EIP India had conducted the three days National training session on Human Rights and Peace Education at Nagpur, India from 18th to 20th October 2002. The Participants were from all over India..79 participants attended the training session. They were teachers from primary to secondary schools and few NGO members who are active in the field of Human Rights and Peace. The participants came from Jammu & Kashmir to Kerala and from Nagaland to Rajasthan. The language of working was English and Hindi.

The resource persons were from University Professors from Law Faculty, and the Principal of Education Institutes. The dignitaries attended the inauguration were Minister of Education Of Our State, Maharashtra. Our Ex-Mayor Lady and Education officer.

This was the Ist of its kind of training session for the teachers on Human Rights and peace teaching. It was very much appreciated by the dignitaries and media. In today’s scenario it was thought to be the necessary session for spreading of Human Rights and peace.Dr. Nalini Kurvey, President EIP, India talked about the idea of this training session. She explained to the participants about working of EIP and CIFEDHOP, how and why it was founded, the role of EIP in Human Rights and peace education throughout the world.

After the inauguration the first session conducted by Dr. Rajkhowa , who has given the detailed information on the need and origin of Human Rights Declaration. From ancient times to the Day of Universal Declaration, he gave the comprehensive account of Human Rights. After that he told about the articles in details citing examples and giving the salient features of each of the article. This was to make the participants fully aware of the Human Rights in general.

After the deliberation next part was of the workshop. This helped the participants to understand the Human Rights. And felt the necessity to teach and practice Human Rights. The participants were divided in groups and discussed among themselves the questionnaire given to them. With the help of Human Rights Declaration copy, provided in the information pack, they studied the topics and got Knowledge about the Human Rights.

Seconds session conducted by Dr. Bhandarkar. He told about the necessity of Human rights Teaching and described in detail with transparencies the methodology of teaching Human Rights. He enlightened the teachers on the simple methods by which the Human Rights can be taught in schools. How with little change in attitude the subject can be inculcated in the young mind.

After this the participants were divided in groups and asked to find out the difference in traditional teaching methods and the interaction, method.

Next came the part in the workshop, by which they have to identify the difficulties in adopting the interactive methods. The participants came out with some facts, which should be taken, into account in changing the methods. But at the same time due to number of students in the classroom and lack of adequate space for the activities for students, many were finding it difficult to practice the interactive methods. Still they wee thinking on adopting the methodology whenever possible.

Third session was conducted by Dr. Mahabal.Through story telling he showed the participants how the subject Human Rights can be taught to the students. After narrating the story he asked the participants to brainstorm about the characters and happenings in the story and they were made to think about the Human rights, which got violated, in that particular story. Similarly the participants gave consideration and importance of the Rights of the each member of the family and society. How the actions and behavior of the parents helps in shaping the future of the child was shown with the help of the story.

Dr, Rajkhowa gave detail information on the Convention on the rights of Child. He narrated how the child rights were violated through out the world and how the whole world adopted the bill without singling nation going against it. The necessity of child friendly school was stressed. After that in the workshop, teachers were asked to note down the rights which are violated in the schools and what steps could be taken to form the child friendly school.

The Human security was added the Human Rights in recent years and Dr. Balkrishna Kurvey talked on the idea of human security and why it was incorporated in Human rights.By describing the role of UN, and other agencies he told the participants that these agencies are working for peace. through conferences and meetings these agencies are always coming out with better possibilities.

Mr. Fadnaik talked on the discrimination in Indian society from the Ancient times and there were some rights for the people and how these were later on got changed the whole system to this present caste and religions. According to the profession of the person the caste system was started but it was possible for the people to change the profession. In earlier times which got thrusted upon them in coming years.

In the workshop on the discrimination the participants came out with some facts and few things where discrimination is necessary.

In the concluding session Dr. Nalini Kurvey thanked the participants and requested them to practice and spread the Human Rights teachings. Certificate of participation were handed over to the participants.

Dr. Nalini Kurvey

President EIP India