Compass was first published in 2002 within the framework of the Human Rights Education Youth Programme of the Directorate of Youth and Sport of the Council of Europe. The programme was created because human rights education (HRE) – meaning educational programmes and activities that focus on promoting equality in human dignity – was, and remains, of incalculable value in shaping a dimension of democratic citizenship for all young people and in promoting a culture of universal human rights.

In 2015 the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe adopted its “Strategy to combat radicalisation at grassroots level”, including the “Guidelines for local and regional authorities on preventing radicalisation and manifestations of hate at the grassroots level”