This article gives a brief overview of activities during the UN Decade of Human Rights Education (1995-2004). The author concludes that “…although the UN Decade will be over in 2004 there is little hope that governments will improve their actions towards the fulfilment of their obligations in human rights education. With or without a second UN Decade and a Voluntary Fund for Human Rights Education, the obligations for States will last and the duty to cooperate meaningfully in human rights information will remain. At the end of the UN Decade, a common standard for means, methods and methodology of human rights education will be established and form a permanent basis for all participants within and recipients of human rights education. Enhancement of human rights protection mechanisms has to start at the local and national level and the common denominator is a solid knowledge in human rights. It is therefore increasingly necessary to address the international obligations of public opinion leaders like the media, members of parliaments and other politicians.”
