Education

Promoting human rights education (HRE) in Finland is one of the statutory tasks of the Human Rights Centre. Our aim is that the general awareness, understanding and know-how of fundamental and human rights is enhanced, and the respect for them is strenghtened.

In practice, we support the work of educational authorities, institutions, and other actors by disseminating and producing HRE material and tools, as well as providing human rights training, mainly to the authorities. We also report to and collaborate with the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and other National Human Rights Institutions about the situation of HRE in Finland.

A key internation document, on which we base our work, is the UN Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training which includes a definition of HRE. This can be summarised to include all training, education and communication that aims at global respect for human rights and thus prevents human rights violations. It provides people with knowledge, skills and understanding for developing their attitudes and behaviour to reinforce a culture favourable to human rights. This includes both the recognition of one’s own rights as well as respect for the rights of the others.

Short PDF presentation of our work below.