THE TANDEM PROJECT
http://www.tandemproject.com.

UNITED NATIONS, HUMAN RIGHTS,
FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF

The Tandem Project is a UN NGO in Special Consultative Status with the
Economic and Social Council of the United Nations

Draft Plan of Action - Phase 2 (2010-2014) of World Programme for Human Rights Education

The 15th Session of the U.N. Human Rights Council begins on 13 September 2010.  The Annual Report of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights includes a report on the Draft plan of action for the second phase (2010-2014) of the World Programme for Human Rights Education (A/HRC/15/28).

The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights report confirms the strategy written by The Tandem Project for: Forum Proposals for Academic Discourse on Human Rights & Freedom of Religion or Belief, in New York, Minnesota, Norway and Morocco (attached). Footnote 20 * to the report (A/HRC/15/28) is a close description of the quote by Mark C. Taylor, Chair of the Religion Department, Columbia University, New York, used in the Forum Proposals to call for multidisciplinary approaches to study and research on such issues as human rights and freedom of religion or belief. The Tandem Project does not represent the institutions, organizations or individuals named in the Forum Proposals and is not endorsed by them. Forums are meant to stimulate multidisciplinary faculty discussion as a follow-up to United Nations Universal Periodic Reviews. Forums may lead to written proposals by multi-disciplinary faculty for study and research.

Excerpt

Human Rights Council Fifteenth session Agenda items 2 and 3
Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General

Promotion and protection of all human rights civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development

Draft plan of action for the second phase (2010-2014) of the World Programme for Human Rights Education

Note by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights*

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has the honor to transmit to the members of the Human Rights Council the draft plan of action for the second phase (2010-2014) of the World Programme for Human Rights Education, focusing on human rights education for higher education and on human rights training for teachers and educators, civil servants, law enforcement officials and military personnel, prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner in accordance with Council resolution 12/4.
* Late submission.

(b) Teaching and learning processes and tools

27. Introducing or improving human rights education in the higher education system requires adopting a holistic approach to teaching and learning, by integrating programme objectives and content, resources, methodologies, assessment and evaluation; by looking beyond the classroom and the higher-education institution to society; and by building partnerships between different members of the academic community and beyond.

28. The following aspects are necessary for achieving quality human rights teaching and learning. They are addressed to policymakers at national and higher education institution levels as well as, in some instances, to teaching personnel:

(a) Concerning teaching and learning programmes and courses:

(i) Develop strategies for infusing human rights as a cross-cutting issue into all higher-education disciplines - not only law, social studies or history but also disciplines in the technical and scientific fields (for instance architecture and engineering as they relate to development, environment, housing; medicine as it relates to child care, public health, women’s reproductive rights, HIV/AIDS, disability; biotechnology and architecture as they relate to food, housing and environment, etc.);

(ii) Consider offering introductory courses on human rights for students of all disciplines;

(iii) Consider introducing advanced courses addressing human rights issues specifically relevant for each course of study;

(iv) Develop specialized Master and PhD programmes in human rights in a variety of disciplines and subject areas;

(v) Develop multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary human rights academic programmes.20

(b) Concerning teaching and learning materials:

20 Multidisciplinary programmes would include the study, research and engagement with human rights from different disciplinary perspectives, such as philosophy, sociology, languages, international and domestic law, etc. Interdisciplinary programmes would entail the crossing of boundaries between disciplines and the pooling of approaches and methodologies to study, research and engage with human rights with a new integrated perspective.

Report to 15th Session of U.N. Human Rights Council (A/HRC/15/28).
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/15session/A.HRC.15.28_en.pdf
Agenda: U.N. Human Rights Council 15th Session (13 September to 1 October 2010)
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/15session/A.HRC.15.1_en.pdf

Documents: Minnesota - Academic Forum on Human Rights & Freedom of Religion or Belief; Morocco - Forum for Academic Discourse on Human Rights & Proselytism; New York - Academic Forum on Human Rights & Freedom of Religion or Belief