The UNESCO Constitution entrusts the Organization with building collaboration among nations to advance equality of educational opportunity for everyone. While conventions and international treaties form the backbone of international law, other instruments, such as declarations, guidelines and principles adopted and laid down at international level provide a normative basis for the right to education for everyone.
Although these norms and standards have only moral force, they reflect the political commitments of states which governments are expected to bring into effect through national legislation.
Leading the Education Agenda
- Education 2030 Framework for Action (2015)
- Incheon Declaration (2015)
- High Level Group on EFA: Oslo Declaration (2008)
- High Level Group on EFA, Dakar. Final Communiqué (2007)
- Seventh E-9 Ministerial Review Meeting, Bali, Indonesia. Bali Declaration (2008)
- World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development, Bonn Declaration (2008)
- Monterrey Declaration of the E-9 Countries (2006)
- High Level Group on EFA, Beijing. Final Communiqué (2005)
- High Level Group on EFA, Brasilia. Final Communiqué (2004)
- Cairo Declaration of the E-9 Countries (2003)
- High Level Group on EFA, New Delhi. Final Communiqué (2003)
- High Level Group on EFA, Abuja. Final Communiqué (2002)
- 4th E-9 Ministerial Review Meeting, Beijing, China (2001)
- United Nations Millennium Declaration (2000)
- The Dakar Framework for Action: Education for All: Meeting our Collective Commitments (2000)
- The Salamanca Statement and Framework for Action on Special Needs Education (1994)
Equal Opportunities and Non Discrimination in Education
- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, ICESCR (1966) (articles 2, 13 and 14)
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ICCPR, 1966 (articles 2; 18)
- Convention against Discrimination in Education (1960)
- Recommendation against Discrimination in Education (1960)
- Protocol Instituting a Conciliation and Good offices Commission to be Responsible for Seeking the settlement of any Disputes which may Arise between States Parties to the Convention against Discrimination in Education. (1962)
Rights of the Child
- Convention on the Rights of the Child (articles 2; 28; 29) (1989)
- Child labour: Minimum Age Convention, (No. 138) (1973)
- Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, (No. 182) 1999
International Understanding, Peace and Human Rights Education
- Instruments developed under the auspices of UNESCO
- Recommendation concerning Education for International Understanding, Co-operation and Peace and Education relating to Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1974)
- Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice (1978)
- Principles of the Vienna International Congress on the Teaching of Human Rights (1978)
- Declaration on Fundamental Principles concerning the Contribution of the Mass Media to Strengthening Peace and International Understanding, to the Promotion of Human Rights and to Countering Racialism, Apartheid and Incitement to War (1978)
- Malta Recommendations on Human Rights Teaching, Information and Documentation (1987)
- World Plan of Action on Education for Human Rights and Democracy (The Montreal Declaration) (1993)
- Integrated Framework of Action on Education for Peace, Human Rights and Democracy (1995)
- Declaration of Principles on Tolerance (1995)
- Declaration on the Responsibilities of the Present Generation Towards Future Generations (1997)
- UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity (2001)
- World Programme for Human Rights Education
- General Assembly resolution 59/113 A (10 December 2004) proclaiming the World Programme for Human Rights Education
Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish - United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training, General Assembly resolution 66/137
Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish - World Programme for Human Rights Education
Third Phase (2015-2019) - Second Phase (2010-2014) - First Phase (2005-2009)
- Full list of instruments related to human rights education
Women’s and Girl’s Education
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, CEDAW New York, 18 December 1979 (articles 1; 10)
Literacy and Adult Education
Higher Education
- Revised Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Certificates, Diplomas, Degrees and Other Academic Qualifications in Higher Education in African States (2014)
- Asia-Pacific Regional Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education (2011)
- World Conference on Higher Education: the New Dynamics of Higher Education and Research for Societal Change and Development; communiqué (2009)
- Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel (1997)
- Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region (1997)
- Recommendation on the Recognition of Studies and Qualifications in Higher Education (1993)
- Regional Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Asia and the Pacific (1983)
- Regional Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Certificates, Diplomas, Degrees and other Academic Qualifications in Higher Education in the African States (1981)
- Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees concerning Higher Education in the States belonging to the Europe Region (1979)
- Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in the Arab States (1978)
- Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in the Arab and European States Bordering on the Mediterranean (1976)
- Regional Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (1974)
Technical and Vocational Education
- Recommendation concerning Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) (2015)
- Transforming technical and vocational education and training: building skills for work and life: Shanghai consensus (2012)
- Convention on Technical and Vocational Education (1989)
Inclusion in Education
- Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006)
- ILO Convention Number 169 on the Rights of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (link is external) (1989)
Teachers
- Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel (1997)
- Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers (1966)
Education in Emergencies
- New York declaration for Refugees and Migrants (2016). Includes commitments on education
- Safe Schools Declaration (2015)
- Human Rights Council Resolution 29/14 of July 2015 on the right to education (2015). Includes language on state responsibility to protect higher education from attack.
- Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War (1949)
- Declaration on the Protection of Women and Children in Emergency and Armed Conflict (1974)
- Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (2000)
- Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (1951)