Human Rights Education for Sustainable Peace : Challenges Ahead
- Part 2 -

Dr Jayadeba Sahoo *

A woman speaking in the sharing session in Relation with International Human Rights Day 2011 at Palace Compound :: Pix - HL

The crux of the problem is lack of inner powers as in this case power of tolerance, patience that creates mental stress and tensions, which is root cause of all violations, violence, crime and illness. In the worlds of renounced Psychiatrist and Professor at University of Wisconsin, Sir S.L. Halleck, "The Stresses that lead to mental illness are often the same stresses that lead to crime". "This syndrome of stress and strain can be cured not by money spent in hospitalisation or years spent in prisons for illness or Human Right violations but by Meditation, diving into one's inner self… his spiritual entity"… says Justice Krishna Iyer.

Because human actions done in relation to other human beings are determined partly by inner nature, habits ie personality traits. These die-hard personality traits (Samskars) are to be changed. He says "Humanism and Compassion, fundamental in all Human Rights and Article 51A of our constitution takes us to practice egalite and fraternity. So needs not skin-deep but soul-deep search which takes us to meditative exercises and contemplative moods, which is our legacy."

So to change the personality traits of 'culture of violence' to 'culture of peace', to reduce mental tension, we need holistic spiritual wisdom and Yogic Meditation, which has stood the test of silence, psychiatry, medical experiments and visionary experiences. In the words of Justice Krishna Iyre, victory must be own by Raja Yoga (Meditation) in the battle against bhoga (indulgence), if Roga (malady) that besets our Yuga (era of the world cycle) is to be beaten back.

In this context, human rights education has gained currency and significance. In our endeavour to educate our children, we need to inculcate the value of human rights from the very beginning so that when they grow up they work towards peace and harmony in the world. Teachers are the pivot around which all education revolves. Therefore, if we want to ensure human rights education in our schools, we need to orient our teachers. The role of teacher educators in this context is obvious.

So education should have a paradigm shift—a shift of values, social practice and global view based on universal set of Human Rights values ie freedom fraternity, equality, cooperation, peace, social justice etc. Therefore, we need radical humanism, dynamic secularism and synthesis of material and spiritual values instilled through our educational system to root out socio-cultural disbelieves and Human Rights violations sans which this planet earth will be no more. It is rightly said "you take care of spirituality; it will take care of you all." This will be "appropriate educational strategies for Human Rights" at all levels through all agencies as desired by International Congress on Education for Human Rights and Democracy, Montreal, 1993.

Again an Asian Educationists' Conference on "Human Rights & Values Education : To Achieve Goal of U.N. Decade for Human Rights Education (1995-2004)" was organised jointly by Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya, Mount Abu; Rajasthan Council of Educational Administration & Management (RCEAM); Council of Teacher Education (CTE); International Association of Educators for World Peace (IAEWP); World Council Of Curriculum & Instruction (WCCI) & 12 other Teacher Education organisations. The Conference resolved and adopted a declaration called Abu Declaration, 1997 on "Education for Human Rights & Values. Here the specific suggestions given in this declaration is worthy of mentioned in our Indian context also.

EDUCATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND VALUES
Abu Declaration, 1997

"Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya, Mount Abu, organised a four-day Conference of Educationists on Human Rights & Values from June 22 to 25, 1997 at its Academy for a Better World, Gyan Sarovar Complex. Seven hundred Educationists from all over the country participated in the Conference including Vice-Chancellors and Pro-Vice-Chancellors of 16 Universities who provided valuable guidance for the deliberations. There were six plenary sessions, ten seminars and four Rajyoga Meditation sessions.

The conference was inaugurated by Hon'ble Justice MN Venkatachaallaiah, Chairman, National Human Rights Commission, India. The function was presided over by His Excellency Shri Baliram Bhagat, Governor of Rajasthan and Gujurat. Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister for Education and Health, Govt of Delhi and Shri Kameng Dolo, Minister for Rural Development, Govt of Arunachal Pradesh and Prof. Naresh C Mahtur, Vice-Chairman, University Grants Commission, addressed the conference. Rajyogini Dadi Prakashmanai, Chief of Brahma Kumaris emphasised the need of spiritual and value education along with education for Human Rights. Hon'ble Justice VS Malimath, Member, National Human Rights Commission delivered the valedictory address.

