The Summer University “Human Rights, Education and Sustainability” was organized by OIDEL in collaboration with ERDIE – University of Geneva. The aim of the course was to promote dialog, share knowledge and empower participants to make a sustainable contribution to the promotion of human rights through education. The program included a variety of sessions, workshops and roundtables led by renowned experts in the field.
The first day was devoted to understanding how the main international human rights mechanisms work. Experts from the UN such as the OHCHR (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights) or the BIE-UNESCO (International Bureau of Education – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) led various sessions. At the end of the day, the group visited different places in Geneva. The second day’s sessions focused on various aspects of the right to education, covering a variety of topics such as education in emergencies, children’s rights, educational pluralism, and early childhood care, education in the Global South. On the final day, participants had the opportunity to attend a workshop explaining how informal discussions on draft resolutions take place at the UN. The workshop was led by a senior human rights advisor from the Permanent Mission of Israel. This interactive session provided valuable insights into the processes and dynamics involved in shaping international human rights initiatives. The course concluded with a tour of the UN Archives and a visit to the Palais des Nations, the headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva.
The course was attended by civil society representatives as well as master’s students and doctoral students. Based on the positive feedback from participants, we can confirm that they gained valuable insights into the intersection of human rights, education, and sustainability and strengthened their commitment to a world where human rights are respected, quality education is available to all, and sustainability is a priority.
OIDEL hopes to organize a similar training next year.
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