UNESCO and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights
Principles for lasting peace
UNESCO was founded on the conviction that the intellectual and moral solidarity of humankind, and the respect for justice and human rights were essential for lasting peace.
In 1947, UNESCO created a committee led by intellectuals, philosophers and political scientists. The Committee’s purpose was to study the philosophical foundations of human rights in order to bring to the fore convergences between various cultures and schools of thought and facilitate the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
A survey of politicians and academics, including Mohandas Gandhi and Aldous Huxley, was conducted to gather views on the idea of the declaration. Despite cultural differences, the main conclusion of the report was that UN member states shared a commitment to "the right to live a life free from the haunting fear of poverty and insecurity."
UNESCO was the first UN agency to place the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) at the core of its action.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Rights to everyone, everywhere
Within the UN system, five specific rights are under direct competence of UNESCO:
Right to education — Article 26
Education is at the core of UNESCO's mission and the SDGs. It is an empowering right, which allows children and adults to lift out of poverty and participate fully in society.
As a key principle underpinning the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDG, the right to education is recognized as an essential tool to promote inclusion as well as economic, social and cultural development.
Right to take part in cultural life — Article 27
Access to culture and the ability to enjoy it without fear of repercussion are necessary conditions for ensuring to the right to take part in cultural life.
Cultural life is manifested in everyday communication, expression, and traditions. Linguistic and religious minorities should not be denied their right to embrace the dimensions of cultural life for any reason.
Right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress — Article 27
The right to share in scientific advancement and its benefits starts with inclusive learning that encourages participation in the generation of scientific research.
Those in marginalized communities should be encouraged to engage in scientific progress that is beneficial to both their community and the general public. In order to ensure that everyone benefits from scientific progress, information must be shared freely and innovations must be allowed to diffuse in societies without hinderance.
Right of Freedom of Opinion and Expression — Article 19
The right to communicate is a fundamental human right that underpins the very essence of democracy, and it is a key factor in the fulfillment of other rights.
It “includes the right to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”
In the last 10 years, at least 827 journalists were killed. The figure shows the extent of the risk for expressing opinions and disseminating information.
Right to water and sanitation
The right to drinking water and sanitation is essential for the full enjoyment of life. In 2010, the UN General Assembly officially recognized "the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights" (A/RES/64/292).
To address the major human and environmental crises, UNESCO counts access to water and sanitation “as a pre-requisite for the realization of several other human rights, such as the rights to life, dignity, health, food, and an adequate standard of living, and education.”
