Human Rights Research

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Human Rights Research (More)
Emphasizing the indivisibility, interdependence, interrelation and equal importance of all human rights (civil, cultural, economic, political and social), UNESCO’s research activities shall clarify the content of these rights, their scope of application, the concrete obligations binding upon States with the view to strengthening their justiciability. At the same time, the obstacles and challenges to the full enjoyment of these rights will be analyzed and stock will be taken of ‘good practices’ and lessons learned so as to better inform different levels of policy-making.

The main lines of the research for the coming years are determined in the UNESCO Strategy on Human Rights, adopted by its General Conference in October 2003. It defines that the research of the Organization will focus on “…the content, nature of obligations, state of implementation, indicators and justiciability of human rights within UNESCO’s fields of competence, including economic, social and cultural rights, and taking into account regional and sub-regional priorities and the need to ensure the equal participation of women and men in economic, social and cultural spheres, also considering thematic priorities, such as freedom of belief and conviction, and rights of persons belonging to various groups…” (UNESCO Doc. 32 C/57, para. 22).

The focus will be on the promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights, especially:
- the right to education,
- the right to take part in cultural life and
- the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications.

Topics that will be studied the coming years are, among others:
- the indivisibility, interdependence and interrelation of all human rights;
- the justiciability of economic, social and cultural rights and obstacles to their implementation;
- the elaboration of indicators and other tools to measure the implementation of human rights.

In order to ensure that the research of UNESCO is policy-oriented and helpful for the actors involved, the needs in this regard will be assessed, with due account of regional priorities. With this aim, regional consultation meetings will be organized to establish the research agenda and to initiate the creation of regional research networks. Active involvement of the various partners should increase the impact and advocacy effect of the research work of UNESCO.

UNESCO has undertaken efforts to develop policy-oriented research on human rights issues in Latin America, Africa and Arab States.

The main partners of UNESCO in the research are:
- human rights research and training centers;
- Universities and UNESCO Chairs;
- national human rights institutions;
- the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR);
- the United Nations Charter- and treaty-based human rights monitoring bodies and Special Rapporteurs.



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