Education is a fundamental pillar of human
development. The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), emphasizes the
importance of the right to education for children. Education creates the basis
of equality of opportunity and promotes the fullest possible development of the
child. However it is not enough to provide access to education. The quality of
the education plays a major role in order for a child to reach their potential.
Article 28 of the CRC places a duty on the States Parties to recognize the
right of the child to education ‘on the basis of equal opportunity’. Despite
this ‘universal’ Convention, equality in education is not an ‘universal’
phenomenon. Inequality in education mostly occurs amongst girls, children with
disabilities, indigenous and minority children, and children living in rural
communities.[1]
In order to achieve these goals, boys and girls all
over the world should have equal chances to practice this right to education.
Unfortunately there are still states which violate the right to education and
gender equality. Malala was a Pakistani education activist, who fought hard for
the right to education for girls in Pakistan. Malala was shot in Pakistan in
2012, when she stood up and spoke out in favor of education for girls. In
Pakistan, especially in rural areas the situation is terrible because of social
and cultural obstacles. In some areas the education of girls is strictly
prohibited on religious grounds. Due to this strict prohibition, governmental
organizations have tried to open informal schools in order to educate girls.
Unfortunately local landlords still oppose these attempts, because of the fear
the community will cease to follow then blindly. [2]
Although the international framework offers a good
guidance to protect this valuable right, there seems to be a lack of proper
implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. I believe
international organizations and governments should cooperate more intensively
to reduce and minimize the level of inequality in the children’s rights to
education.
[1]G. van Bueren, The International law on the Rights of the Child, Martinus Nijhoff
Publishers 1998, p. 245-246
[2]A. Latif, Alarming
situation of education in Pakistan, <http://www.unesco.org/education/efa/know_sharing/grassroots_stories/pakistan_2.shtml>
This is a difficult blog to react to, because it defends a point-of-view which everyone will agree with. Perhaps one interesting point about Malala, is what is the role of her father in her decision to become a martyr. In other words: who put the idea into her head that she should stand up for the rights of all girl children excluded from school?
BeantwoordenVerwijderenTo take the general issue necessary is very complex. What stops states from respecting the right of girls to go to school?