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Human Rights and Peace Education Workshop
for Language Teachers of the South Region
Lycée Classique et Moderne
Ebolowa, December 10, 2008
Remarks by Richard M. Johannsen, Public Affairs Officer
The Regional Delegate for Basic Education,
The National Inspector of English in Charge of Promotion of Bilingualism in the Ministry of Secondary Education,
The Principal of Lycée Classique et Moderne,
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,
I am delighted to be here today to participate in the opening of this workshop organized to commemorate International Human Rights Day and the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
I would like to thank Mrs. Catherine Moto Zeh for inviting us to be part of this important event which, as you know, has been sponsored by a grant of 600,000 fcfa from the Public Affairs Section at the Embassy of the United States of America in Yaounde. Accompanying me today from the Embassy is Jean-Pierre Ghonda, the Director of the Embassy’s Information Resource Center.
The United States Embassy is happy to join the international community, the Government of Cameroon and civil society organizations in commemorating the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948, a declaration that recognizes the human rights and fundamental freedoms endowed at birth to all human beings.
In spite of the remarkable progress observed all over the world since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, cases of human rights abuses still abound. This is an indication that we have to work continuously to make sure that these rights are known, understood and enjoyed by everyone.
Human rights abuses are often a result of ignorance. This is why human rights education is critical if the great promise of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is to be fulfilled.
In this global endeavor, teachers can and should play a very important role.
The knowledge the younger generation has about human rights, and the level of commitment they show in protecting these rights, depend to a certain extent on the way they are taught about this fundamental human value.
This means that any society that hopes to achieve greater respect for human dignity must teach human rights in schools.
However, in a context marked by over-crowded classrooms, ill-motivated students and teachers, and overloaded curriculum, teaching human rights can be a challenging task.
Through the two-day workshop that begins here today, I hope you will better acquaint yourselves with the international legal instruments that ensure the promotion and protection of human rights. I also hope that this workshop will spark discussions on how to effectively make human rights information part of your routine classroom activities and practices.
It is our hope that at the end of this workshop, in addition to continuing being excellent teachers, you will be skillful human rights defenders ready to help translate the ideal of the Universal Declaration of Human rights into a living reality.
Thank you again to Ms. Moto Zeh for organizing this workshop, congratulations to all of the participants on your attendance, and I wish you an educational and productive two days together.