Council of Europe launches teaching materials to promote human rights and democracy in schools
On 21 October in Sarajevo, the Council of Europe launched six manuals for teachers to promote education for democratic citizenship and human rights. These manuals are intended to support countries to put into practice the Council of Europe Charter on Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education1 adopted in May 2010 by all 47 member states of the Council of Europe.
The unique feature of these manuals is that they are the outcome of a truly European project. The idea and the first versions were developed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where many teachers and educators took part in the manuals’ development. The authors and editors of the final version of the manuals come from many European countries, and the manuals themselves have been tested and revised by a large number of people of different origins and sensitivities.
The manuals include lesson plans for all levels of education, with a view to promoting active citizenship based upon participatory and task-based learning in a democratic school community.
The volumes were published in partnership with the Zürich University of Teacher Education, International Projects in Education. The Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation co-funded the manuals with the Council of Europe.
1 adopted in the framework of Recommendation CM/Rec(2010)7 of the Committee of Ministers.