledge and develop relations with key actors Inform development of IHRC Human Rights Education Strategy Make recommendations to Government including the development of a national action plan on human rights education
Methodology Desk research Bi-lateral meetings with stakeholders Focus group Surveys Roundtable with key educationalists External reviews of certain sections
Structure of the Study WPHRE definition was our benchmark Sharing of knowledge Imparting skills Fostering attitudes and behaviours needed to uphold human rights for all people Set out the legal basis for State s duty to provide human rights education UN Treaties, COE Recommendations, EU Resolutions Distinction between HRE and other value educations discussed including citizenship education, development education, intercultural education
Structure of the IHRC HRE Study The WPHRE identifies five key components for a successful national programme of human rights education: Education Policies including legislation Policy Implementation Strategies Teaching and Learning Learning Environment Education and Professional Development The IHRC used this framework and these components to study how human rights education was manifested in each sector covered in our report
Structure of the HRE Study Sectors Studied & Recommendations made: Primary and Post-Primary Higher Education Community and Voluntary Sector (Civil Society) Legal Professions Civil and Public Service IHRC HRE Opportunities Developing a national action plan on human rights education
Primary and Post-Primary Education Findings HRE most developed in primary and post primary settings Strategic support to tackle educational disadvantage Strongest in aspects of the curriculum such as: Social and Personal Health Education in primary schools Lift Off Civic, Social and Political Education in post-primary education Human rights are a feature of initial teacher education State guidelines on interculturalism and diversity, homophobic bullying and bullying are very welcome. Opportunity to address in HRE framework Learning is there to support a whole-school approach complemented by a strong emphasis in the curriculum, for example, through the Human Rights Schools Project led by Amnesty International
Higher Education Human rights not a feature at higher education policy level Emphasis on access programmes to support students to participate in higher level education Wide range of departments and faculties in Higher Education Institutions identified human rights on continuum from core to implicit feature of their courses: Human Rights Law Centres Human rights under graduate and post graduate courses, strong feature of Law courses Human rights increasingly feature of health and social care courses Human rights cross-cutting theme in equality, social justice, women s studies and The cross-campus service initiatives were a revelation to us Strong student unions and good representation of students and staff on governing bodies
Community and Voluntary Sector Community and voluntary organisations in Ireland play a very strong role in promoting and defending the rights of vulnerable groups; Some organisations operate from a very explicit human rights framework Most community and voluntary organisations operate on using a human rights based or community development approach which empowers communities and individuals to take action on defence of their rights Only more recently would they use human rights standards as part of their advocacy armour Interest in human rights education and training but resources diminished
Legal Professions Recommendation to re-establish human rights as a core subject in the education and training of solicitors Recognition of the high standard of Human Rights Diploma in solicitor education More resources need to support development of education and development opportunities for the judiciary
Civil and Public Service Commitment to human rights in Civil Service Manual Human rights training was not a explicit feature of continuous learning and development training programmes in the civil and public service Opportunities identified to offer support to civil and public servants to develop their skills and know-how European Convention on Human Rights Act 2003 requirement on state organs to comply with the standards set out in the European Convention on Human Rights Reform of the public sector process Developing a human rights based approach to customer care and service delivery Building in human rights into existing education and training programmes Offer tailor made free training IHRC Human Rights Education and Training Programme developed to work with the public service to develop human rights training tailored to their needs
IHRC HRE Strategy With scarce resources the conclusions of the study helped us identify where we could have most impact and where we could complement the work of others The study is an important source for policy submissions Still work to be done to develop HRE NAP Study informed the development of IHRC s own HRE strategy and the development of a very successful Human Rights Education and Training Programme (HRETP) with the Irish Civil and Public Service www.ihrc.ie/training Express Yourself! Young People Promoting Human Rights and Equality
IHRC HRE Strategy Implementation Human Rights Education in Ireland An Overview See http://www.ihrc.ie/publications/list/human-rights-educationin-ireland-an-overview/ HRE with Secondary Schools See www.ihrc.ie/cspe HRE with Civil and Public Service See www.ihrc.ie/training Impact has been independently evaluated