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The Abidjan Principles are an “instrumental document” for the East African Centre for Human Rights’ advocacy on the right to education

In a new video in the Abidjan Principles in Practice series, Johnstone Shisanya, Education Support Programme Manager at East African Centre for Human Rights (EACHRights) explains how EACHRights is using the Abidjan Principles to advocate for the human right to education for all and the document’s importance.

Turning the Abidjan Principles into Practice in Brazil

The case of Brazil offers an excellent example of how the Abidjan Principles can be used by civil society to influence national education policy and regulatory processes.

In a new video in the Abidjan Principles in Practice series, Andressa Pellanda, General Coordinator at the Brazilian Campaign for the Right to Education (BCRE), explains how in 2022 BCRE used the Abidjan Principles to push for stronger regulations on private actors in education, “arguing that private sector involvement cannot be a quick fix for inequality as it can and does deepen inequalities”. This contributed to a “major victory” in 2024: the National Conference on Education endorsed the expansion of “private and community education regulation”. 

Abidjan Principles 6th Anniversary: Unpacking the Legal Foundations and Justifications

To commemorate the 6th Anniversary of the Abidjan Principles, a special event was held on 20 February 2025, bringing together prominent experts who delved into the legal foundations and ongoing relevance of the Principles in realising the right to free, quality and inclusive education for all. This event also provided an opportunity to showcase several legal commentaries that have been published since 2023 by the Oxford Human Rights Hub.  

The event, co-moderated by Aya Douabou, Programme Officer – Africa at GI-ESCR, and Ashina Mtsumi, Coordinator for the TaxEd Alliance, welcomed 36 participants, and focused on the following Guiding Principles Commentaries:

The event featured insightful contributions from Meghan Campbell, Deputy-Director of the Oxford Human Rights Hub, Jacqueline Mowbray, Associate Professor at the University of Sydney's Law School, Dr Perekeme Mutu, Research Assistant Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, Dr Maria Ron Balsera, Executive Director, Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR) and Dr Roman Zinigrad, Assistant Professor of Law at the American University of Paris.  

Designed for a broad audience –including civil society organisations, educational planners, policymakers, human rights advocates, UN agencies, development partners and other stakeholders at national and international levels–, this event provided an invaluable opportunity for those committed to understanding and advancing the right to education globally. 

73 states make joint declaration on academic freedom which references the Abidjan Principles

73 states make joint declaration on academic freedom which references the Abidjan Principles

The 52nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, held in Geneva between 27 February - 4 April 2023, saw the presentation of a joint statement on academic freedom by France on behalf of 72 additional countries. The statement reaffirms the vital importance of academic freedom and calls on all states to protect and promote it as a cornerstone of democracy and human rights. The joint statement specifically references the Abidjan Principles.

Tashkent Declaration on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) adopted in November 2022 recognises the relevance of Abidjan Principles

Adopted during the second UNESCO World Conference on Early Childhood Care and Education (WCECCE) on 16 November 2022, the Tashkent Declaration and Commitments to Action for Transforming Early Childhood Care and Education refers to the Abidjan Principles on the human rights obligations of States to provide public education and to regulate private involvement in education (hereafter: Abidjan Principles) in the list of ‘ pioneering international and regional initiatives and statements’ applying to ECCE (para. 8). 

Celebrating the Abidjan Principles’ Second Anniversary | EVENT & NEW VIDEO SERIES

Celebrating the Abidjan Principles’ Second Anniversary | EVENT & NEW VIDEO SERIES

To celebrate the 2nd anniversary of the Abidjan Principles which have become the worldwide reference text on the right to education, we are releasing a five-video series explaining what the Abidjan Principles are, entail, how they can be implemented and by whom. The series culminates with an animation video that we will launch on 12 February, as we hold our celebratory event which we hope you join!

New landmark Abidjan Principles on the right to education and private actors adopted by experts

(13 February 2019, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire): A group of human rights experts from around the world adopted the Abidjan Principles on the right to education today, following three years of consultations, reflection and drafting. The Abidjan Principles seek to strengthen existing efforts to ensure that everyone’s right to education is protected in the context of growing, and often unregulated private actor involvement in education.