Rosario: Human Rights City
Human Rights Cities Program
Human Rights Cities Program
The Program “Human Rights Cities” has been fostered by the People’s Movement for Human Rights Education (PDHRE) in different places around the world and has the approval of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
Created in 1989, PDHRE is a non-governmental organization responsible for the Declaration of the Decade of Education of the United Nations, which lasted from 1995 to 2004.
In the words of its founder, Shulamith Koenig, “imposed ignorance is a human rights violation in itself, and I sustain that the fundamental change could only be attained if every human being was aware that he or she is a human rights owner, that everybody should be human rights educators, monitors and driving forces from generation to generation.” Consequently, the first requisite to be able to exercise a right is to know it.
Activities & Accomplishments since July of 1997
- Capacitation seminars on Human Rights to members of the police force of the province of Santa Fe and to trainers and directors of various levels of the system of education. Read more...
- Organization of tribunals centered on the violation of the Human Rights of Girls. Read more...
- Production of three short videos dealing with the rights of children. Read more...
- Seminar on city security.
- Held various contests, one of which consisted in the paraphrasing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for children in primary schools, another, directed towards middle school students, paraphrased CEDAW. Read more...
Situation of Rosario
Some facts about the city:
- Rosario is located in the province of Santa Fe in Argentina and lies 300 km north of Buenos Aires. It has a population of 1 million people. The population consists of Native people and a descendants of immigrants from all over the world, especially from Spain and Italy, who arrived sailing up the Parana river which borders its coast.
- Its development has been a result of vigorous port activity. Its port is a receiver of grain coming from the surrounding rich and humid "pampa" region. Its development is also due to the establishment of a large number of industries located on the city's outskirts.
Coordinating Committee
Rosario, Human Rights City Program has the support of the Municipality of Rosario and the Government of the province of Santa Fe. The project's strength lies within its design and the participatory methods used in its undertaking. This participatory framework is driven by an ensemble of institutions who have been working together for the past 5 years and constitute the Coordinating Committee, which will gradually grow until it becomes representative of the whole of Rosario's society.
The coordinating committee of Rosario, Human Rights City is presently made up of:
- INSGENAR Gender, Law and Development Institute
Activities & Accomplishments
- Capacitation seminars on Human Rights to members of the police force of the province of Santa Fe and to trainers and directors of various levels of the system of education.Read more...
- Organization of tribunals centered on the violation of the Human Rights of Girls. Read more...
- Production of three short videos dealing with the rights of children. Read more.
•Seminar on city security.
•Held various contests, one of which consisted in the paraphrasing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for children in primary schools, another, directed towards middle school students, paraphrased CEDAW. Read more...
A Brief History
Since 1997, INSGENAR, in conjunction with PDHRE (People's Movement for Human Rights Education), has been developing activities to promote Rosario as a Human Rights City, in the framework of the UN Decade for Human Rights Education.
The plan of action was based on the collaboration of diverse institutions in the community which are all committed to promoting respect for Human Rights, equity and peace.
On July 30th, 1997 more than 35 institutions (including organizations representing Human Rights, indigenous groups, sexual diversity groups, academic interests, development work groups, and the Women's Movement) signed a proclamation of their commitment, called the Act of Commitment, to build a human rights community in Rosario. The group gathered and signed this Act at Rosario's City Hall in the presence of the president of PDHRE, Shulamith Koenig.