A special obligation of Educationists was insisted on to bring awareness of Human Rights and Values. Eradication of illiteracy was pointed our as the first requisite for promoting Human Rights Education. The following conclusions emerged out of these deliberations:

In all educational institutions of the country special emphasis should be laid on Value-Based Education for the protection of Human Rights.

Facilities should be provided in all the Educational Institutions to impart spiritual and RajaYoga Education to re-establish the importance of Human Rights and Values.

To facilitate this, teachers of all Educational Institutions of this country should be sent to the Academy for a Better World, Gyan Sarovar, Mount Abu for training on RajaYoga Meditation & Values.

We request the National Human Rights Commission, India to set up State Human Rights Commission in States where there are no such commissions so far.

For the past sixty years Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya has been doing commendable work to promote human welfare, spiritual education, universal peace and development of human values. By organising this Conference, this Institution has taken a revolutionary step in giving new direction and in motivating the academicians of the nation. We, the participants, assure Rajayogini Dr. Prkashmani Dadiji, Chief of Brahma Kumaris, that we will whole heartedly extend our active co-operation in the National Programme for Human Rights and Value Education.

We, the participants of this conference, pledge to adopt this Declaration as Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya, Abu Declaration, 1997 and forward it to the Central Government, State Governments, Human Rights Commission of India and Educational Institutions for appropriate action." For the purpose specifically "Living Values—An Educational Programme (LVEP)" has been developed by Brahma Kumaris in cooperation with UNESCO & UNICEF and is being implemented by cooperation with UNICEF in 92 other countries will prove a boon.

The Living Values Education Programme (LVEP) : A Panacea.

LVEP was born when education from around the world gathered at UNICEF HP NY in August 1996 to discuss need of children and youth their experience of working with values & how educations can integrate values in education using "Living Values : A Guide Book" a Braham Kumaris publication and & UN "Convention on the rights of the Child" as a frame work. The global educators identified and agreed upon the purpose and aims of value based education world wide in both developed and developing countries.

Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya (Popularly known as Brahma Kumaris) having vast experience and expertise in the field helped educators from around the globe to develop the "Living Values: An Educational Program (LVEP)" integrated with Raja Yoga (Meditation) in consultation with UNICEF's Education cluster and UNESCO's planet society.

The programme features a self-contained Training kit which offers exact content, practical methodologies and tools for use by teachers and facilitators (Trainers) to enable children and youths (Young adults) to explore and develop 12 core/key personal and social values of universal nature (like Peace, Respect, Love, Happiness, Honesty, Freedom, Humility, Tolerance, Cooperation, Responsibility, Unity, Simplicity) and empower them with such values and leadership qualities necessary for good governance and societal progress every where.

Its approach is experienced, participatory and flexible, allowing it to be adapted according to varying cultural, social and other circumstances. So LVEP has been a partnership amongst educators around the world; supported by UNESCO; sponsored by the National Committee at UNICEF (Spain), Planet Society of UNESCO and the Brahma Kumaris; in consultation with the Education cluster of UNICEF (New York) and is already in use in over 92 countries around the world and the Brahma Kumaris and other programme coordinators would gladly cooperate with any. So education authorities and other interested organisations working in this field who wish to make use of it as an instrument of youth policy and programming for creating and sustaining positive change among youth for better Governance, betterment of society & a Culture of Peace (COP).

To conclude in the line of Dr Winsome Gordon, Director of Primary & Secondary Education, UNESCO, "UNESCO gives high priority to programmes promoting human values. All these values are to be found in Living Values : An Educational Program (LVEP) that is reaching out to people all over the world. Such an initiative should be encouraged by the global community at this time when there is a concerted effort towards world peace and the knowledge that peace must come from within." All Governments should follow the foot print of (international bodies to implement LVEP to empower youths for better governance to make world of a Culture of Peace (COP) and Non-Violence and a better place to live in.

Thus, I would suggest Arunachal Government to follow the foot prints of other State Governments like Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana, Delhi etc to adopt the suggestions of Abu Declaration, 1997 and introduce Value Education through our educational system to protect & promote Human Rights of all people in our State and country to establish a Value Based Better Society of a Culture of Peace. Sooner the Better.

Concluded ...