The general idea behind peace and non-violence education is to;

• Promote Non-Violence values and attitudes: autonomy, responsibility, co-operation, creativity and solidarity
• Learn to live together, respecting our differences and similarities
• Develop a co-operative learning based on dialogue and intercultural understanding.
• To adopt non-violence solutions to conflicts and to resolve conflicts-resolution strategies.
• Targeting the children and young people, particularly in the school educational process to integrates peace and non-violence in theory and practice
• Integrating non-violence education in every aspects of learning processes, including curriculum development activities, teacher training and management of the education institutions

Background

The international human rights instruments as well as the guidelines and plan of action for United Nation Decade for Human Rights Education (1995-2004) have addressed the critical importance of human rights education.

Human rights education (HRE) implies learning and practices of human rights. Such education need to adopt a holistic approach, which means that human rights are taught and practised at all level of education system, and are imparted through both content transmission and practical experiences. Therefore, human rights education should not only be theoretical, but should also provide skills and values to promote understanding, tolerance, peace and citizenship.      

Strategies

IISD has been emphasizing to integrate (HRE) in all spheres of education and to real life situations particularly for children and young people. IISD has been conducting awareness programmes, trainings, advocacy and information campaigns to promote and disseminate (HRE). The thrust has been to impart values on human rights and to build permanent capacity, including the training of trainers.

Partnerships and networkings

The Organization has been involving non- governmental organizations, grass-roots organizations, professional associations and interested individuals to realize the goals of human rights education.

Activities

The activities, conducted by IISD to promote human rights education, include;

• Improving the quality of the curriculum by integrating human values for the realization of peace, social cohesion and respect for human rights and human dignity;
• Changing traditional teaching methods in order to make them more participatory and democratic;
• Creating mechanisms to foster co-operation and mutual appreciation among all members of the school community and thus promote better relations between teachers and pupils;
• Ensuring constructive communication and appreciation of diversity, and providing the opportunity to practice respect for human rights through real life examples and activities;
• Involving learners in a participatory teaching and learning process in a dialogue to inculcate the values of human rights as reflected in their social-cultural conditions, rather than making such education in of abstract norms;
• Providing education to promote gender equality and equity to combat gender biases and stereotypes;
• Sensitizing the general public; particularly the young people on the human rights of women, children, elders, minorities, indigenous people, persons in extreme poverty, persons with HIV/AIDS infection and others vulnerable groups; and  
• Imparting skills and knowledge to learners to bring positive attitudinal and behavioural changes for strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The target groups covered through formal and non- formal education; include students, teachers, curriculum developers, community leaders, vulnerable groups, the general public, police, prison officials, lawyers, civil servants, government officials, non- governmental organizations, media and other groups.