About Us

A dream that becomes a commitment: Education, a Right for All

Vision

A world where all boys, girls, and young people can realize their full potential to be free and responsible citizens.

We truly believe that the right to education is the vehicle to implement all other rights: receiving adequate education empowers people, and by developing their potential, enables them to build a dignified life.

Mission

This Office works to promote the right to education and Human Rights Education for all, prioritizing preventive intervention in urgent situations and the sharing of best practices.

IIMA promotes and defends Human Rights, especially those of Children, Young People and Women.

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IIMA obtained special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 2008. It contributes to the work of the Human Rights Council, the Universal Periodic Review and Treaty Bodies through the IIMA Human Rights Office in Geneva (Switzerland). The Office also represents VIDES International at the UN in Geneva

Everyone has the right to education

(art 26(1) Universal Declaration of Human rights).

“Education is both a human right in itself and an indispensable means of realizing other human rights”
(General Comment No. 13 of the United Nations Committee on Economie, Social and Cultural Rights).

Promoting the right to education and Human Rights Education, IIMA focuses on the most vulnerable groups, in particular children, youth, migrants and refugees, indigenous people, minorities, and those living in difficult situations.

ldentity

IIMA (lstituto lnternazionale Maria Ausiliatrice) or Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco, is an association born from the principles of St. John Bosco which require the dedication of oneself to the service of young people and children, in particular, the poorest and those living in difficult situations.

IIMA promotes and defends human rights, especially those of children, young people and women.

Education, understood as integral development, is at the center of our commitment, and we believe that our total dedication to children and young people is the best gift we can give to humanity.

Where we work

Albania

American Samoa

Angola

Argentina

Australia

Austria

Azerbaijan

Belgium

Benin

Belarus

Bolivia, Plurinational State of

Brazil

Burkina Faso

Cambodia

Cameroon

Canada

Chile

People’s Republic of China (incl. Hong Kong and Macau)

Colombia

Congo

Costa Rica

Côte D’Ivoire

Croatia

Cuba

Czech Republic

Democratic Republic of Congo

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

Egypt

El Salvador

Equatorial Guinea

Ethiopia

France

Gabon

Georgia

Germany

Ghana

Guatemala

Haiti

Honduras

Hungary

India

Indonesia

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Japan

Jordan

Kenya

Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Lebanon

Lesotho

Lithuania

Madagascar

Mali

Malta

Mexico

Mongolia

Mozambique

Myanmar

Nepal

Nicaragua

Panama

Papua New Guinea

Paraguay

Peru

Philippines

Poland

Portugal

Republic of Korea

Russian Federation

Rwanda

Samoa

Slovakia

Slovenia

Solomon Islands

South Africa

South Sudan

Spain

Sri Lanka

Sudan

Switzerland

Syrian Arab Republic

Taiwan

Tanzania, United Republic of

Thailand

Timor-Leste

Togo

Tunisia

Ukraine

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United States of America

Uruguay

Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of

Viet Nam

Zambia

2020 Strategic Objectives

 

To reinforce the use of the defense mechanisms for children’s and youth’s rights among both IIMA educators and society at large.

To enable local actors, including children and young people, to express their views on the implementation of their human rights and share best practices throughout the world in order to support Governments in complying with their international human rights obligations.

To share advocacy tools as well as other human rights-based materials with local human rights defenders and international organizations.