"Building more peaceful, just, and sustainable societies starts with education. It influences all aspects of our daily lives and our overall prospects while being impacted by our health and environment. In the global landscape of worsening climate change, democratic backsliding, persistent inequalities, rising discrimination, hate speech, violence and conflict, it can be a tool to address and prevent these problems in the future. And it can also be a long-term investment with increasing returns if shaped and deployed effectively." The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 2024
What You Need to Know
The Recommendation is a global standard-setting instrument that lays out how education should be used to bring about lasting peace and foster human development.
Text format in PDF of the Recommendation in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian
- 4 guiding principles: major ideas and concepts that should be infused into the content and context of education to bring about lasting peace
- 12 learning outcomes: knowledge, skills, values, attitudes and behaviors individuals should obtain throughout the education process to live together on this planet
- Concrete action areas: spheres where education stakeholders can put the guiding principles in practice to make a change, from laws and policies to curricula development, teaching practices, learning environments and assessment
Explainer Document
The Recommendation – commonly referred to as the Recommendation on Peace, Human Rights and Sustainable Development – provides a vision of education for humanity and peace. It continues the goals and aspirations of its predecessor, the “1974 Recommendation”, and acknowledges that peace is built not only through international negotiations but also in classrooms and sports fields, in communities and throughout life.
The Recommendation Supports Change by:
- A call to action: it can inspire all those interested in, and engaged in the field of education
- An advocacy tool: it can influence policy formulation and change
- A benchmarking tool: it can be used to measure progress and the extent to which education systems are preparing learners to be agents of change
What are the highlights of the Recommendation?
- New understanding of peace
Peace in the 21st century is not just the absence of violence and conflicts. It is also a positive, participatory, and dynamic process that nurtures our ability to value human dignity and take care of ourselves, each other, and the planet we share.
- Education for sustainable development
Education systems need to effectively improve their resilience to climate-driven crises and deal with their repercussions. Fostering knowledge about the root causes of climate change, its impact, and ways to adapt and mitigate while not causing further damage to the planet is needed for individuals to make informed decisions and work towards creating a more sustainable society.
- Global citizenship education
The new text states that promoting the philosophy, principles, and components of global citizenship education is essential to preparing learners that value human dignity, cooperation and dialogue. This may encompass teaching and learning about the impact of past and current events and conflicts, exploring economic, social, and political linkages between countries and societies, and nurturing empathy and respect for the diversity of cultures and opinions.
- Gender equality and education
Women still account for almost two-thirds of all adults unable to read, and girls often cannot fully enjoy their right to participate in, complete, and benefit from education. Promoting gender equality and acknowledging its importance for realizing the right to education for all is one of the Recommendation’s guiding principles, reflecting UNESCO’s global priority.
- Education in the digital era
In an age where information is abundant, diverse, and easily accessible, media and information literacy, and digital skills are tools educators and learners need to navigate the world. The Recommendation underscores the challenges of misinformation and hate speech, as well as the opportunities of new technologies for teaching and learning. It highlights the importance of critical thinking, empathy, and understanding of key principles of digital security, privacy, and ethical online interactions.