On 26-29 November 2018, The 9th International Conference on Human Rights Education returns to Sydney under the theme – Unleashing the Full Potential of Civil Society.
The 9th ICHRE will coincide with and celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 25th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration which highlighted the value of human rights education. The conference will explore the question: how can human rights education (HRE) develop and strengthen civil society and transform the ways in which civil society works? It aims to develop a Sydney Declaration on how HRE can strengthen civil society as an agent for positive change.
The Conference will consider a range of human rights education issues such as national and international curricula, pedagogy and best practices. It will explore contemporary challenges and how to effectively address them. Attention will be given to the most effective ways of maximising the potential of civil society through human rights education. The delivery of lasting solutions and strengthening the practical knowledge and skills of participants, including through human rights education workshops, will be the key objectives of the conference.
Amnesty International is a partner of the Western Sydney University who is hosting the conference this year. Barbara Weber, Global Director of Amnesty International’s HRE Programme, is a member of the advisory committee and part of one of the opening panels, shedding light on HRE trends and how to adapt to a fast-changing world. An Amnesty workshop will delve into Amnesty International’s Write for Rights campaign, with a focus on the transformation of knowledge to action, led by Annette Schneider, Deputy Director, Human Rights Education.
Barbara Weber states, “It is a pleasure to be joining international colleagues to discuss the development of Human Rights Education at a time when Human Rights are under attack. The ICHRE is an excellent platform to engage with experts in the field to build a global culture of human rights and empower people to take a stand through action-oriented Human Rights Education.”
In addition to Amnesty International, the ICHRE will bring together around 400 Australian and international HRE experts, practitioners, decision-makers and thought leaders from government, civil society, academia and the private sector, with a special focus on those from developing countries.
In 2010, the 1st International Conference on Human Rights Education (ICHRE) was held in Sydney, Australia. The conference examined the contribution of human rights education (HRE) to furthering democracy, the rule of law, justice, and intercultural dialogue and social harmony. This initiative has since evolved into a global grassroots movement with annual international HRE conferences held in South Africa, Poland, Taiwan, USA, the Netherlands, Chile and Canada.
For more information on the conference and registration visit: https://www.ichre2018.com.au/
Explore the full programme here: https://www.conferenceonline.com/site_templet/images/group4/site84/ichre_2018_a4_program.pdf
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