RES/39/3 World Programme for Human Rights Education

GE.18-16375(E)



Human Rights Council Thirty-ninth session

10–28 September 2018

Agenda item 3

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 27 September 2018

39/3. World Programme for Human Rights Education

The Human Rights Council,

Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,

Reaffirming that, as stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and in other international

human rights instruments, States are duty-bound to ensure that education is aimed at

strengthening respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms,

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

the Assembly proclaimed the World Programme for Human Rights Education, and

resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006, in which the Assembly decided, inter alia, that the

Human Rights Council should promote human rights education and learning,

Reaffirming the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and

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

Recalling previous Human Rights Council resolutions on the World Programme for

Human Rights Education, the most recent being resolution 36/12 of 28 September 2017,

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 measures necessary to implement the current phase,

Recognizing that the World Programme for Human Rights Education focused, in its

first phase, on the integration of human rights education into the primary and secondary

school systems, in its second phase, on human rights education in higher education and

human rights training for teachers and educators, civil servants, law enforcement officials

and military personnel, and in its third phase, on the implementation of the first two phases

and on promoting human rights training for media professionals and journalists,

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

realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and contribute 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,

Recognizing the links between the right to education and the struggle against racism,

racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and the essential role of

education, including human rights education and education which is sensitive to and

respects cultural diversity, especially among youth, in the prevention and eradication of all

forms of intolerance and discrimination,

Recalling 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 of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for

Human Rights on the consultation on the target sectors, focus areas or thematic human

rights issues for the fourth phase of the World Programme for Human Rights Education;1

2. Encourages States and relevant stakeholders to, during the fourth phase of

the World Programme, strengthen efforts to advance the implementation of the three

previous phases, with special emphasis on:

(a) Advancing implementation by focusing especially on women, girls and

children, and engaging with groups and individuals in vulnerable situations, in accordance

with the objective of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable development of ”leaving no one

behind”, and consolidating the work done;

(b) Providing human rights education and training for educators in formal and

non-formal education and training, in particular those working with children and youth;

(c) Undertaking related research and mapping, sharing good practices and

lessons learned, and sharing information among all actors;

(d) Applying and strengthening sound educational methodologies based on good

practices and assessed through continued evaluation;

(e) Fostering dialogue, cooperation, networking and information-sharing among

relevant stakeholders;

(f) Furthering the integration of human rights education and training into school

and training curricula;

(g) Strengthening follow-up to the implementation of all previous phases of the

World Programme;

3. Decides to make youth the focus group of the fourth phase of the World

Programme, with special emphasis on education and training in equality, human rights and

non-discrimination, and inclusion and respect for diversity with the aim of building

inclusive and peaceful societies, and to align the fourth phase with the 2030 Agenda for

Sustainable Development and specifically with target 4.7 of the Sustainable Development

Goals, taking into account the synergies between the different concepts and educational

methods mentioned therein;

4. Calls upon States and, where applicable, relevant governmental authorities

and other stakeholders to increase their efforts to implement, disseminate and promote

universal respect for and understanding of the United Nations Declaration on Human

Rights Education and Training;

5. Encourages States to develop, as appropriate, comprehensive and sustainable

national plans of action for human rights education and training, with dedicated resources;

6. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner to prepare, from within

existing resources, and taking into account the report of the High Commissioner1 and future

relevant consultations, a plan of action for the fourth phase of the World Programme (2020-

1 A/HRC/39/35.

2024), in consultation with States, relevant intergovernmental organizations, in particular

the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, national human rights

institutions and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, and to submit the

plan of action to the Human Rights Council for its consideration at its forty-second session;

7. Recommends that the Secretary-General ensure that an adequate component

of United Nations assistance, to be provided at the request of Member States to develop

their national systems of promotion and protection of human rights, is available to support

human rights education and training;

8. Decides to consider this issue at its forty-second session in accordance with

its programme of work.

39th meeting

27 September 2018

[Adopted without a vote.]