Education and Human Rights

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• © UNESCO / Alejandra Vega Jaramillo

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights supports the view that the ultimate objective of education is the full development of human personality and the strengthening of all rights. Education must promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups. Quality education for all guarantees respect, tolerance and civic friendship, and proclaims them as the cornerstone of social peace. Through it, students become acquainted with and learn respect for the human rights of others, and develop values, attitudes and behaviours consistent with this knowledge.

The various Offices of the United Nations System, among them UNESCO, are actively engaged in the World Programme for Human Rights Education. A first stage (2005 and 2009) involves strengthening human rights education initiatives in the primary and secondary educational systems of every country.

Conscious of this commitment and with the help of other United Nations agencies – such as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for Latin America and the Caribbean – and institutes such as the Inter American Institute of Human Rights (IIHR), UNESCO’s Regional Bureau of Education is elaborating training proposals for ministries of Education staff responsible for these areas; and compiling and systematising programmes and policies currently in place in the region.

• Action lines
—> The Right to Education. More
—> Human Rights Education. More

• Framework documents. More
• Related documents and websites. More

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