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Antwerp Declaration on Democracy
and Human Rights Education in Europe
The Democracy and Human Rights Education Network
(DARE) is a Europe-wide network of NGOs, academic, research and other
organisations focusing on the twin fields of human rights education
and education for democratic citizenship. It is committed to promoting
through education a deeper understanding of human rights and democracy
within Europe. It seeks to create a new environment in which such
organisations can thrive, benefiting from common services and the
pooling of experience and expertise.
DARE seeks to raise the profile of education for
democratic citizenship and human rights, both generally and as a core
component of the formal and informal education systems throughout
Europe.
Principles of Democracy and Human Rights
Education
1. Democracy and human rights education
encompasses the right to know, seek, obtain, receive, hold and
disseminate information about all human rights and fundamental
freedoms, including information as to how human rights and freedoms
are given effect in domestic legislative, judicial and administrative
systems in democracies.
2. The core elements of democracy and human
rights education are:
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the universal character of human rights
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the respect for democracy, human rights
and fundamental freedoms
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empowerment of the individual citizen
and groups to make full use of their democratic rights
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the combat against discrimination,
racism, xenophobia and related intolerance
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gender equality
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inclusion of persons with disabilities
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active citizenship
3. Democracy and human
rights education is a life long process. As such it is an integral
element within formal, non-formal and informal education and embrace
all citizens, particularly marginalised or disadvantaged groups.
Objectives and
activities of DARE
4. DARE asserts the
importance of the right of all individuals to the knowledge and
understanding of and realisation of their human rights as a key
element of democratic citizenship, as an integral part of the right to
education.
5. DARE recognises
that states have the main responsibility to facilitate education for
citizens about democracy and human rights. Democracy and human rights
education is also the responsibility of civil society. The media have
an important role in informing citizens, contributing to transparency,
reporting human rights violations and ensuring that journalistic
standards reflect human rights principles.
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6. DARE aims to:
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serve as a platform for partnership,
coopertion and development of strategy for networking;
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exchange information, exemplary
materials, methodology and staff;
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develop common educational projects,
standards and good practice.
7. DARE intends to achieve its objectives
through development of:
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common databases and systems;
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public relations and lobbying at
European level;
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ongoing working groups on policy,
operational and educational issues;
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annual seminars for all members on new
developments in human rights, policy and educational issues, and
management of the network;
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a newsletter to exchange information on
the activities of its members;
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a common resource on funding
opportunities;
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a common standard for project delivery.
8. DARE will encourage cooperation with
other NGOs and relevant organisations and associations, e.g. academic
and research institutions or teacher training institutes.
9. DARE is ready to cooperate with the Council of Europe, the European
Union, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the
Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe, UNESCO and other
multilateral organisations with regard to relevant education and public
information programmes in the field of democratic citizenship and human
rights.
10. In addition DARE will contribute to current debate with regard to:
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a declaration that outlines the
principles of democracy and human rights education and acknowledges
the importance of fostering a universal culture of human rights as a
recognition of current governmental obligations to promote democracy
and human rights education;
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a final report on the overall
achievements of the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education
and the necessary resources available to conduct this consultation;
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the creation of a United Nations
Voluntary Fund for Human Rights Education in order to assure that
sufficient resources will be available for promoting and monitoring
the advance of democracy and human rights education;
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broadenening the mandate of the Special
Rapporteur on the Right to Education to include fully democracy and
human rights education;
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the creation of mechanisms to monitor
the implementation of commitments on democracy and human rights
education;
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active citizenship and lifelong
learning;
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the achievements of and follow-up to the
United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education;
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the implementation of the European Year
of Citizenship through Education in 2005.
Antwerp, 28 June 2003
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