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Description
The project aims to develop in young people between 13 and 20 years old skills to actively participate in society and democratic life through learning and awareness processes, providing a formative offer in the area of human rights education for teachers and non-teachers of school clusters, social and community intervention technicians and members of the security forces, promoting human rights campaigns, supporting the creation of youth associations, holding a youth municipal assembly, creating a collaborative platform and making recommendations to local government.
Summary of project results
The project was based on two lines of action for the promotion of human rights: education/training and research/action for human rights. It aimed to foster global citizenship and democratic participation through learning and awareness-raising processes, with a view to valuing human diversity, tolerance, inclusion, non-discrimination and social cooperation. The project was implemented in the municipality of Vila Franca de Xira (on the outskirts of Lisbon) and targeted two main groups (members of the security forces and young secondary school students).
From May 2019 to July 2021, the following targets were defined: 200 young people mobilized for human rights activities, 135 professionals trained, two awareness campaigns, and 90% of the target group informed about human rights. These targets were later increased to 250 youth mobilized by the end of 2020. The project started when the SARS-COV-2 pandemic hit, making it difficult to progress.
Activities included the design and implementation of officially certified human rights education (HRE) programs/training activities for youth, education professionals and security forces. During the pandemic, the project supported students in the Municipal Youth Assembly and produced a policy brief with suggestions for improving the project''s activities. The project also supported the creation of three student associations by incorporating a human rights strategy into their action plans. The youth participants produced a manual systemizing their learning and action experiences. This manual was printed for distribution to the project''s broader strategic target audience (security forces and municipal authorities). Two human rights campaigns were conducted on December 10, 2019 and 2020, mobilizing a total of 265 youths. Both were the result of a participatory process carried out by the young people involved in the HRE program.
Two Council of Europe strategic documents in the field of human rights were translated: Disability Strategy 2017/2023 and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Women''s Rights in Europe.
Finally, a local working group of organizations interested in human rights was created with 17 members: 1 municipal government, 2 parish councils, 4 school groups and 10 NGOs.
In quantitative terms, the following was achieved:
-301 youths mobilised by NGOs to engage in human rights work;
-165 professional staff trained;
-2 awareness raising campaigns carried out;
-92% share of target group showing concern for human rights.
In terms of capacity building, the promoter carried out a needs assessment and prepared an action plan. This led to the development and implementation of an institutional communication plan, a new organizational image, a new logo and a new website. A strategic operational plan was also prepared to improve management practices.
All proposed targets were met and exceeded.