During the Forum we will have working groups and workshops to explore and discuss different topics and issues. Please find below the description of these working groups. We invite you to use this form to express for each round of working groups your first 2 choices by Sunday, 2 October 2016.

Wednesday, 5 October 2016, 15:30 -18:00  Working groups on the review and evaluation

We will dedicate the 5 October afternoon to the evaluation of the HRE Youth Programme and the preliminary results of the review on the implementation of the EDC/HRE Charter with non-governmental and youth organisations and with governmental partners. The main questions explored in these working groups are: “How do you position yourself in relation to these findings (either the findings of the evaluation or of the 2 surveys)? Is your experience different or does it confirm the findings? Are there any examples from your experience on this topic of advancing with EDC/HRE?”

Working group 1 – Evaluation of the HRE Youth Programme

This working group will analyse the findings of the evaluation of the HRE Youth Programme, particularly looking at the support for human rights education at local and national level (including NRTCs, translations of Compass, projects supported by the EYF etc.), and the co-operation with national youth and education authorities.

Working group 2 – Evaluation of the HRE Youth Programme

This working group will analyse the findings of the evaluation of the HRE Youth Programme, particularly looking at the support for human rights education at European level (training of trainers on HRE, activities in the European Youth Centres) and the inclusion of HRE in programmes of the Youth Department on other themes.

Working group 3

This working group will analyse the findings of the preliminary results of the review on the implementation of the Charter on EDC/HRE with governmental partners, particularly looking at the results concerning the Charter areas:

  • Formal general and vocational education,
  • Higher education,
  • Democratic governance, and
  • Training.

Working group 4

This working group will analyse the findings of the preliminary results of the review on the implementation of the Charter on EDC/HRE with governmental partners, particularly looking at the results concerning the Charter areas:

  • Role of non-governmental organisations, youth organisations and other stakeholders,
  • Criteria for evaluation,
  • Research,
  • Skills for promoting social cohesion, valuing diversity and handling differences and conflict.

Working group 5

This working group will analyse the findings of the preliminary results of the review on the implementation of the Charter on EDC/HRE with non-governmental youth partners, particularly looking at the questions of shared definitions on the Charter and HRE and the state of play of dissemination of the Charter at the national level.

Working group 6

This working group will analyse the findings of the preliminary results of the review on the implementation of the Charter on EDC/HRE with non-governmental youth partners, particularly looking at the questions of the role of the Charter as an advocacy tool for HRE.

Working group 7

This working group will analyse the findings of the preliminary results of the review on the implementation of the Charter on EDC/HRE with non-governmental youth partners, particularly looking at the questions of co-operation and recognition: relations between governmental and non-governmental partners

Working group 8

This working group will analyse the findings of the preliminary results of the review on the implementation of the Charter on EDC/HRE with non-governmental youth partners, particularly looking at the questions of challenges for youth organisations when implementing EDC/HRE.

Working group 9

This working group will analyse the findings of the preliminary results of the review on the implementation of the Charter on EDC/HRE with non-governmental youth partners, particularly looking at the questions of the themes of HRE and skills developed through EDC/HRE.
 

Thursday, 6 October 2016, 11:30- 16:00, Parallel workshops on key themes and challenges in human rights education

Human rights education with young people addresses the issues and concerns of young people. In a social, political and economic context of rapid changes, human rights education and human rights educators need to re-consider their roles and ways of working to be able to address new themes. Each workshop addresses a particular theme and the associated challenges, featuring also an example of good practice.

  1. Precariousness (transition to autonomy, poverty), facilitated by Silvia Volpi (Rete educare ai diritti umani, Italy); resource person: Igor Nosach (Partnership for Every Child, Ukraine)

Precariousness and poverty currently mark the lives or the future perspectives of young people in a general context of economic and employment crisis and austerity measures. The inequalities existent before the onset of the crisis have become deeper especially for young people, while governmental measures feature cuts in respect to access to social rights. The workshop will look into how can human rights education address the challenges young people face? What is the impact on young people’s lives? What is the added value of human rights education for social inclusion in times of crisis? What are the limitations that human rights education faces in this respect?
 

