The launch of the new Serbian language version of the Compass manual is a landmark for human rights education with young people in Serbia. Support to the participation of young persons in democratic life and decision-making processes, including through education about human rights and core democratic values is also one of the cornerstones of Reykjavík Principles for Democracy, adopted during the Council of Europe Summit in May 2023. Translation of Compass is a starting point in empowering youth leaders, multipliers and youth workers to support young people’s meaningful participation in democratic life and upholding human rights.
In his opening remarks Tobias Flessenkemper, the Head of the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade stated that human rights education is a basis for young people to build peaceful society based on justice. ”As Serbia remains shaken by the terrible crimes which had young people as victims and perpetrators, society, families and young people themselves are looking for practical tools to build a future without violence, where everyone can enjoy his/her human rights and freedoms. With a Compass manual we aim to provide such a tool”, concluded Flessenkemper.
H.E. Cathy Buggenhout, Ambassador of Belgium to Serbia added: “Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo phrased it already very clearly in Reykjavik: the European Convention on Human Rights, together with the European Court of Human Rights, guarantee the human rights of every person on the European continent. Therefore, we must have the courage to assert loud and clear the values which we wish to uphold. Human rights are what brings us together here in Belgrade today, and Belgium is proud to be part of the launch of the Serbian Compass manual. Education of our youngsters in human rights is vital.”
Ivana Antonijević, Assistant Minister at the Ministry of Tourism and Youth emphasised that young people are a key factor in the development of a society in which human rights are respected. "Through the active involvement of young people in decision-making processes, we ensure that the voice of the young people is heard, and through investing in the education of young people about human rights, we create strong partners in building a society tailored to all of us. Through strategic documents and through the drafting of the new Law on Youth, we are setting an institutional framework to make this possible," said Antonijević.
Antje Rothemund, Head of the Youth Department of the Council of Europe, in her key-note address, underlined that human rights cannot be protected by legal instruments alone, they need to be defended, every day, by everyone and everywhere. "And this is what Compass tries to do – to contribute to the creation of a culture of human rights." She added that young people are not a homogenous group, they can also be perpetrators of violence, as they can be promoters of human rights. “As educators, we can be there for those who are in between and do not know to which side to belong and help young people associate to a community of positive values, a community of peace, a community of human rights and a community of democracy.“
Aleksandra Vidanović, human rights trainer underlined that there is a long institutional memory of Compass in Serbia, which started small, grow bigger as a snowball which also ought to be embedded in the formal educational sector. Compass is not aging, it gets more needed.
Presentation of Compass manual was complemented with panel discussions and exchange between public institutions, youth organisations and youth workers who stressed a clear need for anchoring human rights education with young people in today’s Serbia. Participants underlined that in the current societal context, it is essential to affirm the necessary complementarity of non-formal and formal learning and to foster dialogue between all stakeholders working for and with young people in Serbia. Young people should be given the means and knowledge necessary to engage in democratic life and uphold human rights actively and meaningfully. This can be achieved through the provision of human rights education and appropriate resources, such as the Compass.
Translation of the Compass manual and the launch event is done under the project “Citizenship and human rights education with young people in Serbia“, funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Belgium and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe.
