Human rights education is contained in a range of international rights instruments, and has become increasingly prevalent in both formal and non-formal education across the world. However, there is considerable uncertainty - of a conceptual and practical nature - as to how human rights education relates to the right to education itself. This article puts forward an argument for the inseparability of the two, passing through three stages: first, an outline of the fundamental components of the right to education; second, a justification of the role of human rights education; and third, an exploration of the interlinkages. Learning about, for and through human rights can be seen as an inherent part of the right to education broadly conceived, taking into account Freire's ideas on the political character of all education. Ultimately, the line between the practice of human rights and the learning of human rights becomes fainter, leading to an integrated and cyclical expression of human development.
empowerment; human rights; human rights education; Paulo Freire; right to education