  1. Migrations, facilitated by Nik Paddison, trainer-consultant; resource person: Zarine Harutyunyan (Kasa Foundation, Armenia)

Young people migrate for many reasons: for love, studies, work, curiosity, but also because sometimes there is no other alternative to save their lives. Their perspective, though, is little taken into account in the international debate over policies and measures related to migration. Young refugees are today one of the groups who faced great social disadvantaged and discrimination in Europe. They have to deal with the trauma of leaving one’s home to save their lives, they face a perilous journey to safety and often experience discrimination, rejection in the countries of destination, or at least bureaucracy, frail systems of support and an uncertain future. The current political discussions and measures in respect to migration in Europe often inflict on human rights. In this challenging context, the role of human rights education is both to raise the awareness of the general public and inform on state obligations, but as well to empower refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants to defend their rights.

The workshop will explore how can human rights education can approach these challenges and work both with the general public and young migrants
 

  1. Right to Education, facilitated by Rok Primožič (Advisory Council on Youth); resource person: Laufey María Jóhannsdóttir (Organising Bureau of European School Students Unions, Iceland)

Education is both a human right in itself and an indispensable means of realising other human rights. As an empowerment right, education is the primary vehicle by which economically and socially marginalized adults and children can lift themselves out of poverty and obtain the means to participate fully in their communities. The workshop will explore the challenges faced by young people in accessing their right to quality education, including education about human rights, but as well the ways through which human rights education can address these challenges by involving all members of school communities (parents, teachers, administrative staff, students, etc).
 

  1. Access to power: participation and citizenship, facilitated by Marc D. Ludwig (Advisory Council on Youth); resource person: Matia Losego (Dinamo, Portugal)

Youth participation and the development of democratic citizenship competences are key elements in the realisation of human rights. The current context reveals challenges in ensuring that young people can take part meaningfully in society, including taking part in decision making at all levels and on all matters concerning them. Recent studies mention that apathy and mistrust in current systems of decision making are wide spread among young people. Equally important, new forms of participation and association (online, specific cause related with clear impact) are not valued sufficiently. Moreover, young people are very little represented in the political life and their access to power structures in society is still weak. The workshop will explore how human rights education responds to these challenges and how through human rights education young people can develop competences for citizenship
 

  1. Terrorism and war, facilitated by László Milutinovits (European Youth Centre Budapest); resource person: tbc

Violence and the threat of massive violence is a reality for many young people in Europe. Armed conflicts are ongoing, some regions have initiated a process of reconciliation and recovery, while others are stuck in frozen conflicts. The surge of terrorist attacks in Europe in the past 2 years have brought a genuine concern for safety and security, while also a needed debate on balancing measures to counter terrorism with respect to human rights and fundamental freedoms.

We live in an interconnected world. Young people may be both perpetrators and victims of war and terrorism. Violence in young people’s lives is a phenomenon, which, while not essentially new, may have new forms that are not visible in the public debate and not part of policy discussions. Young people are also sometimes the target of radicalisation leading to violent acts and terrorism. How can human rights education approach these topics? What are the competences needed for young people?
 

  1. Discrimination facilitated by Mustafa Jakupov (Regional Roma Educational Youth Association); resource person: Karina Chupina, trainer-consultant

Discrimination, in all its forms and expressions, is one of the most common forms of human rights violations and abuse. It has direct consequences on the people and groups being discriminated, but indirect and deep consequences on society as a whole. The principles of equality and non-discrimination are fundamental to human rights and human rights education. The role of human rights education is not only to develop respect for these principles, but as well to support those oppressed to claim and exercise their rights. Structural discrimination, multiple discrimination, the increase of hate speech and hate crimes are realities faced by many young people on a daily basis. How can human rights education respond to these challenges and have a direct impact on young people’s lives are questions to be explored by the working group?
 

