Human Rights Day 2014: Focus education

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights containing 30 Articles was proclaimed 66 years ago on this day, December 10, by the United Nations General Assembly, followed by its decision in 1950 to observe the Human Rights Day on the date of proclamation of the declaration. This year's theme is: 'Human Rights 365' which highlights the idea that every day is a Human Rights Day. It states the fundamental proposition in the Universal Declaration that each one of us, everywhere, at all times is entitled to the full range of human rights, that human rights belong equally to each of us and bind us together as a global community with the same ideals and values. In a message on the occasion this year, UN Secretary-General Ban ki Moon has said: "The United Nations protects human rights…because when people enjoy their rights, economies flourish and countries are at peace. Violations of human rights are more than personal tragedies. … I call on states to honour their obligation to protect human rights every day of the year. I call on people to hold their governments to account. And I call for special protections for the human rights defenders who courageously serve our collective cause. Let us respond to the cries of the exploited, and uphold the right to human dignity for all."
The human rights issue is inseparably linked with education.  Article 26 of the declaration also relates directly to education. To quote its 3 points : "1. Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit. 2.  Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace. 3. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children."
Human Rights education:
The issue of human rights has practical relevance to human rights education. Human rights can only be achieved through informed people -- a fact that interlinks rights-based education. Human rights education promotes values, beliefs and attitudes that encourage all individuals to uphold their own rights and those of others.  On 10 December 2004, the General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed the World Programme for Human Rights Education to advance the implementation of human rights education programmes in all sectors. Building on the achievements of the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education 1995-2004, the World Programme seeks to promote a common understanding of basic principles and methodologies of human rights education, to provide a concrete framework for action and to strengthen partnerships and cooperation from the international level down to the grass roots.
Unlike the specific time frame of the Decade, the World Programme is structured in consecutive phases, in order to further focus national human rights education efforts in specific sectors. The first phase (2005-2009) focused on human rights education in the primary and secondary school systems. The second phase (2010-2014) focused on human rights education for higher education and on human rights training programmes for teachers and educators, civil servants, law enforcement officials and military personnel. The third phase (2015-2019) will focus on strengthening the implementation of the first two phases and promoting human rights training for media professionals and journalists. In Bangladesh, there are ample scopes to include human rights education in the curricula of different tiers of education and in the relevant fields of both the government and non-government sectors.  
The worldwide movement for Education for All, initiated in Jomtien in 1990 and reaffirmed in Dakar in 2000, is the most important commitment to education in recent decades. Efforts since the turn of the millennium have yielded significant progress. Yet the Education for All (EFA) agenda and the education-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are unlikely to be achieved by 2015. There is, therefore, a consensus on the need for a new and forward-looking education agenda that completes unfinished business while going beyond the depth and scope of current goals to address new challenges, reach the most marginalised and give more emphasis to equity, quality and learning. The recent education meet in Japan as a follow-up of the Muscat declaration has made these points poignant. The coming meet in Korea will throw light on a synthesis for sustainable development in education.
The power of the Universal Declaration is the power of ideas to change the world. It tells us that human rights are essential and indivisible - 365 days a year. Every day is a Human Rights day-- a day on which we work to ensure that all people can gain equality, dignity and freedom. So human rights education is essential which will pave the way for achieving successes in several dimensions in the face of manifold impediments. Education after all is that light which removes confusion and darkness.
Prof Quazi Faruque Ahmed is the Chairman, Initiative for Human Development (IHD). prof.qfahmed@gmail.com