The actual implementation of project activities began in early 2016, following the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) between the then Director of the NCHR and the Vice President of Mahidol University, representing both SHAPE-SEA and ANU-HRE. In addition, a project on academic freedom in ASEAN/SEA, led by the Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University, was launched in 2024.
Our project activities have focused on the following areas:
- Capacity building-Lecturer workshop on Teaching Human Rights and Peace at both regional and national level.
- Production textbooks (teaching and learning resources) on human rights and/or peace.
- Promoting the Framework for Human Rights-Based Universities and academic freedom in ASEAN/Southeast Asia.
- Student and youth engagement on human rights and peace- through the Essay Writing Competition.
- Strengthening inter-institutional and regional cooperation - through Regional Network Meeting on Human Rights Education.
The human rights education programme has contributed a lot in teaching and learning human rights and peace in ASEAN/Southeast Asia. More qualified academics/educators have started to teach human rights and peace; more human rights and peace education courses and programs has been opened in some countries; more institutions/universities have supported in above mentioned priority activities; and more students and youths participated and engaged in promoting human rights and peace education. In addition, education networks have been strengthened within the SEA region as well as cross regional level and textbooks are widely used not only in teaching but also utilized in conducting research, including creation of human rights/peace education library hub.