United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education (1995-2004)

History

The World Conference on Human Rights in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (in particular, para. 33 of Section I ) stated that human rights education, training and public information were essential for the promotion and achievement of stable and harmonious relations among communities and for fostering mutual understanding, tolerance and peace. The Conference recommended that States should strive to eradicate illiteracy and should direct education towards the full development of the human personality and the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It called on all States and institutions to include human rights, humanitarian law, democracy and rule of law as subjects in the curricula of all learning institutions in formal and non-formal settings. 

Pursuant to a suggestion of the World Conference, the United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution 49/184 of 23 December 1994, proclaimed the 10-year period beginning on 1 January 1995 the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, and welcomed the Plan of Action for the Decade contained in the report of the Secretary-General. 

Related documents

• Plan of Action
• Guidelines for National Plans of Action for Human Rights Education [ACEFRS]
• Guidelines for National Plans of Action for Human Rights Education: Corrigendum [ACEFRS]
• Summary of national initiatives undertaken within the Decade
• Mid-term global evaluation of the progress made towards the achievement of the objectives of the Decade, 2000 [ACEFRS]
• Study on the follow-up to the Decade, 2003 [A CEFRS]
• Report on achievements and shortcomings of the Decade and on future United Nations activities in this area, 2004 [ACEFRS]
• Resolutions and reports to the General Assembly and to the Commission on Human Rights
• Human Rights Day 2004 (dedicated to human rights education)