Contributions sought for the 2010 annual report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to education

The annual report of the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education, which will be presented to the Human Rights Council in 2010, will focus on the right to education of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers.  With the aim of hearing from all interested persons and/or organizations about their experiences, concerns and thoughts on the provision of education for migrants, refugees and/or asylum seekers, the  Special Rapporteur kindly asks to respond to a questionnaire designed for UN, Government and NGOs experts, academics and other civil society actors.

Send Questionnaires to:

sreducation@ohchr.org

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by January 20, 2010.

To ensure a full reflection in the answers of the differing status, needs and experiences of migrants and refugees and/or those who are seeking asylum, where appropriate the questions have been split into one of two categories:

(i) migrants and

(ii) refugees and/or asylum seekers. 

Should one category not apply to your domain of expertise please simply pass on to the next question.
In responding to this questionnaire please pay particular attention to the principle of non-discrimination, in conjunction with the four essential features previously identified as critical components of the right to education, namely:

• Availability: presupposes that the right to education requires functioning educational institutions and programmes to be available in sufficient quantity within the jurisdiction of the State party.

• Accessibility: the requirement that educational institutions and programmes are accessible to everyone. This component has three overlapping dimensions: non-discrimination (particularly for vulnerable groups); physical accessibility (geographic location, safe physical reach and accessible to those with disabilities); and economic accessibility (education is affordable for all; primary education is free)

• Acceptability: the requirement that the form and substance of education, including curricula and teaching methods is acceptable (e.g. relevant, culturally appropriate, respectful of human rights and of good quality) to students and, as appropriate, parents

• Adaptability: the requirement that education is sufficiently flexible to be able to adapt to the needs of changing societies and communities and respond to the needs of students within their diverse social and cultural settings.

The Special Rapporteur would be particularly grateful to have the participation of all interested persons and/or organisations in the gathering of information sought in this questionnaire. More specifically, he would welcome the participation of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in this process. 
It is strongly encouraged that submissions be made in a UN working language due to limited capacity for translation and transmitted electronically to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights at the following address:

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
(Attn: Special Rapporteur on the right to education)
Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
Fax: + 41 22 917 90 06; E-mail:

sreducation@ohchr.org

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In order for the information received to be used for the report of the Special Rapporteur, submission of responses is encouraged as soon as possible and no later than 20 January 2010.

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