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Strasbourg, 14 May 2014DGII/EDU/CIT (2014) OJ 6
Children in vulnerable situations: Making a change through citizenship and human rights education
The 21st meeting of the Council of Europe Network of Coordinators for Education for Democratic Citizenship
and Human Rights Education
Baku, Azerbaijan
20-21 May 2014
Concept and Programme
Programme
20 May 2014:
9.00-9.30Registration
9:30-10:30 Plenary
Chair: Mr Azad AKHUNDOV, EDC/HRE coordinator for the Republic of Azerbaijan
Welcome addresses
- Mr Jeyhun BAYRAMOV, Deputy Minister of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan (10 minutes)
- Mr Sjur BERGAN, Head of the Education Department, Council of Europe (10 minutes)
- Mr Rafael HUSEYNOV, Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (5 minutes)
- Mr Aydin SAFIKHANLY, Head of Staff, Office of the Ombudsperson, Azerbaijan (5 minutes)
- Children in vulnerable situations: Making a change through citizenship and human rights education – Key note speech by Mr David LALLEMAND, on behalf of Mr Bernard DE VOS, Ombudsman for Children, Belgium, and Chairperson of the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (20 minutes)
- Practical information about the meeting (5 minutes)
10.30-11.00 Coffee break
11.00-12.00 Plenary
Moderator: Mr David ADDIS, Journalist
Children in vulnerable situations: Making a change through citizenship and human rights education
- Improving the situation of Roma children through education in the United Kingdom – Mr Arthur IVATTS, Senior Consultant to the British Department for Children, Schools and Families, United Kingdom (10 minutes)
- Discussion (10 minutes)
- Challenging anti-Muslim prejudice and promotion of mutual understanding in multicultural societies through education (10 minutes) – Ms Katarzyna GORAK-SOSNOWSKA, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Warsaw School of Economics, Poland
- Discussion (10 minutes)
- Supporting separated children seeking asylum – Mr Aidan CLIFFORD, Curriculum Development Unit, EDC/HRE coordinator, Ireland (10 minutes)
- Discussion (10 minutes)
12.00-13.30 Lunch break
13.30-15.00Workshop 1: Children in vulnerable situations: Making a change through citizenship and human rights education - current challenges and future priorities (3 parallel groups)
15.30-16.00Coffee break
16.00-18.00Workshop 2: Exchange of information on recent developments in the States Party to the European Cultural Convention in the field of citizenship and human rights education (3 parallel groups)
19.00Dinner hosted by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan
21 May 2014
09.00-10.30
Plenary
Chair: Mr Sjur BERGAN, Head of the Education Department, Council of Europe
- Competences for democratic culture and intercultural dialogue - Education Department, Council of Europe (20 minutes)
Discussion
10.30-11.00 Coffee break
11.00-12.30
Chair: Ms Ivanka MIJIKJ, EDC/HRE coordinator, “The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”
Interactive feedback from the workshops 1 and 2 with Mr David ADDIS (30 minutes)
- European Local Democracy Week - Ms Gaye DOGANOGLU, Political coordinator of the European Local Democracy Week, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (10 minutes)
Discussion (15 minutes)
- Council of Europe Programme on Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights: recent developments and future activities - Ms Yulia PERERVA and Mr Marc HORY, Education Department, Council of Europe (10 minutes)
- How do the Regional Summer Academies "Human Rights in Action and Democracy at School" support the implementation of the Council of Europe Charter on citizenship and human rights education? – Ms Anna PERONA and Mr Lars M. GUDMUNDSON, European Wergeland Center (10 minutes)
Discussion (15 minutes)
12.30-14.00 Lunch break
14.00-15.30Workshop 3: Council of Europe Programme of Activities (3 parallel groups as follows)
- Preparation of the 22nd meeting of the EDC/HRE coordinators, organised in conjunction with the meeting of the Pedagogical Club of the European Capitals
- Publication on curriculum reform for citizenship and human rights education
- How do the Regional Summer Academies "Human Rights in Action and Democracy at School" support the implementation of the Council of Europe Charter on citizenship and human rights education?
