NGO RECOMMENDATION FOR A RESOLUTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION

NGO RECOMMENDATION FOR A RESOLUTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION

In order to further the efforts of Member States of the United Nations, as well as to strengthen the activities of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and support the activities of non-governmental organizations and other actors in civil society with regard to human rights education, the following resolution is respectfully put forth by members of the Global Human Rights Education network to the Commission on Human Rights.

This resolution was discussed and agreed upon in April 2002 by members of the network sponsored by Human Rights Education Associates (HREA). The X signatories to the resolution collectively represent X NGOs and inter-governmental agencies from X countries representing every continent. A full list of signatories is attached.

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We, the undersigned, recognizing the importance of the activities being undertaken under the existing UN Decade for Human Rights Education (1995-2004) and emphasizing the urgent need to meet the goals set out by the Decade, urge the Commission on Human Rights to adopt a resolution on the following:

(1) Appointment of a Special Rapporteur for Human Rights Education with the mandate:

- To report on the status, throughout the world, of the realization of the right to human rights education and the difficulties encountered in the implementation of this right, taking into account information and comments received from Governments, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and other organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, as well as non governmental organizations;

- To monitor country progress and to make recommendations for the implementation of the goals set in the High Commissioner's report on the mid-term evaluation of the UN Decade for Human Rights Education, annexed to the resolution 2001/61 of the Commission on Human Rights, 57th session;

- To promote, as appropriate, assistance to Governments in working out and adopting urgent plans of action, wherever they do not exist;

- To explore the transverse nature of the right to human rights education with a view to reaffirm it's empowerment dimension with regard to the promotion and implementation of all human rights: civil, political, economic, social and cultural, including the right to development;

- To report on efforts to promote and strengthen gender equality, particularly with regard to women empowerment;

- To evaluate the cross-sectorial impact of human rights education on priorities set in the mid-term report, also including human development and poverty reduction, the prevention of all forms of discrimination and intolerance as described by international human rights standards and instruments, the prevention of terrorism, as well as inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue as a means to promote the peaceful resolution of conflicts;

- To develop a regular dialogue and discuss possible areas of collaboration with relevant United Nations bodies, specialized agencies and international organizations in the field of human rights education, inter alia the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Development Programme, and with international financial institutions, such as the World Bank;

- To ensure coordination and complementarity with the work carried out by the special rapporteur on the right to education;

- To submit to the Commission on Human Rights, beginning at its fifty-ninth session, a report covering the activities relating to this mandate.

(2) The creation of a voluntary fund for human rights education to be administered by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights through the program of advisory services and technical assistance as requested in the Decade Plan of Action (paragraph 51) and reiterated in 2002 in General Assembly resolution A/res/56/167 (operative paragraph 22).

The fund shall be used to support activities under the Decade, including support for building human rights education capacities in governmental institutions and non-governmental organizations at the national, regional and international levels. 

(3) The convening of inter-sessional workshops aimed at better defining priorities and setting the agenda and action plan for the remaining years of the Decade and in particular :

- Developing criteria for best practice models in the area of human rights education in all sectors, identifying appropriate measures to assess their impact at national and regional levels, and disseminating this information through UN channels;

- Establishing clear strategies to develop human rights education expertise and capacities at the national, regional and international levels, in collaboration with Unesco headquarters, Unesco Chairs in Human Rights, the International Bureau of Education, national and regional educational agencies and NGOs active in the field;

- Exploring strategies to further mainstream "the rights approach" into intergovernmental organizations, development agencies, financial institutions and the private sector, recognizing the mutually reinforcing aspects of human rights education and development strategies, particularly with regard to the implementation of empowerment and poverty reduction
strategies;

- Strengthening efforts to combat racism and all forms of discrimination and intolerance as described by agreed international human rights standards and instruments, building upon the conclusions of the World Conference Against Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance with regard to the right to education and human rights education;

- Give proper consideration to the mutually reinforcing aspects of human rights education and inter-religious dialogue in promoting religious tolerance and the right to freedom of religion and belief as well as all other human rights.

(4) Finally, the Commission on Human Rights should request that the Human Rights Treaty Bodies formulate recommendations with regard to human rights education, and invite States Parties to report on progress made in the area. Special Rapporteurs and independent experts should also be encouraged to make recommendations in relation to their specific mandates.

