OSCE helps regional experts discuss ways to improve human rights education at Vilnius meeting
VILNIUS, 27 April 2009 - Government and civil society experts from Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Russia and Ukraine began a three-day meeting in Vilnius today to discuss improving human rights education for young people.
The meeting, organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) with Lithuania's Ministry of Education and Science, will examine achievements in the area of human rights education to identify good practices that can be replicated in other countries.
"The focus of our support for human rights education is to equip individuals and groups to translate human rights values into action locally and thus strengthen a culture of human rights in society," said Kirsten Mlacak, head of ODIHR's human rights department.
"This meeting is an opportunity to share experiences and practice from civil societies and governments, and to foster partnerships across sectors within countries and across national borders."
The meeting - the first such event in the region bringing together representatives from both EU and non-EU states - is expected to initiate new programmes and partnerships in the field of formal and non-formal human rights education for children and young people.