A new roadmap for education for peace

The transformative role that education plays in shaping a peaceful future resonated unanimously in November 2023 when the new Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights and Sustainable Development was adopted by all 194 UNESCO Member States at the 42nd session of the General Conference. This is the only global standard-setting instrument that lays out how education should be used to bring about lasting peace and foster human development through 14 guiding principles.

The Recommendation acknowledges that education in all its forms and dimensions, in and out of schools, shapes how we see the world and treat others, and it can be a pathway to constructing lasting peace. The text indicates that positive transformations are needed in multiple domains ranging from digital technologies to climate change and gender equality.

Education as a long-term investment for peace

A well-resourced and transformed education system is as an essential long-term tool for preventing, building, and sustaining peace. That lies at the heart of UNESCO’s work in global citizenship and peace education. By ensuring that all learners have access to quality and relevant learning, education lays the groundwork for peace before, during, and after conflicts. Crucially, during times of crises, it becomes crucial to maintain the continuity of learning, particularly for marginalized groups, integrating education into global peacebuilding efforts. The most impactful role of education in the pursuit of peace and social justice is its ability to empower learners to become agents of change in their communities. By instilling cognitive, social, and emotional skills, learning becomes a powerful tool to counter hate speech and promote understanding.

Learning to deconstruct hate speech

Hate speech fuels prejudice and discrimination and can enable and normalize violence. It is a threat on the principles of inclusion, diversity, and human rights. Hate speech can inflict personal harm and incite group-targeted violence. Its recent global escalation, amplified by the use of social media and exacerbated by new and protracted crises in different regions, severely impacts the safety and security of communities around the world. A recent UNESCO/IPSOS survey conducted in 16 countries revealed that 67% of internet users reported had encountered online hate speech and that 85% were concerned about the impact and influence of disinformation on their fellow citizens, viewing it as a real threat which can destabilize societies. 

Education offers multiple opportunities to address the root causes of hate speech and sensitize learners of all ages to its forms and consequences online and offline. This includes equipping learners with the skills to recognize and respond to hate and injustice, preparing them to respect the value of diversity and human rights, and teaching them to recognize the difference between hate speech and freedom of expression. In 2023 UNESCO published the guide “Addressing hate speech through education” to help decision-makers strengthen their public policies in this area.

On 24 January, UNESCO and the Group of Friends for Education and Lifelong Learning are organizing a high-level panel and dialogue at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. The event will mobilize Member States, UN agencies and programmes, UN-affiliated NGOs committed to education for peace, teachers and other education stakeholders and young people. Registration to attend the event in-person is available here. The session will be accessible via the UN Web TV (the link to the specific event will be available before the event).

UNESCO will also organize a one-day online training (Master Class) for several thousand teachers from around the world on the deconstruction of hate speech, which will give them the tools to better spot, tackle and prevent hate speech incidents. Registration for this online event is available here.