DEMOCRATIZAÇÃO DO ENSINO DE DIREITOS HUMANOS NO ENSINO FUNDAMENTAL: DESAFIOS E OPORTUNIDADES PARA A FORMAÇÃO DE CIDADÃOS CONSCIENTES

This article investigates the challenges and opportunities in democratizing human rights education in elementary school, highlighting its role in shaping socially responsible and conscious citizens. The absence of a structured human rights education limits students' ability to develop a culture of respect for diversity and otherness, contributing to the perpetuation of inequalities. The central hypothesis is that the integration of a comprehensive and transversal human rights curriculum can transform the school environment and reduce discriminatory behaviors. Based on a bibliographical analysis of legal documents and recent studies, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the National Plan for Human Rights Education (PNEDH), this study examines initiatives implemented in Brazil, such as the "Direito na Escola" and "OAB Vai à Escola" programs. The results indicate that, despite barriers such as the lack of teacher training and pedagogical resources, human rights education from elementary school is crucial to building a more just and equitable society. The article concludes that the democratization of human rights education requires effective public policies and an integrated approach involving the state, school, family, and civil society.