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Committee committed to human rights education
The launching of the Human Rights Education Publicity Campaign marks an important milestone in the long-term commitment of the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education (the Committee) in promoting human rights education.
Speaking at a press conference to launch the 1995-96 Human Rights Education Publicity Campaign today (Tuesday), the Committee Chairman, Mr Moses Cheng, said this was the first time that such a large-scale publicity programme was held to promote human rights education.
He said promoting human rights education, like encouraging people to participate in community affairs and promoting the rule of law, had always been an important item in the work agenda of the Committee.
Though much had been done, it was time that a more focused and well co- ordinated approach should be taken to plan and set our objectives in the years ahead, he said.
"We are glad that the Government has allocated an additional $20 million to the Committee over the next three years to promote equal opportunities and human rights education.
"A Working Group on Human Rights Education Publicity Campaign was thus set up this year to organise a three-year publicity campaign aiming to promote public awareness, understanding and respect for human rights," Mr Cheng said.
"Moreover, a Human Rights Education Unit was established with full-time staff to produce new human rights teaching kits for distribution to schools and community bodies," he added.
"We hope that this multi-faceted publicity drive can build on the foundation of our past achievements and build a momentum in the community's desire to learn more about human rights issues.
"However, we have also to make people understand that their enjoyment of rights is not unconditional and that respect and acceptance of the rights of others is equally as important," Mr Cheng said.
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