UN Collegiate Conference on Human Rights

Posted by on March 15, 2010

UN Collegiate Conference on Human Rights
UNCCHR

Date: Friday, April 16, 2010

Premise:  A one day student conference on human rights education involving Philadelphia area colleges and universities. It will contribute to the World Programme on Human Rights Education as developed by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (2005-ongoing).

Location:  Chestnut Hill College/Sorgenti Arena
Audience:  250 students
Title:           “Student Voices for Human Rights”
Keynote Speaker:   Craig Mokhiber Deputy Director/United Nations
Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights
(invited)

Sub Themes:
(1) Educating on the Rights of Children
(2) Fighting Intolerance with Human Rights
(3) Educating on Climate Change and Human Rights
(4) Educating on Gender Equality
(5) Creating Student Ambassadors for Human Rights
(6) Using Information & Communication Technology (ICTs)

To Promote Human Rights Education

Format:  Opening Plenary:  Motivation and final preparation for classroom work on specific Sub themes.  Highlight is videoconference with keynote speaker from the United Nations

Discussion Groups:   Students focus on specific sub theme of their choice to come up with ideas on what THEY can/will do from a personal perspective in dealing with related human rights issues.

Afternoon Plenary: Report on work in Discussion Groups and present their joint statement to UNOHCHR in NY by videoconference.

Program Details
Participating students will become more familiar with how human rights education can be a force for positive change in their world, both locally and globally.  They will work with their peers to learn from each other and will be expected to not just tell others what needs to be done, but will be actively involved themselves in the process.

1.    Discussion boards will be established on each sub theme and students who register could work via the discussion board in their selected area before the conference.

2.    The collected data via the discussion boards is used with a UNCCHR template to develop their Plan of Action during the conference.

3.    Classroom size will not be large, allowing everyone the opportunity to participate.

4.    Everything will be developed by electronic means in their classroom setting and will then be used in the Afternoon Plenary for discussion and voting.

CHCPre Conference Details

1.    Students register via the sponsoring faculty person at each school and select a sub theme.

2.    Students make use of the Discussion Boards via the selected sub themes.

3.    All background resources would be found at http://www.gem-ngo.org and will be emailed to each registrant.

Conference Details
1.    Conference would run from 9:30-3:30PM.
2.    Opening Plenary would be a formal videoconference with the United Nations
3.    Discussion Groups are in a facilitated classroom setting related to sub theme selection.  Students draft a group Plan of Action on their sub theme to present to each other and the United Nations.
4.    Lunch will be basic sandwiches.  A vegetarian option will be provided.
5.    Afternoon Plenary will have students report on their sub theme statement and get an agreement on all of the sub themes.  Final Declaration will be presented to the United Nations and discussed.

Draft Agenda:
9AM                                          Registration
9:30AM                            Morning Plenary
11:00AM                            Discussion Group Work on Selected Sub Theme
12:30 PM                             Lunch
1:30PM                            Afternoon Plenary
3:30PM                            Adjourn