The document discusses using a systems approach to human rights education (HRE). A systems approach situates HRE events within the broader context of an organization's activities, relations with other organizations, limiting and enabling factors for social change, and other types of actions that can lead to change beyond HRE. This helps ensure HRE fits with other efforts, identify how HRE contributes to social change, and allows for strategic planning of HRE work. An example shows how a systems approach can map out the current human rights situation, desired changes, actors working on issues, and how teacher training as an HRE event fits within broader actions.

1. HRE Design Workshop
HRE through a Systems Approach

2. Equitas - International Centre for Human Rights Education
What does a systems approach involve?
 Situates an organization’s HRE event within:
 the wider context of its overall activities
 its relation with other organizations at the
local/national/regional/global levels
 the limiting and favouring elements
contributing towards positive social change
 the different types of actions leading to
change apart from HRE

3. Equitas - International Centre for Human Rights Education
HRE through a systems approach
Current
human rights
situation in
your country
Desired
socio-political
change:
Culture of
human rights
Monitoring
Advocacy and
awareness
Research
Law and legal reform
Other
Human
Rights
Education
HRE
event
Elements limiting the promotion and defence of
human rights
Elements favouring the promotion and defence
of human rights
Actions leading to change
Broader international community
addressing particular HR issues
Actors working on
HR issues at the societal level
Overall HRE work
of the organization
Organization’s
HRE work on a
particular issue
HRE
event
General human rights environment

4. Equitas - International Centre for Human Rights Education
How does it help us?
• Helps see the “big picture”
• Helps identify how their HRE “fits” with other HRE
activities by other actors
• Clarifies how we can evaluate our HRE activities by
attributing social change to our actions
• Acts as a form of needs analysis
• Prompts critical reflection on the nature of our HRE
work
• Helps us make strategic choices about our HRE work

5. Equitas - International Centre for Human Rights Education
Example: HRE for teachers
Current
human rights
situation in
your country
Desired
socio-political
change:
Culture of
human rights
Monitoring and
evaluation of teachers
in the classroom
Radio and television
campaigns to promote
values of respect in
schools
Research on HRE in
the classroom
Education policies on
curriculum standards
Incentives to hire new
teachers
Human
Rights
Education
HRE
event
•Not recognizing value of children’s participation, Traditional values,
Children’s work at home, Outdated curricula
•World Program for HRE
•Use of Internet to connect with other schools
Actions leading to change
Internationally: UNICEF, International donors:
joint programs and organizational initiatives
In the country: Ministry of Education, UNESCO, CBOs,
grassroots organizations, parent-teacher associations
Organization’s HRE work: promoting
and protecting children’s rights
Focus of HRE: Including
HRE in the school curricula
Teacher
training

6. Equitas - International Centre for Human Rights Education
Example: HRE for teachers
Current
human rights
situation in
your country
Desired
socio-political
change:
Culture of
human rights
Monitoring and
evaluation of teachers
in the classroom
Radio and television
campaigns to promote
values of respect in
schools
Research on HRE in
the classroom
Education policies on
curriculum standards
Incentives to hire new
teachers
Human
Rights
Education
HRE
event
•Not recognizing value of children’s participation, Traditional values,
Children’s work at home, Outdated curricula
•World Program for HRE
•Use of Internet to connect with other schools
Actions leading to change
Internationally: UNICEF, International donors:
joint programs and organizational initiatives
In the country: Ministry of Education, UNESCO, CBOs,
grassroots organizations, parent-teacher associations
Organization’s HRE work: promoting
and protecting children’s rights
Focus of HRE: Including
HRE in the school curricula
Teacher
training