EASG: Education, Human Rights, and Multilateralism: What’s at Stake in the UN80 Reforms?

As the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary, calls for reform have grown louder. The Education and Academia Stakeholder Group (EASG) has added its voice to the global conversation, welcoming the need for meaningful reform while issuing a clear warning: not all change is progress if it comes at the cost of the UN’s core principles.

In its recent statement, EASG acknowledges the urgent need to strengthen the UN system to address the complex challenges of our time. From climate change to rising inequality, a stronger, more responsive multilateral system is vital. However, EASG’s message is unequivocal — reforms must uphold the UN Charter, protect human rights, and prioritise education and inclusive development.

A Dangerous Drift: Efficiency Over Rights?

One of the group’s main concerns is that the UN80 Initiative appears increasingly driven by cost-cutting and efficiency alone. While operational improvements are needed, they should never come at the expense of the UN’s essential work for the world’s most marginalised communities.

Proposals to merge or downsize critical human rights offices and agencies could weaken the very protections that millions rely on. EASG warns that a cost-driven approach risks undermining the UN’s human rights architecture at a time when global solidarity, non-violence, and inclusive development are more urgent than ever.

Why Education Must Be Non-Negotiable

At the heart of EASG’s statement is a clear reminder: education is a universal right, not a privilege. Sustainable Development Goal 4 — quality education for all — underpins progress on every other global goal. Yet in the proposed reforms, education risks becoming an afterthought.

EASG calls for education — in all its forms — to be recognised as a cornerstone of peacebuilding, resilience and sustainable development. This means protecting not only schools and universities, but also informal learning, public awareness and lifelong learning opportunities. In a world facing growing crises, informed and engaged citizens are not optional — they are essential.

Where Is Civil Society?

Another key critique is the lack of genuine consultation. EASG highlights the worrying absence of meaningful engagement with civil society, rights holders and education experts in shaping the reforms. Excluding those who stand to be most affected threatens the legitimacy of the process and risks reforms that are disconnected from real needs on the ground.

The Way Forward: A Vision for a People-Centred UN

In its statement, EASG sets out clear conditions for a reform agenda that lives up to the promise of the UN Charter:

✅ Protect and strengthen human rights and democratic participation, including rethinking the Security Council to reflect today’s global diversity.
✅ Safeguard gender equality and intersectional approaches across all UN mandates.
✅ Keep education at the centre of peacebuilding and sustainable development efforts.
✅ Ensure meaningful stakeholder engagement, giving a real voice to educators, students and civil society.
✅ Reinforce multilateral cooperation, not weaken it.

As the UN turns 80, EASG reminds us that this moment must not become an exercise in retrenchment, but a bold step towards a fairer, more inclusive and more resilient multilateral system.

The group’s message is clear: “We remain open to contributing to reform efforts that uphold the spirit of the UN Charter and the promise of the 2030 Agenda.”

Read the full statement: EASG Statement on UN80 Reform

Learn more about EASG’s work at educationacademia.org