A/HRC/41/24
it targets groups based on their identity, is an important early warning sign of atrocity
crimes.
42.
The Human Rights Council has on several occasions emphasized the important role
that education, including human rights education, can play in genocide prevention and has
encouraged Member States to promote educational programmes and projects that contribute
to the prevention of genocide.8 The General Assembly has also urged Member States to
develop educational programmes that will inculcate future generations with the lessons of
the Holocaust in order to help prevent future genocides. 9 The Security Council has
emphasized the particular importance of all forms of education in order to prevent the
commission of future genocides.10
43.
Teaching and learning about past instances of genocide or other atrocity crimes also
contributes to the implementation of target 4.7 of Sustainable Development Goal 4 on
quality education to ensure that all learners are provided with the knowledge and skills to
promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for
promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of
cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.
44.
Despite the important role of education and awareness-raising, and although atrocity
crimes are being committed or constitute a serious risk in several regions of the world, there
is still a big gap in initiatives that focus specifically on atrocity prevention.
A.
State educational programmes to prevent genocide and other atrocity
crimes
45.
Through their ministries of education, several States implement programmes for
human rights education in schools. As respect for human rights is at the core of prevention
of genocide and other atrocity crimes, these programmes contribute in general to national
atrocity prevention efforts. 11 However, as demonstrated by the Framework of Analysis for
Atrocity Crimes, there are elements specific to the risk of those crimes that merit the
inclusion of an atrocity prevention lens into broader human rights curricula. Such a lens
should focus on how to combat racism and promote respect for diversity, and how to
counter bigotry and persecution and acquire an ethical commitment to act when rights are
violated. In Czechia, the Government has implemented the “Hate-free culture” project to
share information and the views of victims and perpetrators of hate crimes in order to spark
public discussion and draw attention to this problem. In Australia, the history of the
Holocaust is part of the curriculum in a large proportion of Australian schools. The
Australian Government recently funded a pilot Holocaust Memorial Week in a small
number of Australian schools that included raising awareness on the broader concept of
genocide and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
46.
Several States are also participating in international and regional educational
networks. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance is a State-led network for
holocaust education, remembrance and research that brings together Governments and
experts. The Alliance supports the development of school curricula that address genocide
and informs government officials and civil society about initiatives for genocide
prevention. Several States have incorporated information about the Holocaust in their
school curricula based on this network. Civil society has also supported States’ initiatives to
incorporate prevention of genocide and other atrocity crimes into education programmes
and projects.
47.
In addition to school- and university-level educational initiatives, Member States are
implementing educational programmes on international human rights law and international
8
9
10
11
10
Resolutions 7/25, 22/22 and 28/34.
Resolution 60/7.
Resolution 2150 (2014).
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has been implementing the
World Programme for Human Rights Education since 2005.
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