GSF took part in 2025 Social Forum of the UN Human Rights Council, held in Geneva, between 30 and 31 October. This year’s edition centred on the role of education in advancing the respect, promotion, protection, and fulfilment of all human rights, reaffirming education not only as a fundamental right but also as a transformative force for social progress.
We affirm that education is critical for advancing social, economic, political, and environmental justice. We call for the establishment of education systems that are inclusive, democratic, and equitable. Such systems must respect and integrate the cultural identities, traditions, and regional specificities of diverse communities, while also protecting the rights of learners in crisis, particularly students affected by armed conflict, displacement, climate disasters, and other emergencies. Ensuring access to quality education for all is essential. Many marginalised groups, including girls, refugees, displaced persons, and children with disabilities, face significant obstacles due to poverty, discrimination, and structural inequalities. These barriers limit learning opportunities and perpetuate social exclusion. Additionally, inadequate educational infrastructure and the lack of reliable data on vulnerable populations hinder effective planning and support, threatening both access to education and the cultural continuity of communities. The Forum provided a key platform to advocate for youth-inclusive policymaking toward the realisation of the 2030 Agenda. GSF emphasised that young people are not just beneficiaries: they are co-architects of rights-based strategies to confront global inequalities, democratic erosion, environmental degradation, digital transition, and conflict. Their perspectives and lived experiences must inform education frameworks, including in emergency contexts, if we are to build resilient and just systems.
GSF’s presence reaffirms its enduring commitment to strengthening the connection between education, human rights, and social change. In a world where millions of children remain excluded from schooling, ensuring that students’ voices, aspirations, and rights are placed at the centre of multilateral debates is imperative. Education must be upheld as a public good, a protective mechanism in times of crisis, a vehicle for cultural continuity, and a foundation for dignity, agency, and meaningful participation for all learners across the globe.
