The Democracy and Human Rights Education in Europe (DARE) Network was officially launched on 28 June 2003 in Antwerp
(» Antwerp Declaration on Democracy and Human Rights Education in Europe).

DARE is registered under Belgian NPO law (Ordenemingsnummer: 480.114.168) as a non profit organization (vereniging zonder winstoogmerk) and has its legal seat in Belgium (DARE network, Patriottenstraat 27, BE - 2600 Antwerpen)

The network currently consists of 51 members from 25 countries in Europe (» how to become a member of DARE). DARE publishes the regular eDARE newsletter, reports and other » publications.



 Goals

WHY DARE? - DARE is a Europe-wide network of NGOs and other organisations devoted to raise the profile of Education for Democratic Citizenship (EDC) and Human Rights Education (HRE), promote transcultural and transnational cooperation, and enhance the quality of education within these fields.

DARE aims at achieving recognition, visibilitity and adequate resources for EDC and HRE as a core obligation for the formal and non-formal education systems throughout Europe.

DARE has been established to address three shortcomings in the present arrangements for NGOs in Europe carrying out invaluable work in EDC and HRE:

• The prevalence of NGOs which tend to work without adequate resources and in isolation, and are therefore inhibited in their access to information, to potential European partners, and to effective lobbying.

• The tendency to treat separately the distinct but nonetheless closely interrelated fields of HRE and EDC.

• The distance between research and practice, academia and activists, political scientists and educators in EDC/HRE.

 Activities

• exchange of information, contents, methods and staff;

• common programmes for education and qualification of staff, board members and volunteers in member organisations;

• common databases and systems;

• public relations and lobbying at European level;

• common educational projects, standards and good practice;

• a common resource on funding opportunities (thus minimising the need for duplication of research);

• a common standard for project delivery.

 Projects

DARE´s most recent EU-project focused on “Democracy and Human Rights Education in Adult Learning”. Our workplan for 2008-2010 included Special Interest Groups, Synchronized Action Days, a conference and a hearing on EDC/HRE in the European parliament ...more