Recordings of plenary sessions from the 2009 International Institute on Peace Education.

The International Institute on Peace Education (IIPE) 2009 was held from July 26 to August 2 in Budapest, Hungary. The institute, attended by nearly 70 participants, was co-organized by the IIPE secretariat and the EJBO Foundation with the support and sponsorship of UNESCO and the Center for Nonviolence and Democratic Education of the University of Toledo, Ohio.

Thematic Exploration
IIPE 2009 explored the theme of “Human Rights Learning as Peace Education: Pursuing Democracy in a Time of Crisis.” Human rights learning, as facilitated by peace educators is critical, participatory and learner centered. It is intended to prepare learners to work toward the transformation of the existing order of violence and injustice into a world social system based upon the principle of universal human dignity. This principle of human dignity underlies all human rights concepts and norms and is at the core of human rights learning (HRL). HRL emphasizes modes of critical thinking and self reflection that are necessary for internalizing the essential principles of human rights, enabling individuals and communities to become agents of change (PDHRE).

Such critical thinking is essential to participatory democracy. “Strong democracy” (Barber) is based upon a positive conception of liberty dependent upon self-determination, equality, deliberation and direct participation in the political decisions that affect our personal and social lives (Snauwaert). The realization of human rights can be seen as the necessary conditions and core values of participatory democracy and positive peace. Educating for critical thinking and democracy would include questioning policy that deprives or denies any individual or group of any of their fundamental human rights. Such inquiry is a key process of peace education pedagogy.

The world is now seized by multiple, complex economic and political crises. Many of the policies and political decisions that have contributed to these crises have been justified as furthering “democracy.” The global economic crisis can be attributed in large part to the decisions and behaviors of a minority of the human family who control the world’s resources and act in short-term self-interest at the expense of the majority and the biosphere. The political crises stem from similar origins, the policies and strategies of those who wield state power without regard to universal human rights

Descriptions of Plenary Sessions

PLENARY A: Human Rights and Democracy in Times of Crisis

Janet Gerson (USA)
MODERATOR

Dale Snauwaert (USA)
HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY: AN ETHICAL AND POLITICAL FRAMEWORK FOR PEACE EDUCATION

Eva Borbelyne Nagy (Hungary)
LOSERS AND WAYS OUT OF THE CRISIS TIME IN THE NEW DEMOCRACY IN HUNGARY

Armene Modi (India)
ACCESS TO BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS AND EDUCATION: VILLAGE WOMEN IN INDIA

PLENARY B: Transcending Culture and Conflict - Incorporating Children’s Human Rights

Barbara Barnes (USA)
MODERATOR

Éva Blénesi (Hungary)
PEACE PLAYGROUND CREATIVE PARTNERSHIPS: HUMAN RIGHTS, PEACE EDUCATION AND CULTURAL PRACTICE FOR ROMA, NON-ROMA CHILDREN AND ADULTS

Gloria María Abarca Obregon (Mexico)
YOU CANNOT GIVE SOMETHING YOU DO NOT HAVE: INCORPORATING RIGHTS OF THE CHILD INTO TEACHER TRAINING EDUCATION IN MEXICO

Benard Kurgat (Kenya)
BALANCING VALUES, NORMS AND COMMUNITY STRUCTURE: CHILDREN’S RIGHTS IN KENYA

PLENARY C (Public Plenary): Regional Struggles in Educating for Human Rights and Peace: Critical and Practical Issues

Welcome
Eva Borbelyne Nagy (Hungary)
Foundation for Human Rights and Peace Education

Dale Snauwaert (USA)
MODERATOR

Ghassan Abdallah (Palestine)
EDUCATION AS A MATTER OF SUSTAINABLE JUST PEACE

Sakena Yacoobi (Afghanistan)
EDUCATING FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEACE IN AFGHANISTAN

Colins Imoh (Nigeria)
'HUMANITARIAN' COMPENSATION AND ITS EFFECT IN THE STRUGGLE FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE IN THE NIGER DELTA

PLENARY D: Educating for Political Dimensions: Dilemmas in Understanding Human Rights and Democracy

Son Ninsri (Thailand)
MODERATOR

Francesco Argenio Benaroio (Italy)
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR MIGRATION: THE ILO APPROACH

Cecilia Deme (Romania)
THE VICIOUS CIRCLE OF POVERTY: CONDITIONS, DIMENSIONS, POLICIES AND PRACTICES

Janet Gerson (USA)
WHO'S ACCOUNTABLE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS? THE WTO AS A SUPRANATIONAL CHALLENGE

PLENARY E: Applying Learning and Planning for Action

Tony Jenkins (USA)
MODERATOR

Jasmin Nario-Galace (Philippines)
DOING WHAT WE TEACH: SOME IDEAS FOR THE ACADEMIC-ADVOCATES

Saima Anwer (Pakistan / Gulshan)
MINORITY RIGHTS: EMPOWERING INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES

Paula Andrea Ramírez Diazgranados (Colombia)
RECOGNIZING ONESELF AND OTHERS: BODY LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION

Other Files

Hungarian Folk and World Music Singer Palya Bea entertains and conducts a sign along with the IIPE

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