A/68/294 66. Action at the national level should be supportive of legislative developments and specific laws for women’s empowerment through education within the framework of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, as a follow up to the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2010 of the Economic and Social Council. VI. Education as the foundation of the post-2015 development agenda 67. That the importance of education is not only a right in itself, but also is essential for the enjoyment of all other rights must be recognized in the post-2015 development agenda. As already mentioned, poverty cannot be eradicated without education. The key role of education should be clearly recognized for the empowerment of women and girls. Unemployed youth and adults require additional education and training to develop skills and find decent work. Education can promote values necessary for creating democratic, stable and peaceful societies. 68. The central role of education in accelerating progress towards all Millennium Development Goals is now recognized and clearly shows that any goal that is set for a future development agenda should be underpinned by educational dimensions, and the post-2015 development agenda must invariably take into account such educational dimensions. Its importance is also reflected in the Global Initiative on Education of the Secretary-General, Education First, mentioned above, which sets out a vision to make education a top priority of the global political agenda. The post-2015 development agenda must build upon the Initiative, along with a human rights-based concept of sustainable development. VII. Human rights-based concept of sustainable development and its educational dimensions 69. Human rights standards provide a normative framework that grounds development work within a universal set of values and human rights standards also provide an important tool for ensuring that development is pursued in an equitable, just and sustainable manner. Development cannot be sustainable if it is not anchored by human rights. Indeed, human rights instruments provide the foundation that is essential to ensure that all people benefit from development. In addition, the rule of law and development, which are strongly interrelated and are mutually reinforcing, are also essential in the post-2015 development agenda. 70. Aligning development strategies with human rights norms and principles would enhance the chances of achieving sustainable development goals, as such an alignment implies, among other things, paying serious attention to the core principles of non-discrimination and equality in the formulation and implementation of policy decisions. That is essential in order to avoid economic progress that continues to leave untouched those who remain marginalized. 71. Norms and principles expressed in the Declaration on the Right to Development, adopted by the General Assembly in 1986, are of abiding significance, and also provide a basis for the formulation and implementation of the development agenda. The Declaration recognizes that the human person is the 13-42277 15/26