Human Rights Information and Training Center,HRITC holds Arab seminar on training teachers on human rights [Archives:2003/639/Community]

Organized by the Human Rights Information and Training Center, HRITC, in cooperation with the Canada Fund Development Program for Local initiatives, the Arab Seminar concerning teachers training on human rights was held at the Sana'a International Hotel on May 26-28.
During the inaugural ceremony, Dr. Eiz Addeen al-Asbahi, the HRITC General Director delivered a speech centered on the necessity of including human rights principles in school curricula.
“The session is one the HRITC's main strategies in context of education and human rights and that the beginning was with the Arab Institute for the Human Rights in Tunisia,” Mr. al-Asbahi said.
The outset of disseminating human rights principles among students should start from the school.
“Promoting education, updating curricula along with taking interest in teacher's rights is a part of amending human rights principles and making schools a source of enlightenment and tolerance,” he further noted.
A speech on behalf of the Arab Institute for Human Rights was delivered by Mr. Amara Bin Ramadhan. Mr. Ramadhan put emphasis on the significance of cooperation between the Arab Institute and civil society organizations in the Arab region.
“This cooperation has become distinct with the HRITC in holding this training course on education and human rights in school,” he said.
“Incorporating human rights principles into school curricula and all education means represents a priority strategy given by the Arab Institute for the Human Right,” Mr. Ramadhan noted.
In this context, the Arab Institute for the Human Rights has dedicated itself since mid 1990s to diagnose the reality of education through school curricula at both, basic and secondary stages.
A number of studies were conducted and among those studies are two which were conducted in Yemen by the Arab Institute for the Human rights.
Two other studies were also conducted and presented to the Beirut symposium in late of 1997.
As a result, initiatives have been taken by some Arab countries to revise their school curricula in the light of results of those studies.
Partnership in all different training programs whether Arab or international organizations have been established between the HRITC and the Tunisia-based Arab Institute for the Human Rights.
Established in 1989, the institute has played vital role in raising awareness and disseminating human rights principles.
The Arab Institute role is not restricted to this point; other significant fields have become its focus of attention such as, documentation, training, researches and publications.
Mr. Fuad A. Gohery, Program Coordinator of the Canada Fund Development Program for Local Initiatives briefly talked about the Canada's main contributions to supporting social and health services.
“Canada highly values the work of the NGO's in the development process and is proud to support their efforts through Canada Fund,” Mr. Gohery said.
Canada will continue to cooperate with the government organizations, Yemeni NGOs' and international organizations in the developmental process in Yemen.
This is to reassert the strong relation of friendship that links Canada and Yemen.
Speeches were then delivered by Dr. Abdulaziz al-Maqaleh, the Chairman of the Yemeni Center for Studies and Research.
Another speech was also delivered by Mr. Ali al-Anesi, the Presidency office Secretary-General and the Vice Chairman of the Supreme National Committee for Human Rights.
During the 3-day seminar, different human rights-related issues were discussed by the participants.
The following themes were extensively discussed:
– Approaches to human rights
– Education and human rights
-Mechanisms and texts.
– Clubs and education mechanisms on citizenship.
– Values of freedom and responsibility
– Obstacles facing culture of human rights.
– Possible solutions for human rights
– Human rights values and teaching moralities
– Human rights principles in education curricular in Yemen., Bahrain, and Kuwait.
– Human rights education as performed by the Arab Institute for Human Rights in Tunisia.
A host of eminent educational inspectors, teachers, and human rights representatives at the Supreme National Committee for the Human Rights, some Arab as well as foreign diplomats and international organizations representatives in Sana'a attended the seminar.

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