Human rights education and the United Nations human rights mechanisms

The Plan of Action for the first phase (2005-2009) of the World Programme for Human Rights Education states all relevant thematic and country mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights (including the Special Rapporteurs and representatives, in particular the Special Rapporteur on the right to education, as well as working groups) are called upon to include systematically in their reports progress in human rights education in the school system, as relevant to their mandate (Plan of Action para. 42).

In addition, the Plan of Action calls upon the United Nations treaty bodies, when examining reports of States parties, to place emphasis on the obligation of States parties to implement human rights education in the school systems and to reflect that emphasis in their concluding observations (Plan of Action para. 41). The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) and the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) have issued general comments on The Right to Education (CESCR general comment no 13) and The Aims of Education (CRC general comment no 1).

The Plan of Action further states that at the national level, the coordinating department or unit assigned by the ministry of education in each country, would work in close cooperation with relevant national agencies responsible for the elaboration of country reports to the United Nations treaty bodies, in order to ensure that progress in human rights education is included in those reports (Plan of Action para. 36).

The Harmonized guidelines for reporting under the international human rights treaties, including guidelines on a common core document and treaty-specific targeted reports adopted by the 18th Meeting of Chairpersons of the Human Rights Treaty Bodies in June 2006, suggest that States should provide information on any measures taken to ensure adequate education and training in human rights for a wide range of professional categories, including teachers (para. 48(d)). States should also submit information on any measures taken to promote respect for human rights through education and training in general, and within schools in particular (para. 48(e)).

Related links:

• The Special Rapporteur on the right to education
• The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
• The Committee on the Rights of the Child
• CESCR general comment no 13 on The Right to Education [ A | C | E | F | R | S]
• CRC general comment no 1on The Aims of Education [ E | F | S]
• Harmonized guidelines for reporting under the international human rights treaties, including guidelines on a common core document and treaty-specific targeted reports
• Universal Periodic Review