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"[...] I have personally committed myself to making it a priority, for education is a fundamental human right, set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Human Rights Covenants, which have force of international law. To pursue the aim of education for all is therefore an obligation for States." (Koïchiro Matsuura, Director General of UNESCO, "Education for All: the Unfulfilled Promise", 21st Century Talks session on education for all). Continue ...

 

In Focus

First United Nations Forum on Minority Issues, Geneva, December 15-16
The Forum, “Minorities and the Right to Education”, aims to provide an annual platform for dialogue and cooperation on issues pertaining to people of national, ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities.

News

Just published: The Right to Education: Monitoring standard-setting instruments of UNESCO 31-07-2008 (UNESCO) - UNESCO is making its expertise on modernizing and developing national legislation focused on the right to education available to all Member States, enabling fundamental principles to be integrated into national legal system. - More

UNESCO hosts meeting on human rights education in the school system 14-01-2008 (UNESCO) - UNESCO is hosting the fourth meeting of the UN Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee on Human Rights Education in the School System (UNIACC) from 17 to 18 January 2008 in its Paris headquarters. - More

A Human Rights-Based Approach to Education for All 10-12-2007 (UNESCO/UNICEF) - This publication is a joint UNESCO and UNICEF framework for the realization of children’s right to education and rights within education. - More

Universal Declaration of Human Rights: UNESCO launches 60th anniversary 10-12-2007 (UNESCO) - On Human Rights Day, 10 December 2007, UNESCO is kicking off the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the signing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In the presence of UNESCO’s Director-General, Camilla Croso of the Latin American Campaign for the Right to Education will explain ongoing challenges. - More

Human rights education: European conference calls for national and international support 08-11-2007 (UNESCO, Council of Europe) - Committed, vigorous and concerted national action, supported by international co-operation is essential to foster human rights education, according to participants at the Regional European Meeting on the World Programme for Human Rights Education (Strasbourg, France, 5-6 November 2007). - More

Member States exchange good practices for equal educational opportunities 25-10-2007 (UNESCO) - On the occasion of the 34th General Conference a meeting on the Implementation of the Convention and the Recommendation against Discrimination in Education is taking place at UNESCO Headquarters today. - More

UNESCO Guidelines on Intercultural Education now in 3 languages 04-10-2007 (UNESCO) - The UNESCO Guidelines on Intercultural Education are now available in English, French and Spanish. The Guidelines have been prepared to help understand the key issues concerning intercultural education, and present the fundamental guiding principles for an intercultural approach to education as viewed by UNESCO. - More

Experts address the Constitutional Right to Education 03-10-2007 (UNESCO) - An expert meeting on the constitutional right to education and its application will be held at UNESCO Headquarters on 5-6 October 2007. It aims to review education as a constitutional right and effective implementation of the right to education so as to improve its monitoring. - More

9 August International Day of the World's Indigenous People 09-08-2007 (UNESCO) - This is a great opportunity to celebrate the more than 370 million indigenous men, women and children worldwide. Many indigenous people’s cultures are in danger of dying out. There are over 5,000 different groups living in more than 70 countries. Today many live on the fringes of society and are deprived of basic human rights - More

Mobilizing for Global Action Week 10-04-2007 (UNESCO) - “Education as a Human Right” is the theme of the 2007 Global Action Week (23- 29 April). UNESCO is once again mobilizing education ministers and stakeholders worldwide for this annual campaign in favour of Education for All. - More

New UN report on right to education 02-04-2007 (UNESCO) - A new UN report on the right to education for persons with disabilities calls for intensified efforts in inclusive education. The report contains numerous inputs from UNESCO and addresses the normative framework, monitoring and various challenges to implementation. It ends with a forward-looking set of recommendations. - More

Education in danger in Iraq and Lebanon 29-01-2007 (UNESCO) - At least seven Iraqi schoolchildren died in their schools on 28 January in a day of sustained violence, while in Lebanon on 25 January three university students were killed. - More