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.
Founding members
Lluis Alegre, (E) ancien Parlementaire et Ministre catalan du Commerce. Emilio Colombo,(I) Ancien Président du Conseil des ministres, ancien Président du Parlement Européen. Ramón Durany, (E) Ancien Président d’ Institució Familiar d’Educació. Concepció Ferrer, (E) Adjointe Ombudsman, ancien Membre du Parlement Européen. Antoine Humblet, (B) Ancien Ministre de l´Education, Président honoraire de l´OIDEL. Kurt Malangré, (D) ancien Parlementaire Européen, ancien Maire d´Aix-la-Chapelle. Joseph Michel, (B) ancien Ministre de l´Education. Alberto Michelini, (I) Ancien membre du Parlement Européen. Juan Antonio Ortega y Díaz-Ambrona, (E) ancien Ministre de l´Education. Jacques Python, (CH) Avocat, Président honoraire de l´OIDEL. Rosa Russo Jervolino, (I) ancienne Ministre de l´Intérieur et de l´Education. Stuart Sexton, (GB) Directeur de IPSET. Mario Viscovi, (I) ancien Président de l´Association européenne des parents d´élèves. Frank Monagle, (AUS) Directeur d’établissement.
Executive Comitee
President
Diego Barroso, President of the EPA (European Parents Association) de 2004 a 2009
Vice Presidents
Charles L. Glenn, Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Education, Boston University.
Ernesto Rolando Marín Coto, Minister of Education in Salvador (2002-2004)
Secretary
Ángel Sánchez, Corporate General Manager of IFE (Institució Familiar d’Educació)
Members
Alfonso Aguiló, President of the Educational Network “Arenales”. National President of the Spanish Confederation of Education Centres (CECE).
António Sarmento, President of AEEP (Associação De Estabelecimentos De Ensino Particular E Cooperativo) and of ISU (Instituto de Solidariedade e Cooperação Universitária). Secretary of CNEF (Confederação Nacional de Educação e Formação).
Arja Kraunchenberg, President of the Education Committee of the Cerence of INGOs of the Council of Europe. Vice-president of LLLP (Lifelong Learning Platform). Project Coordinator of EPA (European Parents Association).
Bertrand Doncieux, Executive Director of AEFLIB (Association Européenne des Facultés Libres).
Claire de Lavernette, Vice president of the NGO Committee of Human Rights.
Francis Delpérée, Professor Emeritus of the University of Louvain. Member of the Chambers of Deputies of Belgium (2004-2019)
Georges Haddad, Honorary President of Pantheon-Sorbonne University (1994-2016). Rector of the University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne (2016-2021). Head of the Higher Education Division of UNESCO (2004-2010), and Founder and Director of the Education Research and Foresight in the Education Sector of UNESCO.
Joan Curcó, General Director of Fomento de Centros de Enseñanza.
Joan Gallostra, President of FIP (Fundació per a la Innovació Professional).
Luisa Ribolzi, Professor Emeritus at the University of Genoa. Member of ANVUR (Agenzia Nazionale di Valutazione del Sistema Universitario e della Ricerca) in Italy.
Paz Gutiérrez Cortina, Secretary of the Commission on Education in the Parliament of Mexico (2009-2012).
Members and funding
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION
Institutional subscriber: US$ 1000.-/ Euro 1000.-/CHF 1000.-
Individual subscriber: US$ 300.- / Euro 300.-/CHF 300.-
OIDEL depends on subscription fees and conference and research subsidies for its income.
The members of OIDEL are individuals or legal persons (associations, school groups, NGOs):
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
Objectives
OIDEL pursues the following objectives:
To achieve its goal, OIDEL collaborates with many experts, and works with international organizations and governments to promote the right to education and freedom to education. It aims to:
- STUDY educational policies according to an approach based on human rights.
- INFORM the public of progress and violations of the right to education and freedom of education.
- PROVIDE training and information on the right to education and freedom of education to stakeholders in the field of education.
- COLLABORATE with international organizations and bodies for the protection of human rights to defend and promote the right to education and educational freedoms.
Main Activities
International Organizations.
– UN Commission on Human Rights
– UN Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights
– UN Economic and Social Council
– UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
– International Conference on Education (UNESCO/IBE)
– General Conference (UNESCO)
– Parliamentary Assembly (Council of Europe)
– European Parliament
– European Commission
– UN World Conferences
A network of experts
OIDEL manages a worldwide network OF experts: jurists, economists, academics, government representatives and managers of independent schools. Among the countries represented are Argentina, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru, the UK,the United States.