Memorandum submitted by the Institute
for Global Ethics UK Trust
The Institute for Global Ethics UK Trust (IGE
UK), a registered charity since 1995 and incorporated in 2001,
aims to promote ethical behaviour in individuals, institutions
and nations.
In the UK, this is pursued through four principle
roles; as convenor (organising a series of consultations at St
Georges House, Windsor Castle to elevate public discussion and
practical action) as educator (delivering the UK-wide impetus
awards programme for young people and Ethical Fitness® seminars
to private, public and voluntary organisations) as communicator
(organising the annual Five Nations Conference on Education for
Citizenship) and as networker (working collaboratively with organisations
which pursue similar objectives).
IGE-UK's impetus youth programme which can be
delivered through citizenship education has very relevant experience
which it wishes to contribute to the Committee's discussions,
in particular on citizenship education's potential to contribute
to social cohesion, and implementing the active aspects of the
curriculum. We make three recommendations following a brief overview
of our work.
Impetus aims to be a leading programme in developing
a culture of shared ethical values and human rights across the
UK.
We believe the Human Rights Act (and other human
rights instruments) and the ethical values which underpin it—mutual
respect, honesty and integrity, fairness of treatment and individual
freedom and personal responsibility—can provide a new cultural
reference point around which to foster relationships and perspectives
of both an ethical and legal basis. The "Parek Report"
(2000) which contained the recommendations of the Commission on
the Future of Multi-Ethnic Britain, echoed multi-cultural reports
before it, when it stated that "human rights principles provide
a sound framework for handling differences, and a body of values
around which society can unite".
Working in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern
Ireland for three years since its official launch in 2003, impetus
has learnt that local relationships and perspectives based on
shared ethical values can create fertile soil for implementing
and maintaining a culture of human rights standards, and the mechanisms
for dealing with conflict.
Impetus awards are given to every project that
demonstrates:
(1) Exploration of human rights and obligations.
(2) Creative application of shared values.
(3) Whole School/organisation involvement.
(4) Engagement with local communities.
Teachers have used impetus to:
— bring a specific dialogue about ethical
values and human rights to existing work;
— establish class projects or long
term whole school programmes that model democratic relations and
foster an ethos of shared ethical values; and
— as a means to build links with local
and global communities.
Young people themselves have started impetus
projects which allow them to build on their experiences, understandings
and tackle their concerns.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. The Human Rights Act and the shared ethical
values which underpin it provide a framework around which to define
and implement a cohesion dimension to citizenship education.
2. Opportunities need to be developed which
allow what young people discuss and think about outside of school,
to become a learning experience in school. Citizenship education
policy and practice needs to build on young people's experiences,
understandings and concerns.
3. There needs to be renewed national leadership
in the promotion of citizenship education which highlights the
learning and democratic possibilities that exist if schools adopt
a participatory approach to delivering the citizenship curriculum.
March 2006
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