Paris, 9 November 2023 (TDI): Audrey Azoulay, the Director-General of UNESCO, emphasized the crucial importance of providing effective teacher training and adaptable curricula.
The updated UNESCO recommendation on peace education sets the stage for a comprehensive approach that promotes empathy, skills, and inclusive values.
A major legal framework is the revision of the 1974 Recommendation, which covers education for peace, cooperation, and understanding between countries, as well as education about human rights and basic freedoms.
That brings together peace, international understanding, human rights, fundamental freedoms, and education for the first time.
The 1974 Recommendation told Member States that their education policies should be based on a global perspective and a commitment to international solidarity.
This was before the terms “global citizenship education” (GCED) and “education for sustainable development” (ESD) were even created.
Today, the objectives of the recommendation closely align with Targets 4.7, 12.8, 13.3, and 16 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which promote ESD and GCED.
Since 1974, new challenges have emerged that pose threats to peace and human survival.
These encompass climate change, infectious diseases, pandemics, and other health-related challenges; the rapid dissemination of hateful and violent ideologies; unsustainable consumption and production patterns; systemic racism; and persisting inequalities.
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In tandem with the substantial growth of educational research and technological advancements, the field of education has also progressed.
It is becoming more and more important for schools to find evidence-based, all-encompassing, digital, and multidisciplinary solutions to society’s problems.
This means that students from different cultures and societies need to work together, crossing traditional boundaries (both cultural and territorial).
These advancements also present fresh opportunities for promoting peace and cultivating international solidarity.
The new version of the recommendation is a unique chance to bring global agreement about the importance of all kinds of education to preparing students of all ages and future generations to deal with problems that might arise in the future and build more fair, healthy, sustainable, and peaceful futures back to life.
Circular Letter 4447 informed Member States that the final draft of the updated 1974 Recommendation was sent out in August 2023.
The revised version of the recommendation was deliberated upon during the intergovernmental Special Committee meeting (Category II) held from May 30 to June 2, and subsequently from July 10 to 12, 2023.
