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universities and research institutions should be clearly defined and transparent.
Staff vacancies should in all cases be publicly listed;
(b) Researchers should be free to choose their research subject and to
disseminate their results. They should not be constrained to research the
history of the nation or of the community or reduced to investigating a
particular time frame, but be encouraged to research all periods of history,
from prehistory to contemporary times. The financing of research institutions,
of specific projects in the field of history, in addition to scientific journals and
the publishing activities of scientific institutes or universities, should be
transparent. The law should provide for the publication of non-profit history
books and guarantee the freedom to publish scientific results;
(c) States should review regulations and practices regarding the use of
libraries and archives. Issues to be examined include time limitations for the
opening of archival records; procedures for granting access to archive
documentation; provisions for classifying documents as State secrets;
researchers’ opportunities to photocopy, scan or photograph documentation;
and possibilities of foreign researchers having access to archives and effective
remedy in case of refusal to grant such access;
(d) States should make available important archives relating to the
history of other countries, in particular former colonies, by digitizing records
and making them freely available, and should consider research cooperation.
90.
The Special Rapporteur recommends that:
(a) States ensure continuing education and regular high-quality training
of teachers at universities and within supplementary seminars and workshops.
The criteria for hiring and promoting history teachers should be transparent,
and continuous education should be a precondition for their professional
promotion;
(b) Relevant ministries call for open competitions to organize seminars
and conferences in which various non-governmental professional organizations
could participate and in the process receive accreditation for seminars. Doing
so would widen the selection of permanent education for teachers and reduce
the possibility of political control and State monopoly;
(c) Teacher education in post-conflict situations be designed to develop
new competencies specific to building and helping to sustain peace;
(d) Learning materials for adults be developed, in particular in societies
engaged in peacebuilding processes;
(e) States respect and promote the right of teachers to freely form
professional associations.
91. The Special Rapporteur recommends that efforts be made, or pursued, to
include the views and perspectives of all parties and communities in historical
narratives (textbooks) by, for example, establishing commissions of historians
comprising individuals from various countries or communities. Such
commissions should enjoy the support of the State, regardless of whether they
operate as parts of ministries or independently. In this, greater independence is
achieved if members are appointed by professional bodies and associations
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