News- 884

On 19 September, the Committee on the Rights of the Child held a Day of General Discussion on the right of the child to education in emergency situations with the participation of representatives of Governments, United Nations bodies and specialized agencies, non-governmental organizations, national human rights institutions and individual experts.

Bice and our member organization, the Bureau of International Solidarity of the Marists Brothers, contributed with a written communication, which was co-signed by other eleven NGOs, relating our field experience in dealing with this issue.

Yanghee Lee, Chairperson of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, introducing the discussion, said the purpose of this year's Day was to provide States and other concerned actors with comprehensive guidance in dealing with education in emergency situations, and to clarify the meaning of articles 28 and 29 of the Convention in the context of emergencies.

The focus of the first Working Group was on continuation and/or reconstruction of the educational system, looking at article 28 (right of the child to education progressively, and on the basis of equal opportunity).

The focus of the second Working Group was on the content and quality of education provided for children in emergency situations, and targeted article 29 (education shall be directed to the development of the child's fullest potential).

The Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education, Mr. Vernor Muñoz said that, in general, education is discriminatory and this becomes worst when it comes to emergency situations. In recent years, programmatic principles and funding for education had been cut. Physical, cognitive, and social and emotional security combined with education was necessary. States had a responsibility to act. Armed conflicts and natural disasters often occur in countries that are not able to deal with these kinds of issues. The Special Rapporteur urged the donors to acknowledge the right to education and for more resources be allocated to fragile States.

Cream Wright, Chief of the Education Section of the United Nations Children's Fund stated that significant progress had been achieved in identifying clearer standards to meet the rights of the child that were expected to be delivered, as well as focused and coordinated support for children in emergency situations. According to him, it is necessary to determine when this rights start. He identified what he called the "3P's":
- To be able to predict the emergency,
- To be able to be better prepared for the emergency,
- To be able to prevent the emergency
If the "3 p's" are followed, we are more able to respond and provide the adequate solutions to permit children to have access to education in emergency situations.

Tove Wang, Chair of "Rewrite the Future" at Save the Children noted that education was not part of every humanitarian response and, as a result, children affected by emergencies missed out on weeks, months and years of education. Given that the average conflict lasts 10 years and that the average stay in a camp for internally displaced persons is 17 years, it is crucial to provide education from the outset of every humanitarian response. She noticed that education must be given to all. Any child affected by an emergency has a right to education. Children who study are less trafficked or involved in armies. Education can transform their lives from violence and poverty.

The first group agreed that education was protection for the well-being and security of children in conflict situations. The hierarchy with respect to development partners in addressing the right of children to education, which was ranked lower than other priorities, has to be changed.

The second Working Group concluded that education helped children return to a normal state of life, and a child-friendly school was needed to do that. Further, it was agreed that children in emergencies require special help on how to survive, such as basic knowledge on health, how to protect themselves from exploitation and an understanding of what has happened to them and why they are in this state. Some recommendations were outlined on the basis of the discussion, including that negotiations be undertaken with Governments so that certificates issued in emergency contexts are recognized and those children could be reintegrated into schools when the emergencies or conflicts are at an end.

Moushira Khattab, Committee Expert serving as Rapporteur for the Day of General Discussion, in concluding comments, said that that the Convention on the Rights of the Child treated the right to education as a fundamental right without discrimination of any kind. Five key messages resulted from the discussion:
1. education is a human right;
2. it is a relief message;
3. it forms an integral part of every humanitarian response;
4. it has to be provided at the outset;
5. and that minimum standards have to be respected.