8. International Year of Human Rights Learning (2007)

(Adopted by the General Assembly, resolution 62/171, A/RES/62/171, 18 December 2007)

The General Assembly,

Recalling that the purposes and principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations include promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all,

Reaffirming the central importance of human rights education in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights [1] and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993, [2]

Recalling its resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006, in which it decided that the Human Rights Council should, inter alia, promote human rights education and learning as well as advisory services, technical assistance and capacity-building,

Recalling also the 2005 World Summit Outcome, in which Heads of State and Government expressed their support for 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, [3]

Noting the complementarities between the World Programme for Human Rights Education and the International Year of Human Rights Learning,

Acknowledging the important role played by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in promoting and coordinating the Education for All programmes,

Welcoming the adoption by the Human Rights Council on 28 September 2007 of resolution 6/9, entitled "Development of public information activities in the field of human rights, including the World Public Information Campaign on Human Rights", resolution 6/10, entitled "United Nations declaration on human rights education and training", and resolution 6/24, entitled "World Programme for Human Rights Education" [4],   

Acknowledging that non-governmental organizations play an important role at the national, regional and international levels in the promotion and protection of human rights through education and learning,

Considering that the sixtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 2008 is a suitable occasion for the United Nations to increase its efforts to promote a human rights culture worldwide through education and learning,

Convinced that every woman, man and child, in order to realize their full human potential, must be made aware of all their human rights and fundamental freedoms, 

Convincedalso that human rights learning should contribute to the fulfilment of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a way of life for people everywhere,

1. Decides that the year commencing on 10 December 2008 shall be proclaimed the International Year of Human Rights Learning, to be devoted to activities undertaken to broaden and deepen human rights learning on the basis of the principles of universality, indivisibility, interdependency, impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity, constructive dialogue and cooperation, with a view to enhancing the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development, bearing in mind the duty of the State, regardless of the political, economic and cultural system, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds;

2. Calls upon Member States to intensify their efforts, throughout the year and beyond, to promote human rights learning and education at the local, national and international levels, and encourages cooperation at all levels and with all relevant stakeholders to this end;

3. Invites the Human Rights Council and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to develop with Member States, in cooperation with civil society organizations and appropriate specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system, activities suitable for promoting human rights learning, as appropriate, at all levels of society;

4. Decides to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at a plenary meeting to be held on 10 December 2008, and encourages the participation of Member States at the highest level possible;

5. Also decides to devote a special meeting at the end of the year during its sixty-fourth session, to reviewing activities undertaken by Member States, relevant United Nations agencies and civil society during the Year, and further decides to determine the format of the meeting at a later date;

6. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution.

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[1]  See Resolution 217 A (III).
[2]  See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III, sect. II, paras. 78-82.
[3]  See resolution 60/1, para. 131.
[4]  See A/HRC/6/L.11. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-third Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/63/53).