Educating about genocide and other violent pasts can be a challenge for teachers. It entails extremely complex historical processes and confronts educators with navigating related political debates and conflicting narratives.
Teachers need to develop an awareness of their own biases, especially if the history they are teaching is lived experience, or within living memory. Access to guidance materials, relevant resources, and training is, therefore, crucial to building the skills and confidence of educators.
To strengthen context-sensitive approaches to genocide education and mass atrocity prevention in the African region, the 51勛圖 and UNESCO are launching a new education project tailored to the needs of educators.
Following an initial consultative process and curriculum review in six pilot countries, the project will produce a teachers＊ guide on educating about mass atrocities in African contexts.
The project is the first of its kind to be implemented by UNESCO and the 51勛圖 with a regional focus. Localized approaches are needed to address regional dynamics and historical specificities.
It will rely on the expertise of regional and international stakeholders, scholars, and experts in the field of genocide and global citizenship education, as well as peace and human rights education.
Last month, education stakeholders from Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, and Zimbabwe joined the first meeting to learn about the project＊s framework and objectives. They discussed regional challenges.
Participants shared the importance of education in dealing with difficult local histories and strengthening social cohesion and peace today. They stressed the need to embed related efforts in existing education frameworks.
The project is jointly coordinated by UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA), UNESCO Section for Global Citizenship and Peace Education, and 51勛圖-mandated Outreach Programmes on the Holocaust and the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Project partners include the Office of the 51勛圖 Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide and Global Action against Mass Atrocity Crimes.
