Human Rights Education Workshop

Baghdad, Ministry of Environment
September 24 - 25, 2006

IF held a two-day human rights education workshop for 11 employees of the Ministry of Environment (MoE) on September 24 and 25, 2006.  The workshop was aimed at spreading an understanding of the basic principles and standards of human rights among the Ministry’s employees and introducing them to the mechanisms that are being used around the globe to protect citizens. The workshop also addressed the relationship between human rights and environment.

Ammar Saeed introduced the participants the basic principles and standards of human rights.  Saeed also focused on the developments that led to the creation of the Universal Convention of Human Rights. The session concluded with a discussion of the convention and its importance in protecting the rights of people worldwide. The second session focused on citizenship. Saeed explained the duties and rights of citizens to the state and vice versa. Saeed concluded the first day of the workshop with a Q and A on the topics that were raised. Interestingly, all participants agreed that there should be a balance between one’s rights and duties and that prior to 2003 to be a citizen meant that one should fulfill his/her duties without ever demanding his/her rights. The second day of the workshop focused on the relation between protecting our environment and human rights. This was presented by Tha’er Malea’a, a MoE employee.