Education key to supporting democracy says UN Human Rights Council

In a resolution on the interconnection between human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, the United Nations Human Rights Council emphasized the important role of education in strengthening “democracy, good governance and the rule of law at all levels.” 

Affirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other UN documents, the Council declared that “determined and coordinated actions and engagement are required to prevent and combat the trend of democratic backsliding, and the deterioration of the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as for the rule of law.”

Adopted by consensus on April 2nd at the end of the Council’s 58th session in Geneva with Romania, Morocco, Norway, Peru, Republic of Korea, and Tunisia as the main sponsors, the resolution reaffirms the importance of inclusive and quality education in promoting democratic values, fostering critical thinking, and reducing inequality as well as in achieving “more resilient democracies”, global citizenship, and sustainable development, among other things. It recognizes education as a key factor in strengthening democratic institutions, combating discrimination, and ensuring the meaningful participation of all individuals, particularly those in vulnerable situations.

Coordinated actions required to prevent and combat democratic backsliding

The resolution outlines the role of education in addressing challenges such as disinformation, misinformation, and hate speech, especially in digital environments. It highlights the importance of digital and media literacy in developing more resilient democratic societies and calls for improved access to reliable information and technology.

The resolution also emphasizes the contribution of a broad range of stakeholders in promoting democratic governance, including civil society organizations, Indigenous communities, national human rights institutions, and the private sector. It encourages states to develop educational strategies that are inclusive and accessible and that support public participation and informed decision-making.

The Human Rights Council expressed concern about ongoing attacks on schools, students, and educators, noting their long-term impact on education systems and democratic development. It reaffirmed the need for safe and inclusive educational environments as essential for the realization of human rights and the promotion of peace and security.

Democracy Without Borders, a civil society organization that promotes global democracy, welcomed the resolution. “At a time of democratic crisis in many countries and rising authoritarianism in others, the resolution signals increased international recognition of the role of civic education in upholding democratic values and institutions and reinforces the relevance of education policy in current global governance discussions”, said the group’s Executive Director, Andreas Bummel.

The group explained that the resolution’s call for “determined and coordinated actions” in view of democratic backsliding confirms the need for the appointment by the Human Rights Council of a UN Special Rapporteur on Democracy. The proposal was presented at a side event during the 58th session.

Democracy Without Borders recently published a brochure on “What is democracy?” that can be used in connection with democracy and civic education. It is available in several languages.