human rights

The recognition of human dignity and equal and inalienable rights for all are the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world.

On December 10, 1948, representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world gathered during the United Nations General Assembly to proclaim the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a common standard document for all peoples and nations, which defines fundamental rights for all human beings.

The problem

Every day, everywhere in the world, many people violate the rights of other human beings and many others accept these violations. Why?

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a Charter but it is not legally binding: each State has incorporated and integrated only some parts into its national constitutions.

The majority of people do not know their rights, do not know how international and national defense instruments work and for this reason they allow the violation of rights in their communities and often, even without knowing it, contribute to their violation.

CoE and youth

The Council of Europe has a specific department dedicated to young people. The Youth Department is part of the Directorate for Democratic Participation within the Directorate-General for Democracy (“DGII”) of the Council of Europe. The Department draws up guidelines, programs, and legal tools for the development of coherent and effective youth policies at local, national, and European levels. It provides funding and educational support for international youth activities aimed at promoting youth citizenship, youth mobility and the values of human rights, democracy and cultural pluralism. It seeks to bring together and disseminate skills and knowledge about life situations, aspirations and ways of expression of young Europeans.

Manuals

Over the years, CoE has developed many practical manuals for the implementation of activities based on non-formal education. One of the main tools for human rights education is the COMPASS, a reference manual for the training of young people based on non-formal education. It is currently available in over 30 languages, from Arabic and Japanese to Icelandic and Basque.

EYF and the EYC

EYF – European Youth Foundation

The Council of Europe’s European Youth Foundation (EYF) provides financial and educational support to European youth activities, with an annual budget of approximately € 3.7 million.

EYC – European Youth Centre

The European Youth Centers (EYC) in Strasbourg and Budapest are permanent structures for the implementation of the Council of Europe’s youth policy. They are international training and meeting centers with residential facilities, hosting the majority of the activities of the youth sector. The professional staff includes a consultancy group that provides educational and technical assistance in preparation, management and follow-up activities. AICEM has carried out activities with the EYF and the Youth Centers: find out which ones!

Our work with Human Rights

What we do in the field of Human Rights and HR Education, following the work and guidelines drawn up by the Council of Europe (CoE), is:

Internal training for our volunteers and employees to learn to respect rights through their everyday work;
Training for children and parents;
Training in collaboration with CoE at national and international level for young leaders, trainers, activists, youth and third sector organizations and for educators and teachers;
Online-offline communication and awareness campaigns;
Awareness raising actions;