15.30-16.00Coffee break
16.00-17.30Plenary
Chair: Ms Sigrid STEININGER, EDC/HRE Coordinator, Austria
Interactive feedback from the workshop 3 with Mr David ADDIS (15 minutes)
Preliminary conclusions of the meeting by Mr François PARAIN, General Rapporteur, EDC/HRE Coordinator, France (20 minutes)
Discussion (35 minutes)
Closing of the meeting:
- Mr Fariz RZAYEV, Director, International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan (10 minutes)
- Mr Villano QIRIAZI, Head of the Education Policy Division, Council of Europe (10 minutes)
18.00 Bus Tour
20.00Dinner at the hotel
The 21st meeting of the Council of Europe Network of Coordinators for Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education (EDC/HRE) is organised in the framework of the 25th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and is held under the auspices of the Republic of Azerbaijan’s Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
The EDC/HRE coordinators are officially nominated representatives of the States Party to the European Cultural Convention for liaison with the Council of Europe in this area. The coordinators hold their annual meetings to share information on the latest developments in their countries, in the Council of Europe and in other international organisations and to discuss cooperation activities organised in the framework of the Council of Europe Programme “Learning democracy and human rights”.
At the 21st meeting of the network special attention will be given to the topics of “Children in vulnerable situations: Making a change through citizenship and human rights education” and the development of competences for democratic culture and intercultural dialogue (follow-up to the Andorran Chairmanship).
Background
The Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2012-2015) points out that “Children are legally entitled to equal enjoyment of their rights, yet in practice, some children are particularly exposed to rights violations, and need special attention and measures to protect them as well as measures to empower them, in particular through access to citizenship and human rights education”. It is proposed to hold the 21st meeting of the network of EDC/HRE coordinators in the framework of the 25th anniversary of the UN Convention on Children’s Rights, with a special focus on children in vulnerable situations (on the first day) and a focus on the topic of the development of competences (on the second day). The discussions and presentations on the first day could include the following issues:
- Who are children in vulnerable situations? Overview of the similarities and differences across the countries
- Why is EDC/HRE important? (1. raising awareness of the majority population of these children’s situation and encouraging action for support and protection of such groups, 2. empowering vulnerable groups for full participation in the life of a democratic society)
- EDC/HRE in classrooms, where there are children in vulnerable situations (ex. ethnic minorities, refugees and internally displaced persons, children with disabilities, children with underprivileged social backgrounds) - challenges and opportunities
- Use of case studies related to children in vulnerable situations in EDC/HRE– possibly with guest speakers from the UNHCR (refugees), Red Cross (children in military conflicts), OSCE/ODIHR (Muslims)
- Recommendations and priorities for future action
The discussions on the 2nd day will be devoted to the development of descriptors on competences for democratic culture and intercultural dialogue (follow-up to the Andorran Chairmanship), as well as other issues related to the on-going cooperation within the network.
Aims and objectives
On the topic of the “Children in vulnerable situations: Making a change through citizenship and human rights education”:
- Explore the current challenges in the States Party to the European Cultural Convention and discuss possible solutions
- Share examples of good practice
- Reflect on priorities for future action
On the topic of “Competences for democratic culture and intercultural dialogue”
- Contribute to the development of a framework for competences for democratic culture and intercultural dialogue
Expected outcomes
- Raised awareness of the situation of children in vulnerable situations
- Conclusions on the role of EDC/HRE in improving the situation of such children
- Improved access to examples of good practice in this area
- Reinforced cooperation with other partner institutions active in this area
- Feedback on the development of a framework for competences for democratic culture and intercultural dialogue
Participants
- EDC/HRE coordinators from the 50 States Party to the European Cultural Convention
- Experts
- Local hosts and participants
Organisers:
- Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan
- Unit for Citizenship and Human Rights Education, Council of Europe
Working languages
- English/French
Date and place
20-21 May 2014, Baku, Azerbaijan
Background documents
- Recommendation CM/Rec(2012)13 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on ensuring quality education
- Council of Europe Charter on Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education (Recommendation CM/Rec(2010)7)
- Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2012-2015)
- Recommendation CM/Rec(2012)2 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the participation of children and young people under the age of 18
- Recommendation CM/Rec(2007)13 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on gender mainstreaming in education
- United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child