Martin Luther King Jr.’s letter from a Birmingham Jail in April, 1963 famously declared that ‘injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’ As we observe Human Rights Day on 10 December this year, our thoughts go not only to human rights achievements and violations in equal measure, but also to the path that needs to be covered to extend human rights to all sections of the community across political or geographical divides. It is a common discourse today that in an increasingly interconnected yet conflict-ridden world, human rights education (HRE) has emerged not just as an academic necessity but as a social imperative.

It represents a powerful tool for building awareness, fostering empathy, and strengthening democratic values. From classrooms and community centres to workplaces and digital spaces, human rights education lays the foundation for a society that recognizes dignity, equality, and justice as non-negotiable principles. Despite the presence of human rights clauses in constitutional frameworks across nations, violations continue to occur daily ~ sometimes due to systemic failures, sometimes due to ignorance. This makes human rights education indispensable, especially in countries with vast social diversity, entrenched inequalities, and rapid transitions such as India.

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At its core, human rights education seeks to make individuals aware of their rights and responsibilities as members of society. It teaches people about the rights guaranteed to them by national constitutions, international conventions, and ethical norms. More importantly, it equips individuals with the skills to identify violations, demand accountability, and advocate for change. This aligns with the broader vision of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training (2011), which underscores education as the primary route for cultivating universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Human rights education is crucial for young people, who will shape the moral and political landscape of the future.

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Introducing such education in school curricula empowers children to understand concepts such as equality, non-discrimination, freedom of expression, and gender justice from an early age. Instead of memorizing rights as abstract listings, students are encouraged to analyze real-life scenarios, debate ethical........

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