The NGO Working Group on Human Rights Education and Learning Deliver Joint Statement at the 42nd Session of the Human Rights Council
From September 9 to 27, the 42nd session of the UN Human Rights Council was held at the UN Office at Geneva. On September 13, Elisa Gazzotti, representative of the SGI (Soka Gakkai International), delivered a Joint Oral Statement of the NGO Working Group on Human Rights Education and Learning on behalf of 17 organizations. While welcoming the Plan of Action for the fourth phase of the UN World Programme for Human Rights Education, the statement calls on State Parties to support the adoption of the Plan of Action for the fourth phase of the World Programme and to ensure its implementation including the submission of follow-up reports requested by OHCHR.
On October 2, the NGO WG on HREL organized a side event titled “Youth as Ambassador of Human Rights Education: Implementing the Next Plan of Action of the World Programme.” About 70 people participated in the event including representatives of the Permanent Missions of Slovenia and Austria, UN agencies such as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as well as local and international NGOs.
The event included a panel discussion with Paulina Tandiono, associate officer of OHCHR; Guilliermo Gutierrez, human rights educator from the Istituto lnternazionale Maria Ausiliatrice (IIMA) and the Voluntary International Development Education Service (VIDES); Victoria Ibiwoyem, director of the OneAfricanChild Foundation; Aunell Ross the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Youth Peace Ambassador and the current chairman of UNESCO Young Professionals of the Philippines; and was moderated by Elisa Gazzotti.
In the panel discussion, the panelists shared their views and experiences on how the Plan of Action can be implemented in their countries. The event also included a breakout session where participants were divided into groups to discuss the Plan of Action and its effective implementation in their respective countries.
