ISLAMABAD, Dec 13: The education ministry’s curriculum wing, in collaboration with Unesco and ILO, on Friday, launched the National Plan of Action for Human Rights Education (HRE).

The plan aims at raising awareness about human rights by incorporating the subject in the syllabi at schools level.

The national action plan was formally launched by the federal education minister, Zobaida Jalal, in the presence of ILO country director Johannes Lokollo, and Unesco country representative Ingeborg Brienes.

Speaking on the occasion, the federal minister said every person who believed in respect for humanity should believe in human rights. “Islam has placed maximum emphasis on fulfilment of our duties and obligations towards other people,” she said.

She was of the view that the human rights education meant to bring attitudinal change among students, teachers and other members of the society.

Commenting on the national plan of action for human rights education, the minister said it included identification and development of human rights education concepts in curriculum development.

“I am a strong advocate for the cause of human rights and realise that it can best be achieved through education. It is needless to say there is growing consensus that education for human rights is essential and can contribute towards reduction of human rights violations and the building of free, just and peaceful society,” she said.

The national plan of action underlines the need to raise awareness about HRE and its importance among policy makers, educational administrators, curriculum developers, teachers, students etc.

Another objective enumerated in the plan was the incorporation of HRE concepts in curriculum and text books. It will also assist in providing orientation and training to teachers in HRE at schools level.

The education ministry’s curriculum wing, under the plan, will develop a network of human rights resource persons for promotion of HRE throughout country.

The action plan also aims at promoting understanding, tolerance, gender equality and friendship among all nations, and racial, national, ethnic, religious and linguistic groups.

The ILO country director, speaking on the occasion, said, in this part of the world, poverty and unemployment were increasing, discrimination in employment still persisted, trade unions were not free to exercise their rights, millions of children were being exploited and they did not enjoy their right to education, health etc. The Pakistani people are also facing the same problems, he added.

The Unesco country representative said women must have opportunities to realise all human rights and enjoy unhindered equal participation in socio-economic and political life.

This can only be achieved by taking various measures, including those directed towards securing changes in peoples’ attitudes, values and behaviour, especially in societies where men have traditionally held dominating positions, she added.

The function was also attended by school children, who staged skits depicting human rights conditions in the country.

After the indoor function, students and teachers, lead by the education minister, walked to the National Assembly where they presented a copy of the action plan to the speaker, Chaudhry Amir Hussain. The advisor to the prime minister on women development, Nelofer Bakhtiar, was also present on the occasion.

Welcoming the participants of the walk, Mr Hussain said it was a positive development that the federal education ministry had launched human rights education plan. He appreciated the ILO and Unesco for extending their support to the ministry in this regard.