Teaching Respect for All Project (TRA) was launched on 18 January 2012. It is a partnership between UNESCO and the governments of Brazil and the United States of America. Its objective is to outline a curricular framework to struggle against racism and to promote tolerance so it can be used by other countries and adapted to their local context and needs.

The project also intends to elaborate educational materials for addressing racism and tolerance in education. These tools will be built on lessons learned and current good practices in the field. In October 2012, it took place the first meeting in Brazil with the participation of a group of consultants that worked on concepts and necessary activities to combat discrimination and prejudice. 

UNESCO is concerned by the increase of racism, xenophobia and intolerance. The Organization considers education to be essential to strengthening the foundations of tolerance, reducing discrimination and violence, and learning to live together. Education is vital to achieve these aims and cultivate respect for all people regardless of colour, gender, or national, ethnic or religious identity. It is especially important to reach out to children and young people during their formative years, notably through educational materials and curricula.

In this sense, the Project intends to strengthen the discussion process on this issue of discrimination and on the education of respect for all. More specifically, it intends to reach children and youth during their school years through educational curricula and materials.  Within this context, teacher training is in the centre of this process.

Specific objectives of TRA Project in Brazil:

1. To contribute to the qualification of teachers providing subsidies for their practices with students towards reducing discrimination and violence, and promoting respect and conviviality among every one, specially based on the positive aspects existing in Brazilian educational policies and on the strategies implemented with basic education students.
2. To work on teacher education through the methodology and contents included in the TRA teaching material, including the knowledge being built in Brazil throughout the years. In the end of the process, it is expected to have a material with adequate Brazilian context’s specificities.   

Selected links:

• North American State Department
• Teaching Respect for All website (UNESCO headquarters)