How can schools promote democracy? Whose values should take precedence in multicultural societies? Can schools safeguard both children's rights and those of teachers?

Campaigners, politicians and the media regularly cite human rights to justify or challenge actions that range from peaceful protest to military action. The phrase 'human rights' appears to have become a slogan in need of a definition. Human rights education seems more urgent than ever.

This book clarifies the relevance of human rights to teachers' everyday work. The authors draw on a range of international examples to illustrate how schools can enable young people to work towards the ideals of justice and peace in both the school community and the wider world. The application of human rights principles is applied as the basis for living together in diverse societies.

The book is a key text for the UN World Programme on Human Rights Education 2004-2014 and for distance learning courses on human rights.