A/HRC/15/28
trainees. Professional groups need to know not just what human rights are, but also
how to apply them in real life situations. Training content should, therefore, be
designed around the functions of the professional group and how to apply human
rights in the performance of them, also focusing on human rights issues which
would more likely be encountered by the specific profession; 27
(iii)
Participatory and sensitizing training techniques
Training programmes should feature a variety of creative and participatory adult
training techniques to secure active involvement by the learners, including
brainstorming, role playing, group work, case studies, panel discussions and field
trips, possibly with the use of audiovisuals. Well-designed exercises could sensitize
trainees to their own potential for both contributing to behaviour that violates human
rights (e.g. strengthening trainee awareness of gender 28 or racial bias in their own
attitudes or behaviour) and promoting and defending human rights;
(iv)
Peer learning
Much more can be accomplished through a peer-learning approach that features, for
example, the police and the military being trained by their peers as opposed to a
professor-student training model. This approach ensures trainers’ access to the
distinctive professional culture that surrounds each audience. Simultaneously,
practitioner trainers should be accompanied and supported by human rights experts,
thus ensuring that human rights standards are fully and consistently reflected
through the training process. Similarly, international training activities and
exchanges could be promoted among individuals belonging to the same professional
group;
(v)
The role of self-esteem
Adult trainees will bring to the training their own professional expertise and
practical experience that should be both acknowledged and drawn on for the benefit
of training. Trainers should thus seek to establish an atmosphere in which the
exchange of expertise and experience is facilitated, the professional knowledge of
trainees is recognized and professional pride which reflects human rights principles
is encouraged.
(b)
With regard to training content, developing distinct content for civil servants,
law enforcement officials and the military, reflecting their different roles and
responsibilities and institutional/organizational cultures, e.g:
(i)
With regard to civil servants, who may include a broad variety of
professionals (see para. 37 (a) above), human rights training content within this
category would differ substantially. For instance, human rights training for social
27
For instance, States are encouraged to formulate and implement training programmes for law
enforcement, immigration and border officials, prosecutors and service providers, with a view to
sensitizing them to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance (see outcome
document of the Durban Review Conference, para. 75). Officials who work on migration issues or are
in contact with migrant workers and members of their families will need to get acquainted with the
content of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and
Members of Their Families.
28
It is important to note that in para. 24 (b) of its general recommendation No. 19 (1992) on violence
against women, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women stated that
gender-sensitive training of law enforcement officers and other public officials is essential for the
effective implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women.
21
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