Global Citizenship
According to the United Nations:
Global citizenship is the umbrella term for social, political, environmental, and economic actions of globally minded individuals and communities on a worldwide scale. The term can refer to the belief that individuals are members of multiple, diverse, local and non-local networks rather than single actors affecting isolated societies. Promoting global citizenship in sustainable development will allow individuals to embrace their social responsibility to act for the benefit of all societies, not just their own.
The concept of global citizenship is embedded in the Sustainable Development Goals though SDG 4: Insuring Inclusive and Quality Education for All and Promote Life Long Learning, which includes global citizenship as one of its targets. By 2030, the international community has agreed to ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including global citizenship. Universities have a responsibility to promote global citizenship by teaching their students that they are members of a large global community and can use their skills and education to contribute to that community.
The UNA-UK strategic plan 2016-19 sees making the case for the UN, for global cooperation and global citizenship to UK policy-makers and the public as its core mission.
During his speech as he became Chair of the UNA-UK Board a day after the result of the EU Referendum was declared, Lord Stewart Wood of Anfield said:
In the wake of Britain’s decision on membership of the EU, I passionately believe there has never been a more important time to renew our commitment to the values of international cooperation and global citizenship
But what is Global Citizenship?
According to the UNA-UK Board it is:
empowering individuals to think and act globally
But there are other opinions on what it means. Here are some answers given by participants of the Second UNESCO Forum on Global Citizenship Education 28-30 January 2015, UNESCO HQ, Paris:
TED Talk by Huge Evans published on 4 May 2016
Hugh Evans started a movement that mobilizes “global citizens,” people who self-identify first and foremost not as members of a state, nation or tribe but as members of the human race. In this uplifting and personal talk, learn more about how this new understanding of our place in the world is galvanizing people to take action in the fights against extreme poverty, climate change, gender inequality and more. “These are ultimately global issues,” Evans says, “and they can ultimately only be solved by global citizens demanding global solutions from their leaders.”
Global Citizenship Education
Mission Possible project run by WFUNA
UNESCO has Web pages dedicated to GCE at en.unesco.org/gced
There are downloadable resources for Global Citizenship Education at www.unesco.org/new/en/gefi/resources/gced/
Final Report on Global Youth Advocacy Workshop on Global Citizenship Education
Oxfam page: http://www.oxfam.org.uk/education/global-citizenship