HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION

A. Understanding Human Rights.

1. Meaning.
Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the
world, from birth until death. They apply regardless of where you are from, what you believe or
how you choose to live your life. These basic rights are based on shared values like dignity,
fairness, equality, respect and independence.
Dr. Justice Durga Das Basu defines Human Rights as: “Human Rights are those minimal
rights, which every individual must have against the State, or other public authority, by virtue of
his being a member of human family irrespective of any consideration.
2. Origin.
Although the rights of men are as old as man himself, the concept of human rights and
their protection by the State were unheard of then. The belief that everyone, by virtue of her or
his humanity, is entitled to certain human rights is fairly new. It was after two (2) world wars
when the issue of human rights gained prominence. It took the catalyst of World War II to
propel human rights into the global stage and into the global conscience. The destructive
effects of the wars impelled leaders from different countries to come together and forge an
alliance to maintain world order through the protection of human rights. Governments then
committed themselves to establishing the United Nations, with the primary goal of bolstering
international peace and preventing conflict. People wanted to ensure that never again would
anyone be unjustly denied life, freedom, food, shelter, and nationality. On June 26, 1945, the
Charter of the United Nations was adopted. On December 10, 1948, the United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA) adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. December 10 has since
been observed as International Human Rights Day.
3. Attributes/Characteristics.
a. Universal – Human Rights apply to all humans, regardless of race, culture, age sex, or
creed.
b. Inherent – All human beings are born with these rights. Human Rights are not granted
by the State. Human Rights are rights which necessarily spring from being a member of human
species.
c. Equal - Every human being has the same set of rights as any other. Article 1 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that, “All human beings are born free and equal in
dignity and rights”.
d. Inalienable – Human Rights cannot be taken from or given away by any human. While
its exercise may be regulated or restricted by law, its substance cannot be taken away.
e. Indivisible – To live in dignity, all human beings are entitled to freedom, security and
decent standards of living concurrently. Human Rights are indivisible. Human Rights are not
capable of being divided. They cannot be denied even when other rights have already been
enjoyed.
f. Fundamental – Human Rights are fundamental rights because without them, the life
and dignity of man will be meaningless.
g. Imprescriptible – Human Rights do not prescribe and cannot be lost even if man fails
to use or assert them, even by a long passage of time.
h. Interdependent - This means that different human beings are intrinsically connected
and cannot be viewed in isolation from each other. The enjoyment of one right depends on the
enjoyment of many other rights and no one right is more important than the rest. Human
Rights are interdependent because the fulfilment or exercise of one cannot be had without the
realization of the other.
B. Human Rights Education HRE).
1. Meaning.
Human Rights Education (HRE) is defined as the learning process that builds up the
required knowledge, values, and proficiency of human rights of which the objective is to
develop an acceptable human rights culture.
Human Rights Education is learning that develops the KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and VALUES
of human rights with the broad goal of building a universal human rights culture. In other
words, students should be aware of the issues, concerned by the issues and capable of standing
up for human rights.
2. Goals/Objectives.
Human Rights Education teaches both about human rights and for human rights.
Its goal is to help people understand human rights, value human rights, and promoting
human rights. An important outcome of human rights education is empowerment, a process
through which people and communities increase their control of their own lives and the
decisions that affect them. The ultimate goal of human rights education is people working
together to bring about human rights, justice, and dignity for all.
Without a doubt, the most effective tool against human rights abuse is education.
Human Rights Education makes a person less likely to commit human rights violations, and less
likely to become a victim either.
Human Rights Education develops the KNOWLEDGE which means to learn about human
rights. KNOWLEDGE promotes awareness and understanding of human rights issues so that
people recognize violations of human rights.
Human Rights Education develops the SKILLS which means to learn for human rights.
Human Rights Education develops the skills and abilities necessary for the defense of human
rights.
Human Rights Education means to learn through human rights leading to the
development of attitudes of respect for human rights so that the people do not violate the
rights of others.

C. Human Rights Education in the Philippines.

As a matter of policy, the 1987 Philippine Constitution declares that the Philippine
Government shall value the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for
human rights. The teaching of human rights in Philippine schools is mandated by Article XIV,
Section 3(2) of the 1987 Philippine Constitution which states that all educational institutions
shall inculcate patriotism and nationalism, foster love of humanity and respect for human
rights. Pursuant to this, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) of the Philippines issued
Resolution Nos. A2007-028 and A2007-029 urging the Commission on Higher Education and law
schools in the Philippines to offer Human Rights in the Philippine Law curriculum. On December
19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the United Nations
Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training. Article 3 of the Declaration states that
Human Rights education and training “concerns all ages” and “all levels” including pre-school,
primary, secondary and higher education. As stated in Article 2 of the UN Declaration on
Human Rights Education and Training, “Human rights education and training comprises all
educational, training, information, awareness-raising and learning activities aimed at promoting
universal respect for and observance of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and thus
contributing to, inter alia, the prevention of human rights violations and abuses by providing
persons with knowledge, skills and understanding and developing their attitudes and
behaviours, to empower them to contribute to the building and promotion of a universal
culture of human rights.”