Electronic referendum: Europe’s young people vote for democracy in schools “with a click of the mouse”

Strasbourg, 25.10.2004 – A unique project, initiated by the Council of Europe, was completed over the past few days. Over 80 schools, in 20 member states of the Strasbourg-based human rights organisation, took part in an electronic referendum (“e-voting”) on pupil participation in Europe. With a click of the mouse, 94% of the pupils taking part voted in favour of a new school charter, paving the way for more democratic and consequently violence-free schooling throughout Europe.

The electronic referendum on the “European Charter for Democratic Schools without Violence” was carried out in co-operation with the Swiss canton of Geneva, which supplied the Council of Europe with the necessary software and was responsible for the technical aspects of the operation. This was also an opportunity for the Swiss authorities to test whether the electronic system they are already using in local referenda can also be used by Swiss nationals living abroad.

The main objective of the school charter, which was designed by pupils and is based on the principles of the European Convention on Human Rights, is the practical learning of democracy in schools. To improve the school environment, designated school representatives are to be given the right to vote on important issues – for example on how conflicts in schools can be resolved. In this regard, it is recommended that specially trained arbitrators, so-called mediators, should be chosen from among pupils and the teaching staff.

The implementation of the charter’s provisions – which include, in addition to the use of mediators for the rapid settlement of disputes and the prevention of conflicts, the right of every person to equal treatment and respect – will also be a focus of the Council’s European Year of Citizenship through Education, in 2005.

For further information on

· the electronic referendum, click here
· the school charter, click here

See also our special file http://www.coe.int/files/e-gouvernance
 

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A political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to promote democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops common responses to social, cultural and legal challenges in its 46 member states.