Geneva (Switzerland), March-April 2025 | The 58th session of the Human Rights Council took place in Geneva from 24 February to 4 April 2025, bringing together UN member states, human rights experts, and civil society to address pressing human rights issues worldwide. OIDEL actively engaged in discussions around children’s rights, advocating for parental involvement in the realization of the rights of the child – especially in the field of education. We also supported the participation of one of our Norwegian members in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Norway.

Oral Statement during ID with SRSG for children and armed conflict

OIDEL addressed the international community during this year’s interactive dialogue with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. We emphasized the crucial role of the family unit in a child’s life, particularly the guidance and stability provided by parents. OIDEL is deeply concerned about the deprivation of families’ fundamental human rights resulting from the denial of education and targeting essential institutions like hospitals and schools during armed conflict. We called for states to prioritize facilitating strong family bonds to ensure the safety of the child and the quality of childhood development.

To our contribution: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKOXbUJANTw

Oral Statement during the Annual Discussion on the Rights of the Child

The Human Rights Council’s annual discussion on the rights of the child addresses global challenges surrounding the rights of children. The theme for this year centered on Early Childhood Development. In our contribution to the discussion, OIDEL emphasized the crucial role of parental involvement in a child’s early development, particularly the significant influence of parents, in shaping a child’s understanding of the world. Our advocacy officer, Josyane Zingg, thus emphasized the importance of the parental viewpoint in the drafting of the optional protocol on the convention on the rights of the child on early childhood education later this year. Trusting parents and supporting non-governmental schools that offer acceptable and adaptable options for families is especially important for the protection of the right to education of cultural minorities.

To our contribution: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ7acnPpzes

Oral Statement during UPR Norway Outcome Discussions

Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a process where each UN Member State’s human rights record is reviewed by other states. The UPR provides a platform for constructive dialogue, allowing states to present their efforts to improve human rights, and for other states to offer recommendations to the states under review.

During the 4th cycle of the UPR, the Netherlands made a recommendation to Norway to review the Independent Schools Act which currently hinders the development of non-governmental schools and thus infringes on the right to education for the people of Norway. Unfortunately, Norway rejected that recommendation. During the outcome discussion on March 24th, Audun Raen, representative of the Norwegian Christian Independent Schools Network, took the floor on behalf of OIDEL during the Human Rights Council session to react to Norway’s decision and urging the Norwegian government to revise the Independent Schools Act and to align it with international human rights law.

To our contribution: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwURNCh5VQE

Informal Consultations on Draft Resolutions

During the six-week session of the Human Rights Council, OIDEL followed several resolutions focusing on economic, social and cultural rights.