The Places and Spaces of Human Rights Education

Abstract

This paper draws on the views of students on a human rights course concerning their reasons for choosing such a course of study, in order to highlight the importance of understanding the emotional relationship between students and their subjects. It contends that while such an understanding is important in respect of all subjects, it has a particular relevance in the topic of human rights because the nature of the material and content of the course is necessarily challenging to the humanity of the student. As such, the human rights classroom is transformed from being a space of learning to a space of feeling.

Keywords:

• human rights
• sensitive issues
• spaces of feeling
• interdisciplinarity
• curriculum

Acknowledgement

I would like to thank David Woodman, Julie Hall and Christopher Bond for advice on the writing of this paper, and all the students who kindly contributed their thoughts. This paper is dedicated to all students on the programme, with thanks.