Transformative Learning for Human Rights
How can learning about human rights as a way of life, through all sectors of society, be best introduced and used for effective economic and social transformation to affirm dignity and achieve justice and equality?
The momentum for the Transformative Learning for Human rights (TLHR) project came from a retreat convened in 2007 by Equalinrights with People's Movement for Human Rights Learning - PDHRE - on human rights learning for economic and social transformation in Graz, Austria. Participants explored, debated and generated concrete insights on methodologies, and pedagogies for changing the consciousness of people everywhere. The discussions went further to explore how to understand and use Human Rights to stimulate effective engagements. As a result , participants (from six continents, representing almost twenty countries and from diverse fields) agreed to a series of follow-up proposals. Amongst them, to stimulate learning and devolve action to various country level contexts; focusing on how to strengthen the transformative potentials of human rights and learning around human rights as a way of life. Further sharing and learning within and outside country level contexts was pointed out as a way to deepen the understanding and use of transformative learning for effective social, personal and economic transformation.
If you would like to share your thoughts and experiences on this issue, visit the Transformative Learning page on the Equalinrights Wiki.
Current Programme
In light of established relationships from the retreat and activism of partners in Kenya, Equalinrights assisted in setting up a national process around some of the issues that were explored at the retreat. In November 2008, a first sharing and exchange meeting took place in Nairobi to explore the potential, power and practice of transformative learning for human rights in Kenya. This resulted in an action research process to explore where and how transformation is happening, to identify how to build on these opportunities, and to enhance the transformative capacity of Human Rights Based Development work (HRBD).This process commenced in October 2009 with six organizations. Similar national processes in Brazil and India are being explored currently to mirror the Kenya process and to provide contextual diversity around the issues of transformative learning for human rights.
The goal of each national process is to deepen understanding and application of HRBD practice in different contexts, and thus draw parallels and make comparisons between them.
In order to achieve this, the TLHR programme specifically aims to:
- Deepen understanding of how transformation for human rights takes place through critical reflection, capacity development on identified needs around transformative learning and HRBD, trialing innovative methodologies, documentation and dialogue
- Strengthen local capacity of HRBD practitioners to develop and facilitate transformative processes within their organisations and programmes
- Increase awareness and visibility of the potential of TLHR in the HRBD field
Outputs
Outputs from each process will centre around case studies and reflective documentations of practices and methodologies, including insights and learnings on how transformation for human rights takes place. Action research methods will integrate learning and insights from these back into various programmes being worked on by partners. Once a method is agreed between different practitioners,it is envisaged that resources on transformation for HRBD practice will be developed and disseminated.Equalinrights’ role amongst many others is to identify organisations interested in collaborating on this initiative, and to assist in setting up an action research and connecting people to share learning and jointly develop documentation, practice and resources. Each component of the research will be designed to mutually feed into the others in an ongoing cycle of learning for transformative change.
Current participating organisations in Kenya are:
- The Institute of Social Ministry, Catholic University of Eastern Africa
- Plan International Kenya
- Equalinrights
- Community Organization Programme Trust
- Miss Koch
- Kituo Cha Sheria
- Pamoja Trust
The programme is legally hosted by the Kenya Human Rights Commission.
Pre-retreat
- Background paper for the retreat: Awakening the Power of Human Rights Learning- Moving from Theory to Action
- Click here for An overview of Retreat Participants‘ Responses with compiled responses attached(These were responses to pre-retreat questions posed for in-depth reflection by participants)
The retreat
