World Programme for Human Rights Education

In 2004, the UN General Assembly proclaimed a World Programme for Human Rights Education (2005-ongoing). This Programme “seeks to promote a common understanding of basic principles and methodologies of human rights education, to provide a concrete framework for action and to strengthen partnerships and cooperation from the international level down to the grass roots”. 

It has been structured into phases, each accompanied by a plan of action providing guidance for implementation at national level: 

  • The first phase (2005-2009) focused on human rights education in the primary and secondary school systems.
  • The second phase (2010-2014) focused on human rights education for higher education and on human rights training programmes for teachers and educators, civil servants, law enforcement officials and military personnel.
  • The third phase (2015-2019) focused on strengthening the implementation of the first two phases and promoting human rights training for media professionals and journalists.
  • The fourth phase (2020-2024) focuses on youth.

Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training

On 19 December 2011, the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training, which recalls the duties of member states to promote and encourage respect for human rights, and notes the “fundamental importance of human rights education and training in contributing to the promotion, protection and effective realization of all human rights”. In the Resolution adopting this Declaration, the General Assembly “[i]nvites Governments, agencies and organizations of the United Nations system, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to intensify their efforts to disseminate the Declaration and to promote universal respect and understanding thereof”.

The declaration reaffirms the responsibility of Governments to promote and ensure human rights education and calls on states to “create a safe and enabling environment for the engagement of civil society, the private sector and other relevant stakeholders in HRE and training.”

The declaration was the first document adopted by the UN specifically focusing on human rights education3.

3 More information about the Declaration and the World Programme on HRE can be found on the Internet site of the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights.