Forty-ninth session
Agenda item 100 (b)
RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The General Assembly,
Guided by the fundamental and universal principles enshrined
in the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, 1/
Reaffirming article 26 of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, according to which "education shall be directed
to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening
of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms",
Recalling the provisions of other international human rights
instruments, such as those of article 13 of the International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 2/ and article
28 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 3/ that reflect
the aims of the aforementioned article,
Taking into account Commission on Human Rights resolution
1993/56 of 9 March 1993, 4/ in which the Commission recommended
that knowledge of human rights, both in its theoretical dimension
and in its practical application, should be established as a priority
in education policies,
Considering Commission on Human Rights resolution 1994/51
of 4 March 1994, 5/ in which the Commission encouraged the United
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to include among his
specific objectives a plan of action for the United Nations decade
for human rights education and invited the Secretary-General to
submit to the General Assembly at its forty- ninth session, through
the Economic and Social Council, a plan of action for a decade
for human rights education,
Convinced that human rights education should involve more
than the provision of information and should constitute a comprehensive
life-long process by which people at all levels in development
and in all strata of society learn respect for the dignity of
others and the means and methods of ensuring that respect in all
societies,
Convinced also that human rights education contributes
to a concept of development consistent with the dignity of women
and men of all ages that takes into account the diverse segments
of society such as children, indigenous peoples, minorities and
disabled persons,
Taking into account the efforts to promote human rights
education made by educators and non-governmental organizations
in all parts of the world, as well as by intergovernmental organizations,
including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization, the International Labour Organization and the United
Nations Children's Fund,
Convinced that each woman, man and child, to realize their
full human potential, must be made aware of all their human rights
- civil, cultural, economic, political and social,
Believing that human rights education constitutes an important
vehicle for the elimination of gender-based discrimination and
ensuring equal opportunities through the promotion and protection
of the human rights of women,
Considering the World Plan of Action on Education for Human
Rights and Democracy, 6/ adopted by the International Congress
on Education for Human Rights and Democracy convened by the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at Montreal
from 8 to 11 March 1993, according to which education for human
rights and democracy is itself a human right and a prerequisite
for the realization of human rights, democracy and social justice,
Recalling that it is the responsibility of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights to coordinate relevant United
Nations education and public information programmes in the field
of human rights, 7/
Taking note of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights, 8/ in paragraph 94 of which he declared that
human rights education is essential for the encouragement of harmonious
inter-community relations, for mutual tolerance and understanding
and finally for peace,
Aware of the experience in human rights education of United
Nations peace-building operations, including the United Nations
Observer Mission in El Salvador and the United Nations Transitional
Authority in Cambodia,
Bearing in mind the Vienna Declaration and Programme of
Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25
June 1993, 9/ in particular section II, paragraphs 78 to 82 thereof,
1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General
10/ on human rights education, submitted in accordance with the
request contained in General Assembly resolution 48/127 of 20
December 1993;
2. Proclaims the ten-year period beginning on 1 January
1995 the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education;
3. Welcomes the Plan of Action for the United Nations Decade
for Human Rights Education, 1995-2005, as contained in the report
of the Secretary- General, 11/ and invites Governments to submit
comments, with a view to supplementing the Plan of Action;
4. Invites the Secretary-General to submit proposals, taking
into account the views expressed by Governments, for the purpose
indicated in paragraph 3;
5. Appeals to all Governments to contribute to the implementation
of the Plan of Action and to step up their efforts to eradicate
illiteracy and to direct education towards the full development
of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for
human rights and fundamental freedoms;
6. Urges governmental and non-governmental educational
agencies to intensify their efforts to establish and implement
programmes of human rights education, as recommended in the Plan
of Action, in particular by preparing and implementing national
plans for human rights education;
7. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights to coordinate the implementation of the Plan of Action;
8. Requests the Centre for Human Rights of the Secretariat
and the Commission on Human Rights, in cooperation with Member
States, human rights treaty-monitoring bodies, other appropriate
bodies and competent non-governmental organizations, to support
efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
to coordinate the Plan of Action;
9. Requests the Secretary-General to consider establishing
a voluntary fund for human rights education, with special provision
for the support of the human rights education activities of non-governmental
organizations, to be administered by the Centre for Human Rights;
10. Invites the specialized agencies and United Nations
programmes to contribute, within their respective spheres of competence,
to the implementation of the Plan of Action;
11. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present
resolution to the attention of all members of the international
community and to intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations
concerned with human rights and education;
12. Calls upon international, regional and national non-governmental
organizations, in particular those concerned with women, labour,
development and the environment, as well as all other social justice
groups, human rights advocates, educators, religious organizations
and the media, to increase their involvement in formal and non-formal
education in human rights and to cooperate with the Centre for
Human Rights in implementing the United Nations Decade for Human
Rights Education;
13. Requests the existing human rights monitoring bodies
to place emphasis on the implementation by Member States of their
international obligation to promote human rights education;
14. Decides to consider this matter at its fiftieth session
under the item entitled "Human rights questions".
94th plenary meeting
23 December 1994
1/ Resolution 217 A (III).
2/ See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex.
3/ Resolution 44/25, annex.
4/ See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1993,
Supplement No. 3 (E/1993/23), chap. II, sect. A.
5/ Ibid., 1994, Supplement No. 4 and corrigendum (E/1994/24 and
Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A.
6/ See A/CONF.157/PC/42/Add.6.
7/ See resolution 48/141, para. 4 (e).
8/ A/49/36.
9/ A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III.
10/ A/49/261-E/1994/110 and Add.1.
11/ A/49/261-E/1994/110/Add.1, annex. .