Human Rights Education as Part of the Peace Process in Northern Ireland

• Main Authors: Ulrike Niens, Jackie Reilly, Alan Smith
• Format: Article
• Language: deu
• Published: Bielefeld University 2006-01-01
• Series: Journal of Social Science Education
• Online Access: http://www.jsse.org/index.php/jsse/article/view/376

In a society emerging from decades of political conflict, the role of human rights education in Northern Ireland is of particular importance as a tool to preventing violent conflict and to promoting a culture of peace. More generally, a rights-based approach to education might refer to three dimensions; access to education, educational content and educational processes. This article aims to explore the effectiveness of a specific human rights education project that has been piloted in Northern Ireland's post-primary schools as an example of a project that addresses educational content and processes in a flexible manner. Conclusions are drawn relating to factors facilitating the successful development of a rights-based approach to education and of human rights education projects.