Home

MESSAGE FROM THE ORGANISERS:

Dear Everyone,

Welcome each of you to this unique Human Rights law Summer Program at China University of Political Science and Law!

In the words of the General Assembly Resolution of United Nations, human rights education is intended to be “a life-long process by which people at all levels of development and in all strata of society learn respect for the dignity of other and the means and methods of ensuring that respect in all society.” Accordingly, as Prof. Mary Robinson (a former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 1997 to 2002) pointed out, human rights education efforts should be directed at all people – children as well as adults – since all members of society have a role to play in promoting and protecting human rights.

For those of you, who are privileged to receiving many years of higher education, the importance of understanding human rights is even more apparent. Since many of you will one day serve in the public sectors, the primary reasonability of protecting and promoting human rights home and abroad will fall onto your shoulders. For this reason, please allow me to show you my deepest respect for your noble determination to come and share your knowledge and experiences in this forum.

In 2009, with a strong support of many human rights scholars and university leaders of CUPL, the first optional human rights law summer course was successfully carried out in Beijing. Over 100 students from 12 Chinese universities attended a 2-week long course. This first pilot work further encourages all of us to happily take this human rights education responsibility even more seriously for 2011.

Finally, on behalf of all the professors and staffs, I would like to wish each of you a happy and enjoyable stay at CUPL in Beijing.

Dr. Wei Zhang
Deputy Director, Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
China University of Political Science and Law
Beijing