National initiatives within the UN Decade for Human Rights Education
AFRICA

BURUNDI

Although a national committee for human rights education has not been
established, since the beginning of the Decade the Ministry for Human
Rights has increasingly worked on the sensitization of human rights issues
in all socio-professional sectors. The Ministry has developed a plan of
action, which forms part of an overall national plan. At the time of
completion of the questionnaire, it was expected that the plan would be
concluded during the summer of 2000.

Last information received on: 28 June 2000

Contact:
Centre de Promotion des Droits de la Personne Humaine et de Prévention du
Génocide (C.P.D.H.P.G.)

CAMEROUN

An overall national action plan for human rights is currently being
developed with the assistance of OHCHR. The Government is favourable for
the integration of a national plan for human rights education and
information into the overall national action plan for human rights.

Last information received on: 19 May 1999

Contact:
Office of the Prime Minister

CAPE VERDE

The Government requested technical assistance from OHCHR for the
development of an overall national plan for human rights, which would
include a national plan for human rights education and information.

Last information received on: 2 February 1999

Contact:
Ministry of Justice and Administration

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

The Ministry of Justice, in close cooperation with MINURCA, organized a
national seminar on "The impact of human rights in the national
reconstruction process" in May/June 1999. This project was elaborated with
the view to adopt a national plan of action for human rights education and
promotion. The seminar gathered more than 200 participants,who included
Government Officials, and members of political parties, religious
communities, NGOs and the civil society.

There is no national plan of action in operation, however OHCHR and the
Human Rights Department of the Bureau des Nations Unies en Centrafrique
(BONUCA) are working together on a plan which is expected to be completed
in Jan/Feb 2001. The introduction of human rights education in schools
coupled with the adoption of a national plan are the goals envisaged for
the next five years of the Decade at the national level.

Since its creation in November 1999, the Human Rights High Commission has
disseminated information and organized seminars directed at all classes of
society.

A national committee has not been established, however there are plans to
do so at the beginning of the academic year 2000/01.

Last information received on: 5 July 2000

Contact:
Haut Commissariat à la Primature chargé des Droits de l`Homme

CHAD

A national committee for human rights education was established on 8 May
1998, in accordance with decision number 002/PM/98. The Prime Minister
acted on a proposal from the National Human Rights Committee (CNDH). The
aforementioned decision did not determine the mandate of the committee,
however it is anticipated that the following functions will be included:

- the development of education in the human rights domain
- the adoption of an educational system which embraces peace and democracy
- to ensure that human rights concerns are promoted increasingly at all
levels of society
- the strengthening of cooperation between OHCHR, African Commission on
Human Rights and Populations, the Human Rights Centre, as well as all
institutions and intergovernmental organisations in the area of human rights

The committee is comprised of eleven members in total, with six
representatives from the following human rights associations:

- Ligue Tschadienne des droits de l`homme (LTDH)
- The Chad Section of the International Observatory
- Tchad non Violence
- L`association jeunesse anti-clivage
- The Chad Fundamental Rights Association
- The Association for Defense and Promotion of Human Rights

and five representatives from the following ministerial departments:

- Justice
- Family and Social Affairs
- National Defense
- Public Affairs
- Higher Education

A plan of action, which is expected to be completed in May 2001, is
underway. The principal actors include the following institutions:

- National Human Rights Committee
- National Education Committee
- Human Rights NGOs
- Government

The Plan of Action will aim to sensitize the population to human rights. It
will also establish human rights education programmes in schools and
promote democracy. Training for teachers and the increased use of
didactical materials will be focus areas in the plan. The human rights
education plan will be a component of a global action plan for Chad, which
is not limited solely to human rights issues.

Technical assistance is being provided by OHCHR, UNESCO and the PNUD.

Last information received on: 7 July 2000

Contact:
Cabinet du Reunion Justice

COMOROS

Although there is no national committee in existence, decree No. 99-001/PM
calls for the establishment of a human rights delegation. Neither a
national plan of action nor a human rights committee for human rights
education have been established. Comoros is not in receipt of technical
assistance.

Last information received on: 21 June 2000

Contact:
Secretary General of Comoros Government

ETHIOPIA

The Government of Ethiopia reported on-going activities undertaken by
different ministries. The Ministry of Justice, through its Legal Education
and Training Department and Women's Affairs Department, promotes legal
education, which includes a human rights component. This is accomplished
through the use of the media (newspapers, radio and television), and the
organization of training programmes for judges, public prosecutors and
women's groups. The Ministry of Education undertook a revision of school
curricula in order that principles of human rights are included.

The Government of Ethiopia also noted the complementary role played by
civil society in raising human rights awareness.

