National Christian School Human Rights Education Seminar

The 34th National Christian School Human Rights Education Seminar, hosted by the National Christian School Human Rights Education Research Council, took place from August 16th to 18th at Shokei Junior College in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture. Approximately 70 participants, primarily teachers and staff of Christian schools, attended the seminar, which focused on the theme “Rejoice, laugh, and move forward ‘in spite of…’ — Life, Peace, and Human Rights.”

The seminar commenced with a Bible study led by Sawa Tomoe, a singer and music culture researcher at a leprosy sanatorium. This was followed by a keynote speech by Hama Noriko, an economist and professor emeritus at Doshisha University, and a general speech by Takeda Midori, representative of school DE&I consultants Demo. Subsequently, participants divided into five subcommittees to delve deeper into their areas of interest and explore pressing issues.

Participants shared their reflections, including, “It was heartening to meet people face-to-face who are facing various challenges,” “I gained valuable insights, such as the significance of human rights in everyday life and the potential involvement of individuals in any situation,” and “I realized the importance of conveying human rights to children, as well as the need for teachers and staff to learn, become aware of, and improve their work environment.”

During the general meeting on the second day of the seminar, seven statements were adopted addressing issues such as history textbooks and the forced adoption of the national anthem and flag. These statements were subsequently sent to relevant organizations.

Fieldwork and Memorial Tower Visit

Prior to the seminar, participants engaged in fieldwork, which involved visiting the Pacific War National War-Damaged City Air Raid Victims Memorial Tower. This experience served as a poignant reminder of the importance of human rights education and the need for continued advocacy.