CHRAJ rolls out human rights programme for basic schools
As part of plans to bring human rights education to the doorstep of basic schools, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), last Thursday began a human rights education programme at the New Gbawe Junior High School in Accra.
The programme, which is intended to run throughout the year, will be extended to sixteen Junior High Schools within the Ga South Municipality.
The objective of the programme is to communicate basic human rights to young people in order to lay a strong foundation for the future of human rights promotion in the country, according to the Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ in charge of Public Education and Anti-Corruption, Mr. Richard Quayson.
In addressing the pupils of the school, the Deputy Commissioner told the children that human rights were the entitlements that are given to individuals including children living in a particular place for orderliness and respect for one another.
He mentioned the rights to education, good health care, movement, food, shelter, clothing and right to private property as some of the basic human rights which he believes must go with responsibilities.
Mr. Quayson also observed that most victims of human rights abuses often thought they were at fault and deserved the punishment and hence refused to report cases to appropriate authorities for proper sanctions. Against this backdrop, he urged the school pupils to be bold to report cases of human rights abuses including child labour that may be meted out to them either at home or in school to the police or CHRAJ.
In addition, he mentioned that "nobody suffered human rights abuse and remained the same, because the abuse normally detracts the dignity of the individual."
He also stated that "some of the things that have led to the many problems Ghana is facing is greediness, selfishness and lack of concern for others", and added that the only way to solve these problems was to instill good morals in children.
Some books and pamphlets on basic human rights and conflict of common interest were later presented to Mrs. Lydia Anim- Nketsiah, the Circuit Supervisor of the schools within the Gbawe circuit for the libraries of various schools in the Gbawe municipality.
On behalf of the schools, Mrs. Nketsiah thanked CHRAJ for their kind gesture and promised to ensure the proper utilization of the books in order to promote the knowledge of human rights among children within the circuit.
Speaking to Public Agenda, Mr. Quayson mentioned that a similar human rights education programme started in May last year in various primary schools within the Ga South.
"Already CHRAJ has established human rights clubs in some senior secondary schools in which integrity would be included to enhance moral standards among young people it would now be called the "Human rights and Integrity Club." He said CHRAJ would soon establish such clubs in all basic schools within the country.
Abigail Afakule, a pupil at the New Gbawe JHS, told Pubic Agenda that even though she has been taught about human rights in school, the additional information she has received has deepened her knowledge on her rights and that she would not infringe on other people's rights.
She commended CHRAJ for the education and pledged to take advantage of the books donated.
Kludje Oliver, a JHS 2 pupil also told PA that he has become aware of his rights and would not hesitate to report any one who abuses his fundamental human rights.
He later pleaded with CHRAJ to extend the education to all schools, including villages, to benefit children all over Ghana.
Author: Gifty Mensah/Public Agenda