Education is not only a fundamental right but also a means to realize other children’s rights. This is why a group of countries and civil society organizations are working together to create an Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child to ensure free pre-primary and secondary education.
Have a look below at how children have participated in this initiative!
This initiative aims to make sure every child can go to school for free, starting from preschool all the way through secondary school. Unfortunately, a lot of children and their parents must pay for school when they are really young or for secondary school.
Because of this, many children can’t make it to secondary school, and more than half of those who do start secondary school don’t finish. Additionally, almost half of the children around the world don’t go to preschool.
Learning early on can help children to develop vital skills in the long run. It makes a big difference in how well they do in school, their health, and even their chances of getting a good job when they are older. Going to secondary school is also important because it helps children get better jobs, earn more money, and avoid poverty.
Every child should have at least one year of free education before starting primary school and free education for secondary school.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child says that primary school should be free, but it doesn’t say anything about free preschool or secondary school. This is why we wish to work with states to create a new law to make sure all children get at least one year of free education before primary school and free education for secondary school.
Want to know more about this initiative?
Read the Children’s Advisory Team’s letter to the UN High Commissioner where they share their thoughts on this important initiative.
Download the letter:
English
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Listen to the messages of the Children’s Advisory Team about why free preschool and secondary school education are important and the changes they hope to see.
Listening to the children
Catarina and Freja, two of Child Rights Connect’s child advisors participated in the side event to the 56th United Nations Human Rights Council Session to voice their support for the creation of the Optional Protocol and why it matters to them.
This initiative was launched by the Working Group on Education by the following members: African Child Policy Forum, Alana Institute, ATD Fourth World, Avaaz, Centre de Paix Junneuf, Dublin City University, Education International, Equal Education Law Centre, GI-ESCR, Girls not Brides, Global Campaign for Education, Initiative for Social and Economic Rights, Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion, International Council of Women, ISPA, Make Mothers Matter, Malala Fund, OHCHR, OMEP – Organsation Mondiale pour l’Education Prescolaire /World Organization for Early Childhood Education, Red Clade, Right to Education Initiative, Right to Education Initiative (RTE), Sesame Workshop, UNESCO, World Vision, Plan International.
This webpage was funded by Human Rights Watch.