Ad Hoc Committee on Complementary Standards
Statement –Cross Regional Group on CIS (Human Rights Education)Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Japan, Mexico, the Republic of Korea and Switzerland
Thank you, Mr. Chairperson,
I am making this intervention on behalf of the cross-regional group on Complementary Standards, namely, the Delegations of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Japan, Mexico, the Republic of Korea and Switzerland.
Human rights education, in which everyone learns tolerance and respect for others, is of great importance to ensuring and promoting mutual understanding which is the basis of respect for human rights. Human rights education plays a vital role in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance as well. The importance of human rights education is not only underlined in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action but also in the DDPA and the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference.
In this regard, the Group welcomes the intervention by the Platform for Human Rights Education.
We fully support the ongoing efforts in the field – the World Programme for Human Rights Education and the drafting of the declaration on human rights education and training, which was thoroughly presented by the Platform.
We share the views of the five experts that the World Programme for Human Rights Education provides a common framework for action for all relevant actors. In line with the Plan of Action of the World Programme for Human Rights Education, States, including the countries of this Group, have developed their capacity for human rights education training activities at the national level. We hope States will further develop their national action plans and initiatives in this area in order to raise the awareness of the public and shift our society toward a more tolerant and respectful one.
The Group shares the views of the Platform that in this field we have solid frameworks for ensuring the promotion of human rights education. As called for by the DDPA and the outcome documents of the Durban Review Conference, the Group encourages States to take action in keeping with the World Programme for Human Rights Education. The Group also looks forward to the second phase of the Plan of Action of the World Programme for Human Rights Education as well as the draft Declaration on human rights education and training that will be presented to the Council in March 2010. We are certain that such ongoing international initiatives will facilitate our national efforts in this regard.
I thank you, Mr. Chair.
