(xiii) the nature and scope of the obligation of States to receive and to provide international assistance and cooperation. Summary • States have an obligation to seek international assistance and co-operation, especially economic and technical, if their resources are not sufficient to fulfil their obligations in relation to the right to education. • The international community has an obligation to assist and co-operate in the realisation of the right to education and must commit funds and expertise in this regard. • Economic assistance and co-operation should include providing funds and debt relief. • The provision of technical assistance and co-operation requires States to exchange information, experiences and innovations. In addition, States should provide assistance in the preparation of educational laws, programmes and policies and assist in preventing violations of the right to education. • Developed States are required to co-operate and assist developing States in fulfilling the core obligations. • Developing States are required to use the resources received to satisfy the core obligations as a matter of priority and must give priority to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups within society. • Both the international community and States must refrain from adopting policies which obstruct or violate the right to education in developing countries. Discussion International human rights instruments Several international human rights instruments touch on the obligation of States to receive and to provide international assistance and co-operation. In particular, under the ICESCR, each State undertakes to “take steps, individually and through international assistance and cooperation, especially economic and technical, to the maximum of its available resources”, with a view to achieving progressively the full realisation of the right to education.439 This 439 ICESCR, article 2(1). See also ICESCR articles 11(1) and 23. Although other treaties contain general provisions on international co-operation (for example, articles 55 and 56 of the United Nations Charter require international solutions and co-operation), the ICESCR is the only UN human rights treaty with clear indication of this obligation. A detailed analysis of article 2(1) is included in the 139