Interdisciplinary Seminar:
Education for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
Convener: Kathy Mumford, Australia

Experience in Teaching Human Rights
Susanna Dehler, Swiss Association Of University Women

I am convinced that the Millennium Development Goals can only be reached if Human Rights, the basis of all the goals, are taught and absorbed all over the world. Since I wrote my certificate paper in adult education about Human Rights education in 2001 I have been teaching the subject to adults (college level/teacher training) and Grammar school level (age group 16 – 20 ). My paper is meant to inform the participants of an interdisciplinary seminar about the complex topic from various angles. As a matter of course education and human security and peace are overlapping in this case.

I will briefly report on my participation in the English-speaking section of the 19th International Training Session on Human Rights and Peace Teaching in Bossey near Geneva, which gave me a valuable theoretical and practical insight into Human Rights and enabled me to complete my paper soon afterwards. Then, after a brief survey of the history of Human Rights, I will inform my audience about my practical experience in teaching HR based on the Declaration of HR of the UN ( 1948 ), particularly dealing with peace and the right to life, food, health, development and well-being, freedom from discrimination, women’s rights and minority rights. I will also mention literature about the topic and include practical advice concerning teaching and the universal rights and values mentioned above. Finally, I will share my latest teaching experience concerning FGM (female genital mutilation) with you and look forward to answering your questions.

Susanna Dehler obtained her MA from Cologne University and her initial teaching qualification from the University of Berne, Switzerland. She has added several specialised teaching qualifications during her career, taught at the Open University and Teachers’ College in Switzerland, and gained international experience in Japan and Canada. She currently teaches at the Gymnasium Seefeld in Thun.