OIDEL is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation, with consultative status with the United Nations, UNESCO and the European Council. It is legally recognized as a public interest association under Swiss law.

The primary objective of OIDEL is the promotion of the right to education as a fundamental human right. Such a right cannot exist without the presence of State benefits and the protection of individual liberties. The action of OIDEL is mainly based on article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights.

FOUNDATION

OIDEL was created in 1985, by forty political personalities, educational experts and parents. It has consultative status with the United Nations, UNESCO and the European Council, and collaborates with the European Union and international non-governmental organisations. OIDEL was attributed the status of a public interest organisation by the Canton of Geneva, which hosts its headquarters.

The founding members of OIDEL

Charles L. Glenn*, (USA) Dean of the Boston University School of Education. Lluis Alegre, (E) Former Member of Spanish Parliament and Catalan Minister of Commerce. Maria Jesus Barroso Soares*, (P) President of the Foundation Pro Dignitate, former Vice-President of the Education Commission of the Parliament, former President of the European Parliament. Emilio Colombo,(I) Former President of the Minister Council, former President of the European Parliament. Ramón Durany*, (E) Former President of the Institució Familiar d'Educació. Concepcio Ferrer*, (E) Former Member of the European Parliament. José María Ferre* (E), Fundación Abaco. Eugenio Gil*, (E) Former School Principal. Guy Guermeur*, (F) Former Member of the National Assembly and of the European Parliament. Antoine Humblet, (B) Former Minister of Education, honorary President of OIDEL. Werner van Kattwijk*, (NE) General Director of the Parents' Association of Protestant Schools. Kurt Malangré, (D) Former Member of the European Parliament, former Mayor of Aix-la-Chapelle. Mario Mauro*, (I) Member of the European Parliament. Joseph Michel, (B) Former Minister of Education. Alberto Michelini, (I) Former member ot the European Parliamentl. Juan Antonio Ortega y Díaz-Ambrona, (E) Former Minister of Education. Jacques Python, (CH) Lawyer, honorary President of OIDEL. Rosa Russo Jervolino, (I) Mayor of Naples, former Minister of the Interior and of Education. Stuart Sexton*, (GB) Director of IPSET, Education Unit. Macjej Srebro*, (P) Former Minister. Mario Viscovi, (I) Former President of the European Parents' Association. Frank Monagle, (AUS) Pared Foundation, Director.

* Member of the Executive Committee (20012-2014)

STRUCTURE

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Holds the ultimate decision powers. Meetings are held at least once a year.

THE EXECUTIVE COMMITEE
Composed of 14 to 17 members elected by the General Assembly. They define the organization's orientation and activities.

THE PERMANENTCOMMISSION
Office of the Executive Committee. Meetings are held 8 to 10 times a year.

THE DIRECTOR GENERAL
Elected by the Executive Committee and entrusted to implement the decisions of the General Assembly and the Executive Committee.

Composition of the Executive Committee

President
Eugenio Gil-Villén

Vice-Presidents
Charles L. Glenn
Guy Guermeur

Secretary of the Committee and President of the Permanent Commission
Concepció Ferrer

Members
Maria de Jesús Barroso Soares, Joan Curcó, Francis Delpérée, Joan Gallostra, Paz Gutiérrez Cortina, Mario Mauro, Luisa Ribolzi, María Lurdes Rodrigues, Angel Sánchez, Werner van Kattwijk, Luca Volontè.
.

DIRECTION
Alfred Fernandez, Director General

MEMBERSHIP

The members of OIDEL are individuals or legal persons

(associations, school groups, NGOs):

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION
Institutional subscriber: US$ 980.-/ Euro 750.-/CHF 1000.-
Individual subscriber: US$ 290.- / Euro 220.-/CHF 300.-

OIDEL depends on subscription fees and conference and research subsidies for its income.

OIDEL is represented in the following countries:

AFRICA
Angola, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Zaire

AMERICAS
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, United States, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela

ASIA
Brunei, India, Japan, Pakistan, The Philippines, Turkey

EUROPE
Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Spain, France, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Czech Republic.

OCEANIA
Australia, New Zealand