Every HUMAN has RIGHTS...
...all must know and own human rights as a way of life
International Consortium for Learning Human Rights As a Way of Life.
MISSION STATEMENT – The Organizing Committee
We the undersigned have come together to form an ‘International Consortium for
Learning Human Rights as a Way of Life.’ The Consortium heeds the United Nations
call that ‘civil society must play an important role at the national, regional and
international levels in the development and facilitation of ways and means to promote
and implement learning about human rights as a way life at the community level’. 1 It is
our duty to take this call from the political arena to the public square so that civil society
organizations worldwide, particularly those working at the community level, will engage
in the continuing effort for all to learn, know, own and act upon human rights as a way of
life.
This Consortium strengthens the emerging global movement for human rights learning
whereby ‘every woman, man, youth and child can realize his or her full human potential
by learning about the comprehensive framework of human rights and fundamental
freedoms, including the ability to act on that knowledge and ensure the effective
realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all’.2
Human rights learning generates loyalty to humanity transcending our particular
allegiances to gender, race, creed, colour, national origin, or political opinion as well as
the differences in sexual orientation, age, religion, culture, nationality, educational level,
health status, family situation, wealth or other identities. In short, human rights are
based on equal respect for all humanity. By learning how human rights affect daily life,
we all work together to realize our full civil, cultural, economic, political and social
human rights.
We believe human rights learning at the community level will enable women and men to
plan programs guaranteeing human security and full participation in cultural life, while
improving access to food, clean water, housing, education, healthcare and decent work,
as well as freedom of assembly, association and expression. By learning that human
rights is a way of life, important moral, political and legal benefits are available for all to
claim through self- empowerment and citizen action.
/2
1 UN General Assembly Resolution 64/82 on the ‘Follow up to the International Year of Human Rights Learning’, of
10 December 2009.
2
Ibid. para. 1
We strive to create a society where all citizens pledge to build a community based on
equality and non-discrimination. All women and men will take an active part in decision-
making guided by the human rights framework; overcoming fear, impoverishment, and
the forfeiture of their dignity. Through human rights learning, people use dialogue and
systemic analysis as powerful tools for action to manage their lives.
Human rights learning contributes to a strategy for development based on social
responsibility, the fulfilment of basic human needs and democratic participation in the
decisions that affect people’s lives. It provides a framework to overcome the
environmental, economic and political disparities in their communities and to achieve
human security and equality without prejudice.
Action-oriented human rights learning puts into practice the universality, indivisibility,
interconnectedness and interrelatedness of human rights, constantly reaffirmed but
rarely translated into action. Through dialogue, interaction and learning, we not only
reduce violations of human rights but contribute to broader realization of economic and
social justice by harnessing the energies of all to develop a shared and inclusive global
culture of human rights.
Join us in our call to realize human rights learning as a dynamic and powerful force
able to fulfil the promise of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that every
individual and every organ of society shall strive to promote respect for these rights and
freedoms’. Guided by the holistic vision and practical mission of a fully comprehensive
human rights framework, all will know human rights as a moral imperative
The Organizing Committee - pdhre@igc.org