Global Action Week....Education As a Human Right

Education As a Human Right
A basic education is a right inherent to being human, each child's birthright and thus constitutes an end in itself. However, education is also a means to an end: it is required to ensure all people can live in a dignified manner and participate effectively in society. It also enables human beings to exercise all the other human rights (enshrined in the UN Declaration of Human Rights). Unfortunately there is often a gap between the language of "rights" and the setting of "development goals" (which are often more influential in defining the actions of governments). The Education For All Goals, that were reaffirmed at the Dakar World Education Forum in 2000, were unusual in recognising the right to education: … all children, young people and adults have the human right to benefit from an education that will meet their basic learning needs…Ensuring that by 2015 all children…have access to and complete free and compulsory primary education of good quality' .

Next year, 2007, is a crucial year as it is the mid-point towards the EFA goals. Time is running out to achieve these. It is an important moment for demanding more urgent action towards achieving education rights. Rather than being a distant ideal these rights need to be converted into a reality now – and the EFA goals gives us a deadline.

http://www.campaignforeducation.org/action/2007/action.html

http://www.unesco.org/education/efa/wef_2000/index.shtml

http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2000/20000426.sgsm7369.doc.html