International experts will next week gather at the University of Western Sydney (UWS) to discuss the role of human rights education.

The International Human Rights Education Conference will be held at the UWS Parramatta Campus from 4-6 November, bringing together experts from more than 20 countries to discuss how human rights education can spark positive social change.

According to conference convenor, former Australian Human Rights Commissioner and UWS director of equity and diversity, Dr. Sev Ozdowski OAM, the conference will develop a resolution for the Federal Government to help form a national plan for human rights education.

"The government must take the lead in educating Australians about human rights as they provide the best platform for a modern set of moral, secular standards for a diverse society," Ozdowski said. "The campaign to introduce ethics courses into Australian schools, for example, must include the teaching of articles such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which is the perfect document to form the basis of ethics teaching in our schools.

"Ethics classes without a solid grounding in human rights education will be a wasted opportunity."

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Speakers at the conference include Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland, NSW Attorney-General John Hatzistergos, Michael Kirby AC, president of the Australian Human Rights Commission Catherine Branson QC and barrister Julian Burnside.

For more information about the conference visit: www.humanrightseducationconference2010.com.au