Marking Three Decades of Human Rights Education, SU Bridges Intergenerational Perspectives

On Dec. 20th, 2025, a cross-generational academic exchange themed “The 30 Years of Human Rights Education” at SU’s Downtown Campus drew more than one hundred attendees from across a variety of fields. The conference not only reviewed and discussed the meaning and spirit of human rights education in Taiwan, but also focused on how NGOs’ efforts have improved the public literacy in human rights.

The full-day symposium featured five sessions, including “Looking Back and Looking Forward: 30 Years of Human Rights Education,” “From Classroom to Society: Dialogue Between Universities and NGOs,” “Human Rights Poster Presentations (with 11 entries),” and “From Recitation to Writing: Teaching Practices of New Poems about Human Rights.” Through these diverse sessions, participants were able to reflect upon human rights education from multiple perspectives.

Guests included SU Vice President Shih-Ho Wang, Commissioner of National Human Rights Commission Sun-Lu Fan, as well as representatives from government agencies, NGOs, universities, and high schools.

The forum brought together people from different generations and their opinions, marking the importance of communication. Prof. Edmund John Ryden had mentioned that people are born with two ears—one to hear others’ voices, and the other to listen into their hearts. It is hoped that through continued dialogue and collaboration, the values of human rights education will take deeper root in schools and resonate more widely within society.

Soochow has been playing a crucial role in human rights education for being the only higher education institute in Taiwan that provides systematic and professional training in this field.

From 1995 to 2004, the UN has promoted its “Decade for Human Rights Education” plan to widen and strengthen the development of global human rights education. Inspired by the plan, Taiwan also started its work. Over the past 30 years, sustained efforts by government agencies, educational institutions, and NGOs have led to the gradual institutionalization and diversification of human rights education in Taiwan.