  1. Identities, belonging and emotional development, facilitated by Laura De Witte, trainer-consultant; resource person: tbc

Human rights education as practiced and promoted by the Youth Department of the Council of Europe is based on a holistic approach aiming to develop the knowledge, the skills and the values, attitudes and behaviours of young people. Developing a sense of identity and belonging, clarifying one’s values and beliefs are experiences of all young people and affect their future lives greatly. Youth is a time of identity formation and emotional development. Having a space to explore, express and clarify sometimes challenging questions are necessary to ensure young people can benefit from a harmonious emotional development. Questions of identity, belonging and emotional development are usually discussed in conjunction with discrimination and other human rights violations, but they are core to all education. The workshop will look at examples of good practice and explore how can human rights education contribute and respond to challenges related with these aspects.
 

  1. Environment and climate change, facilitated by Mara Georgescu (European Youth Centre Strasbourg); resource person: Christine Sudbrock (IFM-SEI)

This widespread concern for the state of the global environment is a rather recent and unsettled debate in relation to human rights. While agreements between states for measures to secure the protection of environment are hard to reach and implement, reports of irreparable damage show the need for immediate action. The concerns about the environment cannot be separated from concerns about humanity and must be grounded in the principles of equity, rights and responsibility. Environmental protection and awareness is an important concern for many youth organisations across Europe, even if not all of them rate it as their first priority. Having an environment and a planet fit for life cannot be a concern totally disconnected from human rights concerns. Moreover, basic human rights such as access to water are also linked with the state of the environment. The group will explore questions such as: what are the challenges faced by linking environment and human rights issues in the framework of human rights education?
 

  1. Crisis of democratic culture and nationalism, facilitated by Anca-Ruxandra Pandea; resource person: Attila Mráz (Tász, Hungary)

“Human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe now face a crisis unprecedented since the end of the Cold War. Serious violations – including corruption, immunity from prosecution, impunity, human trafficking, racism, hate speech and discrimination – are on the rise throughout the continent” stated the Council of Europe Secretary General 2014 Report on the state of rule of law, democracy and human rights in Europe. Since then the public space has seen a rise in nationalism in Europe and the appearance of ‘illiberal democracies’. Democracy, rule of law and human rights are seen as interconnected pillars for safeguarding peace in Europe, and yet they are questioned by states and groups. How does human rights education responds to what seems to be a clash on fundamental values upon which Europe should be organised?
 

Friday, 7 October 2016, 11:15 – 15:30, Guidelines on future work for human rights education in parallel working groups

These working groups aim to develop guidelines for future work on human rights education to be implemented by the Council of Europe and other international institutions, by public authorities and by youth and non-governmental organisations, including here the participants themselves. These working groups will each look at thematic areas and make concrete proposals addressed to these three main groups of stakeholders.
 

  1. Advocacy for human rights education, coordinated by Marko Boko (Advisory Council on Youth)

The evaluation of the Human Rights Education Youth Programme and the review of the Council of Europe Charter on Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education both highlight challenges related to the capacities of youth and non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders to advocate for the implementation of the Charter at local and national level, as well as the lack of political support for human rights education. However, the existence of the Charter and the review mechanism providesopportunities for developing a stronger advocacy process. The workshop will explore the experiences of participants, and will provide concrete suggestions and guidelines on how to increase the advocacy effort and its effectiveness.
 

  1. Compass development and translations, coordinated by Véra Juhász (trainer-consultant)

The workshop participants are invited to share experience and come up with suggestions in the following areas: sharing experiences on using the 2012 Compass edition; updates needed; feedback on new themes introduced (Disability and Disablism, Religion, Remembrance, and Terrorism); the process of translations and usefulness of translations; promotion of translations; usefulness of online versions versus printed edition, as well as the articulation between Compass and other publications on human rights education.
 

  1. Training trainers and multipliers in human rights education at European level, coordinated by Sabine Klocker (trainer-consultant)

Training trainers and multipliers at European and regional level has been a key feature of the Human Rights Education Youth Programme in the past 16 years. The Training of Trainers in Human Rights Education is a regular feature of the programme of activities of the Youth Department and one of the most popular ones among human rights educators. Quality standards for human rights education are also an important concern. The participants will develop guidelines on how to advance the training of multipliers and trainers in human rights education, while ensuring and developing quality standards for human rights education. They will provide ideas for reviewing the existing formats of training.
 

