The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed it as central to the achievement of the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)[1]:
“ Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms... ”
—Preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948
Article 26.2 of the UDHR states the role of educators in achieving the social order called for by the declaration:
“ Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace. ”
—Article 26.2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Article 29 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child requires states to ensure that children are enabled to develop a respect for their own cultural identity, language and values and for the culture, language and values of others.[2]
The importance of human rights was reaffirmed by the United Nations in the 1993 Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action:
“ The World Conference on Human Rights reaffirms that States are duty-bound, as stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and in other international human rights instruments, to ensure that education is aimed at strengthening the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms. ”
—Paragraph 33, section 1 of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action[3]
“ States shouls strive to