The evolution of ever-larger circles of organic relationships and interactions now embraces the entire planet. As we educate our children to accept diversity as part of the human condition and to extend respect and full human rights to the entire human family, civilization will benefit from an unimaginable wealth of contributions. In that respect, human rights education could be considered basic education for life in the modern world. The Commission also points out that children and youth are coping with special tensions that come from living in a contracting and interdependent world. Human rights education grounded in the principle of the oneness of humanity, can provide children and youth the tools and the philosophical framework to enable them to resolve these tensions for themselves.
Religion has an important role to play in human rights education.
Historically, religion has always shaped the laws and social values that determine how individuals treat each other. Religion teaches people who they are and why they are here and calls them to transcendence and service. Rise then to that for which thou wast created. Religious convictions empower individuals to confront their own character defects, to root out undesirable behavior, and to cultivate such virtues as truthfulness, compassion, trustworthiness, and generosity. These spiritual qualities taught by all religions are conducive to nobility and to respect for the rights of others.