  1. Human rights education online, coordinated by Annette Schneider (Amnesty International)

While a lot of progress has been made through the use blended learning in long term training courses and through online activism in the framework of the No Hate Speech Movement, there are opportunities to further develop human rights online. The working group will explore and share experiences with human rights education online and make further proposals on how it can be developed while maintaining standards of quality.
 

  1. Human rights education at local and national level, including national training courses and training of teachers, coordinated by László Milutinovits

Human rights education happens in local languages across Europe, therefore it is essential to ensure access to training and educational resources for youth workers, trainers and education professionals at national and local level. Furthermore, the evaluation report identified that there is a need for financial support for human rights education projects at local level. The workshop participants are invited to share experience and come up with suggestions in the following areas:experiences with the implementation of NTCs – educational content and quality, support of the Youth Department, opportunities for advocacy and bringing together actors from formal and non-formal education, projects supported by European Youth Foundation, how to ensure support from other sources, other measures to develop the quality and outreach.
 

  1. Assessing the impact of human rights education, coordinated by Dariusz Grezmny

Assessing the impact of human rights education is a challenge and a need for all educators. Furthermore, the evaluation report highlights some of the challenges of evaluating the impact of the Council of Europe Human Rights Education Youth Programme and makes several recommendations for follow up. The workshop participants will look into the aim and potential criteria and indicators for assessing the impact of human rights education, the various needs of stakeholders in assessment and how to respond to them, and make proposals for follow-up.
 

  1. Activism and campaigning for human rights (including the No Hate Speech Movement campaign), coordinated by Mariya Yasenovska (Kharkiv Regional Foundation Public Alternative)

Human rights activism and education are strongly intertwined both aiming for the reduction of human rights violations and the establishment of a culture of human rights. Learning for human rights is an essential aspect of HRE as outlined in Compass, and the Youth Department has gained campaigning experience through the No Hate Speech Movement or the “all different-all equal” campaigns. The workshop will explore and propose ways to further support and enhance this aspect of activism through human rights education.
 

  1. Making human rights education accessible, coordinated by Zara Todd, (European Network on Independent Living Youth Network)

Sustained efforts have been made as a result of the second HRE Youth Forum to make Compass accessible in its online form, to develop a companion supporting educators in adapting activities for groups with mixed abilities. Equally, targeted programmes and cooperation have been put in place to ensure that young people who experience social and economic disadvantages are also offered with opportunities to develop their competences in HRE and become multipliers, but there is still room for more. The participants will explore how to make a future programme more accessible, what measures should be considered at European, national and local level to increase the accessibility of human rights education.
 

  1. Global development for human rights education, coordinated by Emilia Astore (Human Rights Education Youth Network)

The United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training, as well as the World Programme on Human Rights Education are some examples of global developments to which both participants and the Council of Europe could contribute and benefit from. The participants will explore the themes present in the global discussion for human rights education, the ways we could learn, collaborate and create synergies between processes at global and regional level.
 

  1. Mainstreaming human rights education in youth work, coordinated by Mara Georgescu

It seems obvious that young people should be concerned with human rights education, but the reality is that most young people in Europe have little access to human rights education and little awareness of their rights. Compass and the HREYP were developed to ensure the mainstreaming of human rights education in youth work and youth policy. While significant progress is noted by the evaluation report and the diversity of experiences of various non-governmental partners of the Department, much still needs to be done. The participants will share their experiences in integrating human rights education in the core of their programmes and activities and will propose further measures to support the integration of human rights education in the training of and the practice of youth work at European, national and local level.
 

  1. Working with Compass in Arabic, coordinated by Khalil Raihani and Susie Shomali (trainer-consultants).

This small working group is addressed to users and translators of Compass in Arabic. The workshop will look into the quality of translation and suggestions for improvement, the dissemination and use of Compass in Arabic.
 

  1. Intercultural dialogue and citizenship education, coordinated by Gemma Aubarell (Anna Lindh Foundation)

Intercultural competences are essential feature of citizenship education with and for young people. The participants will share experiences share experience in promoting intercultural and interreligious dialogue in youth activities; identify challenges and explore emerging issues in intercultural and interreligious dialogue and discuss how they can be included in the educational practice; explore and propose ways how intercultural and interreligious dialogue can be addressed and promoted through human rights and citizenship education.