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HRE USA

A network dedicated to building a culture of human rights

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Protecting the Right to Education, Academic Freedom, and Human Rights Education in the United States (2025 with 2026 Update)

Submission to United Nations Universal Periodic Review of the United States of America

Fourth Cycle
50th Session of the UPR
Human Rights Council

April 2025

Submitted By: Human Rights Educators USA, Amnesty International, Educators’ Institute for Human Rights, Right to Learn (R2L) Coalition

The right to education is fundamental and has long been recognized in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and other human rights treaties. It is an essential human right to be implemented at the local, state, national, and international levels. Grounded in the principle of non-discrimination and inclusive of human rights education (HRE) and academic freedom, the right to education is integral to ensuring the full range of other human rights, such as supporting democracy, peace and security, and sustainable development. Protecting and promoting the right to education in the United States of America (USA) is of urgent and vital importance. The Universal Periodic Review process presents a critical opportunity for United Nations (UN) Member States to provide clear guidance to the USA on upholding this right.

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We are grateful for the generous support of our members, individual donors, and The Puffin Foundation Ltd
The core values of HRE USA and its partner organizations include transparency and critical thinking skills. We believe that human rights--and human rights education--belong to everyone, and that the full realization of human rights means that access to human rights education materials must never be conditioned upon the subscription to any particular religious faith, ideology, political affiliation, or membership in any particular organization and that any organizational connections should be openly acknowledged.