Empowering youth through human rights education

Commonwealth Youth Human Rights and Democracy Network (CYHRDN), Commonwealth Secretariat, organised a day long workshop on “Empowering Youth through Human Rights Education” in partnership with Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI). The workshop held on March 4, 2017 at ASA University Bangladesh. Around 35 law students from 11 public and private universities of Bangladesh participated in that workshop. The workshop aimed at creating sense of responsibility among young generation towards human rights protection and promotion.

Human Rights Officer from the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office-Bangladesh, law academics from University of Dhaka and ASA University Bangladesh, officials from CHRDN and YHRI, and practicing lawyers conducted sessions on different issues of human rights, youth empowerment and youth engagement.

Professor Dr. Mizanur Rahman, former Chairperson of National Human Rights Commission- Bangladesh addressed at the closing ceremony as a chief guest. During his speech, Professor Mizan said that “human rights are the rights without which one cannot flourish as humans, cannot explore the potentials to the greatest possible extent, and cannot claim to have a life worthy of human dignity.” He added while talking about the education, “Human rights education can empower young generation. This is a timely action to empower youth who can work to promote and protect human rights”.

CYHRDN is currently working in commonwealth countries. Bangladesh is one of the priority areas of this network. It provides a platform for collaboration with young people on important national, regional and global human rights issues. It also strengthens the capacity of young people to engage with their communities, policy-makers and wider stakeholders. This approach reinforces that young people are valuable human resources capable of developing into active citizens and serve as catalysts for change. The network aims to achieve its advocacy and capacity-building objectives through partnerships to contribute to research, policies and programmes. Its priority areas include Disability Rights, Anti-Discrimination and Domestic Violence.

The writer is Member of CYHRDN, Commonwealth Secretariat.