A/HRC/21/20 I. Introduction 1. The General Assembly, in resolution 59/113 A, launched the World Programme for Human Rights Education as a global initiative to advance the implementation of human rights education programmes in all sectors, structured in consecutive phases. The first phase (2005-2009) focused on integrating human rights education in primary and secondary school systems. 2. In its resolution 12/4, the Human Rights Council focused the second phase (2010-2014) on human rights education in higher education and human rights training for teachers and educators, civil servants, law enforcement officials and military personnel. Pursuant to its mandate, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) prepared a draft plan of action (A/HRC/15/28) containing practical guidance for national implementation by Governments and other stakeholders. 3. In its resolution 15/11, the Human Rights Council adopted the above-mentioned plan of action and encouraged States to implement it. It recalled that Member States should also continue the implementation of human rights education in their school systems, as begun during the first phase, and requested OHCHR to prepare a progress report on the World Programme for submission in 2012. 4. In the present report, OHCHR outlines a range of national initiatives undertaken from January 2010 to May 2012 to implement human rights education in the above-mentioned sectors, as reported by Governments and national human rights institutions. It also describes related activities undertaken by OHCHR and other intergovernmental organizations from July 2011 to May 2012. International initiatives undertaken before July 2011 are included in the report of the Secretary-General on follow-up to the International Year of Human Rights Learning (A/66/225). 5. An important development that took place in the past year is the adoption by the General Assembly, in its resolution 66/137, of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training, which constitutes a new normative reference for the international community. II. National initiatives reported by Governments and national human rights institutions 6. In February 2012, OHCHR circulated a note verbale inviting Member States to submit information on overall national strategies for implementing the plan of action for the second phase of the World Programme, and specific initiatives undertaken with regard to higher education, teachers and educators, civil servants, law enforcement officials and the military. As at 31 May 2012, information had been received from 34 Governments, including Member States’ replies to a September 2011 letter from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. In February 2012, OHCHR also requested input from national human rights institutions on their related activities, in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 15/11. As at 31 May 2012, 14 institutions had provided information. The list of respondents is found in the annex to the present report. 7. Reference is made herein to 45 countries; the material is organized thematically according to the target sectors of the second phase. Information from correspondence received after 31 May 2012 has not been included. While containing illustrative examples, the present report does not reflect all initiatives taking place worldwide. Furthermore, the information received has not been independently verified. Details of referenced national 3