Last information received on: July 2001

Contact:
Permanent Mission of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Geneva

GHANA

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice advised as to
some of the existing activities in the area of human rights education, such
as seminars and workshops for professional groups and a mass education
campaign to reach out to communities. In addition, the Faculty of Law at
the University of Ghana has offered a course in international human rights
law since 1994.

The Commissioner acknowledged the need for technical assistance in carrying
out broad human rights education programmes, including the creation of a
national committee for human rights education, and the establishment of a
human rights resource and training centre. He expressed interest in
facilitating the creation of a national committee for human rights
education, and the establishment of a human rights resource and training
centre. Specific proposals were made in that regard.

Last information received on: 5 September 1997

Contact:
Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice

LESOTHO

There is no national committee in existence and no plans have been made to
establish such a committee.

The Human Rights Unit of the Ministry of Justice has been the key actor in
human rights education at the national level. Since the beginning of the
Decade, the Human Rights Unit has worked increasingly in this area, and
launched a Human Rights and Democracy Programme with the Danish Centre for
Human Rights (1995-1997).

Lesotho is not in receipt of technical assistance, however assistance is
requested in the form of documentation regarding the development of a plan.
Furthermore, it is proposed that a workshop be organized, at which an
expert would assist in the construction of the plan.

Last information received on: 10 July 2000

Contact:
Human Rights Unit / Ministry of Justice, Human Rights and Rehabilitation

MAURITIUS

The Ministry of Education has set up a curriculum panel team to revise
materials, on human values education, for use in schools. This involves
working in close cooperation with a national nongovernmental organization
dealing with teacher training.

Last information received on: 11 August 1998

Contact:
Ministry of Education and Scientific Research

MOZAMBIQUE

UNESCO provides technical assistance in the production of teaching and
learning materials, and teacher training. Moreover, human rights education
is integrated into the school curricula.

The creation of a national committee and a national plan are objectives for
the next five years of the Decade.

Last information received on: 11 October 2000

No contact details provided.

NAMIBIA

The Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee for Human Rights, which was
established in 1995 within the Ministry of Justice, has been developing a
number of human rights training programmes for police, prison and military
officials since 1997. In 1998, a series of human rights training workshops
for key sectors (the private sector, parliamentarians, women's
organizations, regional Governors and NGOs) were also
organized. Furthermore, the Committee has been active in curriculum
development within the school system; a regional project involving Zimbabwe
and Mozambique.

These projects were organized with the support of international
organizations, in particular OHCHR, UNESCO, the Red Cross and the
Commonwealth, and through bilateral cooperation. In addition, a Human
Rights Documentation Centre was established at the Faculty of Law of the
University of Namibia, on the initiative of the Ministry of Justice.

Last information received on: 9 September 1999

Contact:
Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee for Human Rights / Ministry of Justice

NIGERIA

The Government reported on the existence of a National Human Rights
Commission, which is mandated to promote human rights education.

Last information received on: 10 September 1998

Contact:
National Human Rights Commission

SOUTH AFRICA

The South African Human Rights Commission is promoting human rights
education and is working on Decade-related issues with the Ministry of
Education.

Last information received on: 4 May 1996

Contact:
Human Rights Commission

SUDAN

A national focal point has been established. National committees for human
rights education at the state level are to be established in 1996.

Last information received on: 8 July 1996

Contact:
Consultative Council for Human Rights / Ministry of Justice

TANZANIA

There is no national committee in existence, however there are plans to
establish one during the year 2000/01.

A number of human rights agencies and the Permanent Commission of Enquiry
have held responsibility at the national level for human rights education.
Since the beginning of the Decade, the Tanzania Ombudsman Office has dealt
to a greater degree with human rights issues. The Tanzania Ombudsman Office
was established in 1966 by the government. It conducts enquiries into abuse
of authority of office by public officials and submits recommendations to
the president following assessment. It comprises of five members, a
chairperson and four commissioners, who are appointed by the president. It
has no NGO representatives.

The development of a human rights education plan before the end of the
Decade is proposed.

Last information received on: 14 November 2000

Contact:
Prime Minister Office

ZIMBABWE

The Human Rights National Committee was set up by the Government in 1993,
to serve as an advisor on human rights issues and to attend to Zimbabwe's
obligations regarding international instruments to which the country is a
party. The committee is composed of twenty members in total who represent
various government ministries, departments and the Presidents office. The
committee is chaired by the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary
Affairs. There are no NGO representatives on the committee, though NGOs
often play a key role during workshops. The Inter-Ministerial committee is
currently developing a national Plan of Action and it is envisaged that it
will be completed by August 2002.

UNESCO is assisting the Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture with the
development of curriculum materials and the integration of human rights and
democracy in education.

Last information received on: 24 August 2000

Contact:
Inter-Ministerial Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law / Ministry
of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs

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