OMEP
Organisation Mondiale pour l'Éducation Préscolaire
The name can be translated to English as "World Organization for Early Childhood Education" or to Spanish to "Organización Mundial para la Educación Preescolar" but always setting before the acronym "OMEP". The abbreviation "OMEP" shall be used in all languages.
History
After World War II, physical devastation was evident throughout Europe – crumbled buildings, ruined parks, impassable streets, damaged infrastructure. Psychological and social damage were equally evident. A strong humanitarian concern led a small group of educators and others interested in young children's wellbeing to seek a way to engage others committed to this cause.
In 1946, Lady Allen of Hurtwood (The United Kingdom) and Alva Myrdal (Sweden), with others from France, Denmark, and Norway, developed a plan for the creation of a world organisation to promote the wellbeing, rights and education of young children. The UNESCO Assembly in Paris welcomed the plan with enthusiasm, and the founding members invited representatives of 19 countries from 3 continents to a World Conference on Early Childhood Education in Prague in 1948.
At that Conference, OMEP was born and Alva Myrdal was elected as its first World President. This new organisation was recognised then, as it is now, as the principal mechanism to bring together people from all over the world, without any criteria other than an objective to share information and initiate actions to benefit young children everywhere.
What is OMEP?
OMEP is an international, non-governmental and non-profit organisation, which has worked for all aspects of early childhood education and care (ECEC) since 1948.
OMEP is currently in over 80 countries, has special consultative status with the UN, UNESCO and UNICEF, and is represented at the meeting of other organisations with similar aims. OMEP defends and promotes the rights of the child to education and care worldwide and supports activities which improve accessibility to high quality education and care.
Official language
OMEP uses English, French and Spanish as official languages. Nevertheless, other languages may be used to respond to situational demands.
Vision
A world where every young child is born into a society that values and respects them as citizens.
In this world, children are granted all the fundamental human rights outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. As they grow, they develop holistically, becoming healthy and happy individuals.
We understand that education is a right and a tool for the realisation of all other rights, and that is why we work and contribute to ensure that States and societies fulfil their commitment to provide equitable, inclusive and quality education to all children in early childhood, from birth to 8 years old.
A united OMEP capable of developing an integrated, professional and democratic work, based on our knowledge and experience as teachers, researchers, policymakers and activists for children.
Objectives
The aims and objectives of OMEP are to defend and promote the rights of the child with special emphasis on the right to education and care worldwide. To this end, OMEP shall help any undertaking which could promote access to quality early childhood education and care. The means of action are as follows:
Constitution
The constitution of OMEP delineates the management frame of the organisation regarding aims, membership, structure, finance, etc.
DOWNLOAD CONSTITUTIONOMEP Statement of Ethics
The OMEP Ethical Statement represents one of the fundamental pillars of our work and identity. It brings together a set of shared values and principles that guide our organization in promoting and defending the rights, well-being and integral development of all early childhood. This document defines our ethical framework, goals and standards of conduct and guides the decision-making and relationships of all OMEP members - including National Committees, Preparatory Committees, and individual and honorary members.