Manual on combating Antigypsyism through human rights education
The manual Mirrors, 2015 was developed within the Roma Youth Action Plan of the Council of Europe to provide teachers, trainers and facilitators of non-formal educational processes with young people of all ages and in any socio-cultural backgrounds with essential information and methodological tools to address Antigypsyism. The toolkit is equally suitable for work with groups of non-Roma, Roma only, or mixed groups.
Every day in Europe, people from Roma or Traveller communities are exposed to acts of discrimination and exclusion to an extent that has stopped shocking people and institutions. Antigypsyism is a term used to refer to the multiple forms of biases, prejudice and stereotype that motivate the everyday discriminatory behaviour of many people or institutions towards the Roma.
Such acts, when contrary to human rights, have a negative impact on the moral fabric of societies. Democracy and human rights cannot take root where discrimination is institutionalised, tolerated or ignored.
Human rights education plays a central role in combating and overcoming Antigypsyism and other forms of ethnic, racial and social discrimination. Human rights education raises awareness on Antigypsyism and promotes a culture of universal human rights.
As human beings, we have the ability to discriminate and judge others through the kaleidoscope of prejudice. But fortunately, we are also able to learn and change. Mirrors help us notice which views distort our perception of other people, to correct this and to recognise ourselves in their eyes.
*The manual is available with free online access in eight languages – English, French, Catalan, German, Greek, Hungarian, Russian and Spanish on links below:
Sources:
• Council of Europe. Manuals and Handbooks. Council of Europe – official website: https://www.coe.int/en/web/youth/manuals-and-handbooks
• Ellie Keen. 2015. Mirrors. Manual on combating Antigypsyism through human rights education. Council of Europe. (Roma Youth Action Plan): https://rm.coe.int/CoERMPublicCommonSearchServices/DisplayDCTMContent?documentId=0900001680494094