RES/36/12 World Programme for Human Rights Education

GE.17-17491(E)



Human Rights Council Thirty-sixth session

11–29 September 2017

Agenda item 3

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 28 September 2017

36/12. World Programme for Human Rights Education

The Human Rights Council,

Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants

on Human Rights and other relevant international human rights instruments,

Reaffirming the call of the World Conference on Human Rights, held in Vienna in

1993, on all States and institutions to include human rights, humanitarian law, democracy

and rule of law in the curricula of all learning institutions, and its statement that human

rights education should include peace, democracy, development and social justice, as set

forth in international and regional human rights instruments, in order to achieve common

understanding and awareness with a view to strengthening universal commitment to human

rights,

Reaffirming also that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and

interrelated, and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair

and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, and while the

significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and

religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of States, regardless of their

political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and

fundamental freedoms,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 59/113A of 10 December 2004, in which the

Assembly proclaimed the World Programme for Human Rights Education as an

international effort under the auspices of the United Nations to advance the implementation

of human rights education in all sectors, and all previous resolutions of the Human Rights

Council on human rights education and training,

Reaffirming the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and

Training, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 66/137 on 19 December 2011,

and that States are duty-bound, as stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to ensure that

education is aimed at strengthening respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms,

and that every individual and every organ of society should strive by teaching and

education to promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome, in which Heads of State and

Government supported the promotion of human rights education and learning at all levels,

including through the implementation of the World Programme for Human Rights

Education, as appropriate, and encouraged all States to develop initiatives in that regard,

Recalling also that the World Programme is an ongoing initiative structured in

consecutive phases to advance the implementation of human rights education programmes

in all sectors, and that States should continue the implementation of previous phases while

taking the necessary measures to implement the ongoing phase,

Convinced that human rights education is a long-term and lifelong process by which

everyone learns tolerance and respect for the dignity of others and the means and methods

of ensuring that respect in all societies,

Reaffirming the constructive role played by national human rights institutions, in

particular in their advisory capacity to the competent authorities, in the dissemination of

human rights information and education in human rights and their role in preventing and

remedying human rights violations,

Believing that human rights education and training is essential to the effective

realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms and contributes significantly by

promoting equality, preventing conflict and human rights violations and abuses, and

enhancing participation and democratic processes with a view to developing societies in

which all human beings are valued and respected, without discrimination or distinction of

any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or

social origin, property, birth or other status,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 70/254 of 12 February 2016, and taking note

of the Secretary-General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism, which identifies

human rights education and training as a strategy for preventing and addressing violent

extremism,

Welcoming the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,

including Goal 4, target 7 thereof, and of the Education 2030 Framework for Action, and

affirming the interlinkages and integrated nature of all Sustainable Development Goals and

targets,

1. Takes note with appreciation of the midterm progress report on the

implementation of the third phase of the World Programme for Human Rights Education

prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights;1

2. Notes with appreciation the initiatives by all relevant stakeholders for the

implementation of the third phase of the World Programme;

3. Welcomes the convening of the high-level panel discussion on the

implementation of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and

Training: good practices and challenges on 14 September 2016, and the summary report

thereon prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner;2

4. Encourages States and all other stakeholders to strengthen the

implementation of all phases of the World Programme for Human Rights Education;

1 A/HRC/36/24.

2 A/HRC/35/6.

5. Welcomes the efforts of the Office of the High Commissioner, the United

Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and Member States in advancing

human rights education and training globally, including through the promotion of national

implementation of the World Programme for Human Rights Education, methodological and

training support, capacity-building and technical assistance;

6. Urges the High Commissioner and the United Nations Educational, Scientific

and Cultural Organization to step up collaboration with States, upon request, in order to

build their capacity for human rights education and training;

7. Reiterates the need to strengthen international cooperation and coordination

in order to advance human rights education and training as a necessary tool for the

promotion and protection of human rights, and encourages States to provide, upon request,

technical support to countries willing to implement nationally the plans of action adopted in

the context of the World Programme on Human Rights Education;

8. Recognizes that the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable

Development, which specifically includes human rights education under Goal 4, target 7,

provides an opportunity for promoting human rights education, in accordance with the

United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training and other existing

global frameworks for action, including the World Programme for Human Rights

Education, coordinated by the Office of the High Commissioner, and the global citizenship

education programme of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural

Organization, as well as other regional and national initiatives in the field, and stresses the

need to promote synergies among them;

9. Also recognizes that the World Programme for Human Rights Education can

contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and

encourages the Office of the High Commissioner, in cooperation with the United Nations

Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to continue to support States’ efforts to

implement the 2030 Agenda, including Goal 4, target 7 thereof;

10. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner to seek the views of States,

national human rights institutions, civil society organizations and other relevant

stakeholders on the target sectors, focus areas or thematic human rights issues for the fourth

phase of the World Programme, bearing in mind possible synergies with the 2030 Agenda

for Sustainable Development and other relevant initiatives on human rights education and

training, and to submit a report thereon to the Human Rights Council at its thirty-ninth

session.

39th meeting

28 September 2017

[Adopted without a vote.]