The Human Rights Cities initiative is based on the conviction that for international human rights norms and standards to be effective, citizens of all countries must adopt human rights as a holistic framework that guides their lives. As a result of learning about and reflecting on human rights, people will participate more in the decisions that determine their lives, giving momentum to a process to achieve sustainable human, economic and social development. Human rights education's strategic importance to sustainability was emphasized in the Plan of Action of the Decade for Human Rights Education (1995-2004) adopted by the UN General Assembly. Human rights education highlights the normative and empirical power of human rights as a tool in individual and collective efforts to address inequalities, injustices and abuses at home, in the work place, in the streets, prisons, courts, and more. Even in "democratic" societies, citizens and policy-makers must learn to understand human rights, the obligations and the responsibilities, which they entail in a holistic and comprehensive way. They must learn to monitor and enforce human rights effectively and efficiently.

Activities in the Human Right Cities are to be publicized throughout their country, expecting to radiate knowledge, increase the adoption of the human rights framework, and serve as a model for progressive democratic life and good governance. This process helps to overcome the fact that most people for whom human rights have been ratified are not familiar or know how to use them to fulfill their hopes and aspirations for a better life.

At the RLIHREs on-going workshops and field work will introduce community workers to a wide number of subjects such as international financing, political economy, psychology, sociology, cultural diversities, human rights and human rights education for social transformation with a special focus on gender issues, engaging them in developing a new vocation: Human Rights Community Educators.

Participants will learn, share, and develop practical methodologies and strategies for extending and promoting human rights education in their own countries. Returning to their countries, the trainees will work with their organization to integrate programs of human rights education in their activities. They will develop comprehensive ongoing national plans for methodical outreach to diverse sectors of society. It is expected that through a ripple effect, new political leadership guided by the human rights framework will emerge.

Following the establishment of the four RLIHREs, the Board of Directors of PDHRE, at its last meeting in June 2001, analyzed the gaps and needs in the international arena regarding in-depth training about the human rights framework and its relevance to human, social and economic development and human security. Further discussed was the imperative of developing human resources committed to promote the understanding and integration of the human rights framework in policy discussions and international program development. The Board also noted the numerous requests from Missions to the UN and international organizations to learn about the relevance of the human rights framework in their national and international policies and resource development. The Board has decided to establish an International Learning Institution for Human Rights Education in New York City.

1. World report on Human Rights Education for Social Transformation " Making the Connection" has been finally completed and being brought to publication and presentation to the UN.
2. Resource Packet for special interest groups at their request such as Indigenous People, Rio Plus 10 ; Sustainable Development ; special women issues.
3. Call for justice: Resource Packet of Governments Commitment and obligation on 23 issues and groups. .
4. Publishing Concept paper on Human Rights Education and Sustainable Development for the WSSD.
5. "Passport to Dignity"-Connecting the 12 strategic issues of the Beijing Plan of Action now published and in circulation.
6. A Brochure on Building Partnership for Human Rights Cities.

• Provided ongoing resource and referral service on human rights education to many groups around the world especially our video training materials.
• On going networking with peers
• Establishing solid relationship with UNDP – United Nations Development Program, that had adopted the Human Rights Cities Program and prepared with the regional affiliates of a three year development program.

• Members of the Board continued their advocacy for the inclusion of Human Rights Education as a strategy for Human Security in the agendas of the Human Security Network, HSN, a 12 Foreign Ministers initiative. Members of the Staff of have participated in these high level meeting with the ministers in Chile and Vienna and succeeded in convincing the HSN to plan a special Ministerial meeting on HRE in Graz Austria in 2003.
• Advocated the inclusion of Human Rights Education in the document prepared for the WSSD.

We continue with our fund raising effort to support the vision of mass learning in human rights across all sectors of society, to enable building the institutions and Cities that will propagate in practical terms the vision of Decade of Human Rights Inc.

In all these efforts the special focus on the issues of human rights and women if fully integrated. We are working to reach women and men in grassroots communities around the world to encourage them to work together as equal partners…--so that women join in

making the decision that determine their lives and the life of the community. It is clear to the Board and staff pf Decade of Human Rights Inc. that we are clearly on the way to achieve our goals.

INSGENAR -INSTITUTO DE GENERO, DERECHO Y DESARROLLO- (Now PPDHRE Latin America regional Office)

The Institute of Gender, Law and Development in Rosario Argentina, promotes women's rights through law and policy reform and works to bring about the domestic application of international human rights norms for the achievements of women’s rights. The institute conducts on-going seminars and training on cultural, civil, economic, political and social human rights from a gender perspective, and promotes advocacy and action on these issues as related to women’s lives.

YUVA -YOUTH UNITY FOR VOLUNTEER ACTION – (Now PDHRE South Asian Regional Office.)

YUVA, based in Mumbai and Nagpur, India, is dedicated to educating and empowering street children and developing advocacy and policy on the issue of child labor. Over the years it has worked with more then 40,00 children, training youth to develop self-help educational programs, support groups, and hotlines on issues of heath and child labor. It also conducts training for marginalized groups such as the Dalit people in slum areas, focusing on systemic change towards poverty alleviation with a special focus on women’s issues in these communities.

TOSTAN (The African Regional Office which is being developed in Mali By Adama Samssekou will collaborate with TOSTAN, which is also developing a human rights city in Thies.)

TOSTAN works in the rural areas of Senegal, often in partnership with UNICEF, holding training and training of trainers workshops on the human rights of women and children. It focuses on the rights to health and education, which have led to villages –women, men and religious leaders declaring an end to Female Genital Cutting. It is also training facilitators from various West African countries to develop culturally sensitive strategies and methodologies for human rights education at the village level. TOSTAN is also developing unique human rights training manuals for illiterate people in collaboration with the people of the community.

The Human Rights City, Kati, was inaugurated in December 10, 2000 with the assistance of members of the other three HR Cities. Kati will serve as a place for field work for the Regional effort of human rights education.

PDHRE – Mali/Africa was recently established in Bamako, Mali. For the past three years, PDHRE International, in consultation with representatives of government and civil society, has been instrumental in initiating a national HRE program entitled: From the Korukon Fuka to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - Mali a Human Rights Nation. President Alpha Oumar Konare officially sanctioned the program.

PDHRE – Mali/Africa is now in the process of developing the infrastructure of the RLIHRE and make the vision of "Human Rights Nations" a reality for the People of Africa.

The leadership of the organization is composed of several of the original members who have actively participated in creating the national initiative. Mr. Adama Samassekou, until recently Minister of Basic Education has been named director of PDHRE Mali and will be responsible for establishing ALIHRE.

Responsible for developing human rights cities and the regional learning program . Developing curriculum for the regional learning, women’s rights and special focus programmes. Assisting trainees in developing pedagogy and methodology in learning seminars. Networking with government agencies, civil society, community-based organizations, UN specialized agencies field offices in the region.

The People's Movement for Human Rights Education (PDHRE) / NY Office
Shulamith Koenig / Executive Director
526 West 111th Street, New York, NY 10025, USA
tel: +1 212.749-3156; fax: +1 212.666-6325
e-mail: pdhre@igc.apc.org