A human rights based approach to education for all: A framework for the realization of children’s right to education

This document is a comprehensive analysis of actions necessary to undertake a rights-based approach to achieving Education for All (EFA). It offers a comprehensive framework of strategies and actions necessary to translate human rights into legislation, policies and programmes for the achievement of EFA. It presents key issues and challenges in rights-based approaches and provides a framework for policy and programme development from the level of the school up to the national and international levels. The document refers to the Dakar Framework for Action and identifies the following specific goals for EFA: expand early childhood care and education; provide free and compulsory primary EFA; promote learning and life skills for young people and adults; increase adult literacy by 50 per cent, especially for women; achieve gender parity by 2005 and gender equality by 2015; and improve the quality of education. The document focuses primarily on the educational rights of children although education has no age limit. Furthermore, the publication outlines state obligations and identifies the importance of a supportive political and economic environment, a robust legislative framework and rights-based education policies if governments are to realise the EFA goals. It also focuses on the rights and responsibilities of parents and other caregivers, communities, teachers, civil society organisations and the international community and how they can contribute to the realisation of the right to education