48th session of the Human Rights Council
High-level discussion on the tenth anniversary of
the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training:
good practices, challenges and the way forward
Intervention by Ukraine
(Geneva, September 29, 2021)
Madam President,
We firmly believe that sustainable solutions to the current world human rights crises can only be found if we reach a common understanding that each person equally deserves dignity, respect and justice. In this regard, the human rights education must be in the center of the global effort to realize all human rights for all.
The United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training plays a significant role in reaffirming the duty of States to promote human rights education.
Raising awareness about human rights is among the strategic areas of the National Human Rights Strategy, approved by the President of Ukraine earlier this year. Among its goals are ensuring a high level of public awareness about human rights and mechanisms of exercising and protecting these rights as well as creation of a public culture of respect for human rights and freedoms, in particular via implementation of the provisions of the World Programme for Human Rights Education.
In Ukraine the human rights are, in particular, taught at the law studies lessons in upper secondary school with the application of the Guidelines on Human Rights Education for Secondary School Systems developed by the OSCE; Manual for Human Rights Education with Young People “Compass” by the Council of Europe; on-line course “Human rights in the educational process”, prepared with the support of the OSCE Project Coordinator in Ukraine and the Ministry of Education of Ukraine etc.
As it is stressed in the Human Rights Council resolution “The role of prevention in the promotion and protection of human rights” regularly initiated by Ukraine, states should promote supportive and enabling environments for the prevention of human rights violations, including, inter alia, by promoting human rights education and training.
Human rights education is vital to the prevention of violence and conflict and is clearly an investment in the future.
We therefore call upon states to support the mentioned resolution next year as part of the efforts to promote human rights education in the context of prevention.
I thank you.