Background
Human Rights Education (HRE) has been referred in a number international human rights instruments; including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Art. 26); the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Art. 13); the Convention of the Rights of the Child (Art. 28); and, most recently, the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (Section D, paras 78-82). These instruments as well as the "Guidelines for National Plans of Action for Human Rights Education", developed by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in the framework of the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education (1995-2004), provide a clear definition of the concept of human rights education.

The human rights education may be defined as learning, training and information dissemination to build up a universal culture of human rights though acquisition of knowledge and skills as well as moulding the values and attitudes. The broad goals of human rights education include;

• strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;
• full development of the human personality and human dignity;
• promotion of understanding, tolerance, gender equality and friendship among all the groups, communities and sectors; particularly among the vulnerable religious and linguistic groups; and
• enabling of all persons to participate effectively in a free society.

Strategies
SANKALP has been adopting “Guidelines for National Plans of Action for Human Rights Education” to promote human rights education. SANKALP’S human rights education programmes and campaigns include three interdependent dimensions of human rights. These dimensions are;

• knowledge( provision of information about human rights and mechanisms for their protection);
• values, beliefs and attitudes( promotion of a human rights culture through the development of values, beliefs and attitudes, which uphold human rights); and
• action (programmes to defend human rights and prevent human rights abuses).

Programmes of Action
The plans and programmes, proposed by the international human rights instruments and declarations, have been appropriately replicated by SANKALP to foster education in and for human rights as a fundamental human right. These actions for human rights education include;

• promotion of respect for protection of all human rights through educational activities for all members of society;
• fostering interdependence, indivisibility and universality of human rights; including civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights, and the right to development;
• recognizing women's rights as an integral part of universal human rights;
• underlining the importance of human rights education for democracy, sustainable development, rule of law, environment and peace;

Recognizing the role of human rights education as a prime strategy for the prevention of human rights violations;

• encouraging analysis of chronic and emerging human rights problems to find out solutions, consistent with human rights standards;
• fostering knowledge of and skills to use global, regional, national and local human rights instruments and mechanisms for the protection of human rights;
• empowering communities, groups and individuals to identify their human rights needs and to ensure that they are respected;
• developing pedagogies that include knowledge, critical analysis and skills for action furthering human rights;
• promoting research and development of educational materials to sustain the universal principle of human rights; and
• fostering learning environments that encourage participation, enjoyment of human rights and the full development of the human personality.

Target groups
SANKALP has been prioritizing its efforts in covering multi-sectoral groups for its human rights education. These groups include;

• school sector (children; teachers; curriculum developers and education personnel);
• Organisations and groups (non- governmental Organisations; grass-roots Organisations; women’s Organisations; indigenous peoples; minority groups; trade unions; development agencies; business community; workers' and employers' Organisations; community leaders; groups with a special interest in social justice issues; and opinion –makers);
• key professional groups (social workers; medical practitioners; lawyers; and media and journalists);
• administration of justice officials ( law enforcement personnel; including police and prison officers);
• governmental officials ( officials involved in drafting of legislation and developing implementation policies; education officials, associated with curriculum design; and officials of the law and justice departments)
• others(rural and urban poor, especially women; migrant workers; other vulnerable people, such as people with HIV/AIDS infection, persons with disabilities/special abilities, persons in extreme poverty, and aged; prisoners and those under detention; and the general public).

As the human rights education concerns the entire society, SANKALP has been adopting a multi-pronged approach, with multi sectoral coverage of the target groups. The Organisation has been building networks and practical alliances among the concerned individuals, groups and institutions to promote human rights education.