The 1980s in Latin America were marked by the fall of dictatorial regimes in many countries in the continent and by the installation of redemocratization processes. Within this context, human rights education emerged. Its development process involved different historical subjects, individuals, groups and different types of institutions, specially non-governmental organizations. State presence and the elaboration of public policies steadily increased. This thesis investigates the theme with the objective of understanding the evolution of human rights education in Latin America, focusing on its development in the international context. It analyses the inter-relationship between the roles of different social actors, non- governmental agencies organizations and other civil society or governmental institutions etc. in promoting human rights education in socio-political redemocratization contexts. In order to accomplish this, two case studies are presented - Chile and Brazil. Special emphasis is given to interviews carried out with professionals who were actively involved in the process. It also discusses the main questions and challenges faced by human rights education in the continent today.