To facilitate this task, the Commission on Human Rights should request the inclusion of human rights education as an item for the agenda of all treaty bodies for the remainder of the Decade. The commission should also request the convening of a special meeting of the chairpersons and the rapporteurs to identify positive actions undertaken by these bodies and to discuss how to better use these mechanisms to further implement the right to human rights education.

The Commission on Human Rights should also request that an "expert" workshop be organized on the issue of the conclusion of the current Decade of Human Rights Education and its follow-up.

The signatories to this resolution believe it is essential that clear priorities be set and immediate action be taken in order for the UN Decade for Human Rights Education to result in concrete measures undertaken by States and other global actors. 

Prepared by IMADR, Soka Gakkai, International Summer University for Human Rights and HREA, and endorsed by the following organizations:

INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS:
REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS
AFRICA
AMERICAS
ASIA
EUROPE

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From: Santa Falasca [mailto:cicceurope1@iccnow.org]  
Sent: 09 April 2002 18:19 
Subject: [icc-info-europe]  Int'l Criminal Court to be set in motion at  

Dear friends, 

As you know, the 60th ratification will be obtained on April 11th when the UN hosts a special treaty event (please find details below). 

We hope all civil society groups will do everything they can to ensure that the historic treaty event on April 11 is widely understood and celebrated worldwide. We therefore encourage you to urge your national governments to consider hosting a press conference in their national capital highlighting the importance of achieving 60 ratifications of the Rome Statute of the ICC. 

Please feel free to contact the Coalition for any support we may be able to provide, and check our website at www.iccnow.org, in particular the Press Room, for useful fact sheets, media advisories and other materials. 

Santa Falasca 
Program Officer 
Coalition for an International Criminal Court (CICC)European Office 
6, Rue Montoyer 
1000 Brussels Belgium 
Tel. + 32 2 502 62 15 Fax + 32 2 502 62 38 
e-mail: cicceurope1@iccnow.org 
home page: http://www.iccnow.org    
Convenor: William R. PACE 

60th Ratification of the International Criminal Court Treaty to be Achieved at UN Ceremony Historic Treaty Event Will Mark Advance in International Justice 



What: The United Nations (UN) will host a ceremony marking the historic occasion of the 60th ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, the treaty that will create the landmark International Criminal Court (ICC). The treaty event will take place during the ninth UN Preparatory Commission meeting of the ICC (8 - 19 April). Currently, 56 countries have deposited their instruments of ratification of the Rome Statute at the United Nations and 139 countries have signed the treaty. 

Why: The deposit of the 60th instrument of ratification of the Rome Statute of the ICC will trigger the treaty's entry into force, which, according to a timetable set forth in the treaty, will commence on 1 July 2002. Entry into force of the Rome Statute will establish the Court's jurisdiction and create the first permanent, international tribunal capable of trying individuals for the gravest violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, including war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. 

Many had predicted that the 60 ratifications necessary for the Rome Statute to enter into force would take decades to achieve. Instead, this historic occasion will take place less then four years after the treaty was adopted in Rome on 17 July 1998. The ICC, which will be an independent body located in The Hague, the Netherlands, has overwhelming and broadly distributed support from governments, with the notable exceptions of the United States, China and Israel. 

Who: The treaty event will be undertaken in a solemn setting with participation of senior United Nations and government officials. 

When: Thursday, 11 April 2002 

Where: United Nations headquarters in New York 

Special Note: Further detail will follow. For information about how to register for U.N. media accreditation and for background materials including fact sheets and experts lists on the ICC, please visit: 
http://www.iccnow.org/html/press.html.  
For UN-related inquiries, please contact Ellen McGuffie at the UN Department of Information by calling (212) 963-0499 or emailing mediainfo@un.org. 

About the Coalition for the International Criminal Court The Coalition for the International Criminal Court (Coalition) is a network of over 1,000 civil society organizations that support the creation of a permanent, fair and independent International Criminal Court (ICC). Established in 1995, the Coalition is the leading source of information regarding the ICC and the regional organizations that support its formation. 

For more information about the mission of the Coalition and its member organizations, please visit http://www.iccnow.org.  

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___________________________________________________________ 
Adele Waugaman, Media Liaison 
Coalition for the International Criminal Court 

777 UN Plaza, 3rd Floor, New York NY 10017 USA 
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