CHAPTER 19. EDUCATION AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES OBJECTIVE The objective of this chapter is to stress that all prisoners have the right to take part in education and cultural activities aimed at the full development of the human personality. ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES Education and cultural activities shall be provided and encouraged, including access to an adequate library. Education in prisons should be aimed at developing the whole person, taking account of prisoners' social, economic and cultural background. Education shall be compulsory for young prisoners and illiterate prisoners. The prison authorities should give this aspect of education a high priority. The outside community should be involved as much as possible in educational and cultural activities in prisons. BASIS IN INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS The right of all people to education and to participation in cultural life is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Everyone has the right to education. ... [art. 26, para. 1] Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. ... [art. 26, para. 2] Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits. [art. 27, para. 1] These rights are confirmed in article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The right of prisoners to cultural activities and education is also laid down in principle 6 of the Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners: All prisoners shall have the right to take part in cultural activities and education aimed at the full development of the human personality. The Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners provide: 77. (1) Provision shall be made for the further education of all prisoners capable of profiting thereby, including religious instruction in the countries where this is possible. The education of illiterates and young prisoners shall be compulsory and special attention shall be paid to it by the administration. (2) So far as practicable, the education of prisoners shall be integrated with the educational system of the country so that after their release they may continue their education without difficulty. 103