First Steps: A Manual for Starting Human Rights Education – Peer Education Edition

This manual was developed using principles of peer education, to enable young people between the ages of 15 – 25 to teach other young people about human rights. It is designed to be a basic introduction, with age-specific activities for younger and older children. The approach stresses the practical rather than theoretical.

Authors: Amnesty International

First Steps was originally written as a manual for teachers and others who work with young people and who want to introduce human rights in their educational practices. This adapted version was developed using principles of peer education, to enable young people between the ages of 15 – 25 to teach other young people about human rights. It is designed to be a basic introduction, with age-specific activities for younger and older children. There is also advice on methodology, and help for those who want to go further into this subject. The approach stresses the practical rather than theoretical.

The manual was written in 1995 in response to a need expressed by Amnesty International members and other Human Rights Education activists in the region of Central and Eastern Europe.The adapted version was prepared by Eilish Dillon for use in Albania as part of a HRE project carried out by Amnesty International’s Irish Section in cooperation with AI Albania in 1999 and 2000.