This Monday, in Geneva, the negotiation of a new international agreement began that aims to ensure free access to nurseries, preschools, and secondary education for all children. The meeting, which brings together governments, experts, civil society representatives, and academics, is being held within the framework of the Intergovernmental Working Group, created by a Human Rights Council resolution in July 2024. The discussions are scheduled to continue until Wednesday.
One of the central proposals under consideration is the recognition that the right to education includes care and teaching in early childhood. The participants aim to establish fundamental legal obligations, define the structure for international cooperation, and develop guidelines for drafting the final document. The three-day meeting is led by Samuel Saffa Esq., Deputy Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the UN.
UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Awa Dabo, President of the Committee on the Rights of the Child Sophie Kiladze, and Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education Farida Shaheed are participating in the event. An innovative aspect of the resolution is the emphasis on active and safe participation of children throughout the entire process, with child activists from various parts of the world invited to share their perspectives to influence the drafting of the final recommendations.
