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[GENEVA, 29 June 2006] - At 11:30am, the Council proceeded to discuss the issue of dialogue and cooperation on human rights (human rights education and learning, advisory services, technical assistance and capacity-building). Mehr Khan Williams, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, addressing the issue of dialogue and cooperation on human rights, said that the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) was convinced that it was at the ground level – by involving officials and civil society – that the greatest differences could be made. Technical cooperation was an integral part of OHCHR's country engagement strategy that aimed to support both rights-holders and duty-bearers in a timely and context-specific manner. Country offices presented the most effective way for OHCHR to carry out technical cooperation projects. Recent examples were the three country offices established last year in Nepal, Guatemala, and in Uganda. In the debate on dialogue and cooperation on human rights, including human rights education and learning, advisory services, technical assistance and capacity-building, a speaker identified that the Council's overall objective should aim at enhancing the endogenous capacity of the receiving State to identify and address critical human rights problems and face challenges. Several speakers noted that the promotion of education and training on human rights was a priority for the Council, as was the commitment to strengthen the capacity of States and increase technical cooperation. Some speakers felt that technical cooperation in the field of human rights should be freed from all forms of conditionality. Many speakers acknowledged that, in this area, the Council would benefit from close cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the special procedures, who should address the Council at each session. Finally, one speaker said that the spirit of dialogue and cooperation should be reflected in the rules of procedure of the Council. Addressing the issue of dialogue and cooperation on human rights were the representatives of Austria, on behalf of the European Union, Switzerland, Algeria, on behalf of the African Group, Canada, Ghana, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Guatemala, Japan, Colombia, the Holy See, Côte d'Ivoire, Thailand, Slovenia, Nepal, Iran, Tanzania, and Sweden. A representative of the United Nations Development Programme also spoke. Non-governmental organizations speaking on this topic were Sokka Gakai International (in a joint statement on behalf of 21 international human rights NGOs), Ius Primi Viri, and the Center for Women's Global Leadership. Human rights education and learning: Teaching child rights in Europe Andrej Logar, from Slovenia, said that during its Chairmanship of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2005, Slovenian had developed a pilot project based on the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The project consisted of a new teaching tool in the form of illustrated cards for the education of children between 10 and 12 years of age about their rights. Special attention was paid to the cultural diversify of OSCE participating States in the preparation of the texts and illustrations of the cards. The same set of teaching cards for pupils and the information for teachers was published, disseminated and implemented in 14 languages. The teaching tool in Roma language was used in several countries. Approximately 11,000 children and 300 teachers from 12 States had implemented the project so far. Slovenia strongly advocated strengthening cooperation with regional organizations, as well as with civil society, in that area. [Source: UN] Further information