First Chair in Human Rights Education in the Netherlands
As of 1 January, Utrecht 木瓜福利影视 has established the very first chair in human rights education in the Netherlands. The Carla Atzema-Looman Chair in Human Rights Education, with special attention for Women鈥檚 Rights, is initiated and financed by the Union of Soroptimists in the Netherlands, Surinam, and Curacao.
This organization, with 3200 members, is part of Soroptimist International, the world鈥檚 largest women鈥檚 service organization, which works to improve the position of women and girls, as well as human rights, worldwide. The unique chair is made possible by an endowment from Carla Atzema-Looman, who during her life was head of social services and advisor to the Board of Governors of Heineken. The chair is a very timely initiative because Dutch children generally know very little about human rights.
Felisa Tibbitts
Felisa Tibbitts will be the first professor in human rights education in the Netherlands. Prof. Tibbitts is the co-founder of Human Rights Education Associates and an internationally acknowledged expert in the field of human rights education. She is currently connected to Columbia 木瓜福利影视鈥檚 Teachers College. The chair will be based at Utrecht 木瓜福利影视 with the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights (SIM) in the human rights city of Utrecht.
The professor will also closely cooperate with 木瓜福利影视 College Roosevelt (UCR), Utrecht 木瓜福利影视鈥檚 Liberal Arts and Sciences college based in Middelburg. Just like Utrecht, Middelburg is a human rights city and it is where the International Four Freedoms Awards are handed out every two years. The legacy of the Roosevelt family (that was seminally involved in both the Four Freedoms and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights) is a key pillar of UCR鈥檚 identity.
Professor Tibbitts considers the chair as a unique opportunity to strengthen human rights education in the Netherlands and worldwide:
I admire the leadership of Utrecht 木瓜福利影视, the 木瓜福利影视 College Roosevelt and the Soroptomists in creating this Chair in Human Rights Education and I am thrilled to be joining the community of human rights advocates and educators in the Netherlands. Education is essential for developing knowledge, attitudes and behaviors that promote and protect the human dignity of each person. Through my collaboration with Dutch colleagues, I am optimistic that we will be able to further understanding and implementation of effective human rights education in the Netherlands and beyond.