Geneva (Switzerland), June 2024

In June 2024, the fourth Geneva Human Rights Dialogue took place at the International Bureau of Education (IBE), focusing on the critical theme of the right to education. This significant event was organized in collaboration with the Swiss Commission for UNESCO, UNESCO, the University of Geneva, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and the REGARD network. Over 40 experts from various sectors, including the UN, NGOs, academia, and the private sector, convened to share insights and recommendations.

The main focus of the meeting was to discuss trends and strategies to address key challenges such as privatization, digitalization, and crisis situations in education. OIDEL was proud to participate in this meeting, where our director, Ignasi Grau, emphasized the vital role of recognizing parents in the realization of the right to education. Additionally, Ashley Berner, a member of our Executive Committee, highlighted the importance of acknowledging pluralism within educational frameworks.

Notable participants included Leslie Hiner, Vice President of Legal Policy at EdChoice, Nicolas Mathieu, Secretary-General of the Swiss Commission for UNESCO (SCU), and Farida Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education.

Click here to read the main outcomes of the dialogue.