An education in Human Rights
Ethiraj College for Women is the only institution in the city offering a full-fledged P.G course in Human Rights and Duties Education.
Human Rights has grown in importance during the 20th century and forms the basis of many important rights enshrined in global conventions. Ethiraj College for Women in Chennai prepares those who would like to work in this area with an academic foundation. A full-fledged PG course on Human Rights is offered by the college. A separate department has been devoted for the course which was started in 2002-03. It has been recognized by the University of Madras in the autonomous
stream.
The importance of human rights education has long been recognised by the international community. The prominence accorded to it at the Vienna World Conference on Human Rights in 1993 and the fact that the United Nations decided to declare a Decade for Human Rights Education are evidence of this.
During the decade, governments, international organizations, national institutions, non-governmental organizations, professional associations, civil society and individuals were asked to establish partnerships and concentrate their efforts on promoting a universal culture of human rights through education, training and public information. But, the necessity for human rights education has been felt only very recently in India. There are not many institutions that offer full-fledged post-graduate courses in this area. Ethiraj College for Women is the only institution in the city offering a full-fledged P.G course in Human Rights and Duties Education.
The University Grants Commission, which has been promoting and supporting Human Rights and Duties Education in Universities and Colleges since the IX Plan is providing a grant.A graduate in any discipline is eligible for admission.
The syllabus has been framed keeping in mind the interdisciplinary nature of the programme and deals with contemporary national and international issues in human rights.
The students periodically organise human rights awareness programmes and have taken up summer internships at National Human Rights Commission, State Human Rights Commission, State Commission for Women and various Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).
The employment opportunities are very good and varied in nature. As the course deals with a detailed study of national and international issues, the students can be absorbed in UN, UNICEF, ILO, UNESCO and other international NGOs.
The students are also equipped to join various statutory bodies within the country like National Commission for Women, Scheduled and Backward Classes, Minorities and most importantly the Human Rights Commissions. They can also be absorbed by the flourishing NGO sector.
STAFF REPORTER
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Education Plus
Karnataka
Chennai
Hyderabad
