This Declaration emphasises the need for higher education to be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit, with no on discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, language, religion or economic, cultural or social distinctions, or physical disabilities. It establishes principles, and ways of preparing higher education of the tasks that await it in the twenty-first century, despite different national and regional situations. It is with this future in view that this declaration calls for access to higher education to be widened, popularised and made more equitable, and efforts to be made to promote equal opportunities for success in higher studies.