Convention on the Rights of the Child commemorated

The twentieth anniversary of the ratification of the Convention of the Rights of the Child by the United Nations General Assembly is being marked by a lecture series in St Patrick's College. The series entitled the "CRC and Education: Impacts and Possibilities" was inaugurated last night by Dr Hugh Starkey of the Institute of Education, University of London (pictured below with Pauric Travers, Fionnuala Waldron, Kay Maunsell, Brian Ruane). A distinguished teacher, writer and researcher in the area of Human Rights and Intercultural Education, Dr Starkey's talk was entitled "Human Rights as Empowering Knowledge". The talk placed the convention in its wider historical and philosophical context and argued for its significant potential in empowering knowledge.

The lecture was chaired by Dr Pauric Travers, President of St Patrick's College. In his remarks, he quoted Dan Seymour of UNICEF: "This 20th anniversary of the CRC reminds us, most of all, of what we have left to do. The Convention demands a revolution that places children at the heart of human development - not only because this offers a strong return on our investment (although it does) nor because the vulnerability of childhood calls upon our compassion (although it should), but rather for a more fundamental reason: because it is their right".

The large attendance at the inaugural lecture included students from the Colleges new MEd in Human Rights and Citizenship Education.

The lecture series which is organised by the Centre for Human Rights and Citizenship in the College will continue on 12 November with a lecture by Gerison Lansdown on "Children's Rights to Education and Rights in Education" and on November 19 when Dympna Devine, UCD, will speak on "The Convention and Primary Education in Ireland".

 

 

Last Updated: Monday November 09 2009