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Goal Target Instrument Article / Description

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

4.5

By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations.

Indicators
4.5.1
Parity indices (female/male, rural/urban, bottom/top wealth quintile and others such as disability status, indigenous peoples and conflict affected, as data become available) for all education indicators on this list that can be disaggregated
UDHR
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
26.1
Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
ICESCR
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
2.2
The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to guarantee that the rights enunciated in the present Covenant will be exercised without discrimination of any kind as to race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
3
The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to ensure the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all economic, social and cultural rights set forth in the present Covenant.
13.1
The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to education. They agree that education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and the sense of its dignity, and shall strengthen the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. They further agree that education shall enable all persons to participate effectively in a free society, promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations and all racial, ethnic or religious groups, and further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
13.2 The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize that, with a view to achieving the full realization of this right:
13.2.a
Primary education shall be compulsory and available free to all;
13.2 The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize that, with a view to achieving the full realization of this right:
13.2.b
Secondary education in its different forms, including technical and vocational secondary education, shall be made generally available and accessible to all by every appropriate means, and in particular by the progressive introduction of free education;
13.2 The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize that, with a view to achieving the full realization of this right:
13.2.c
Higher education shall be made equally accessible to all, on the basis of capacity, by every appropriate means, and in particular by the progressive introduction of free education;
13.2 The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize that, with a view to achieving the full realization of this right:
13.2.d
Fundamental education shall be encouraged or intensified as far as possible for those persons who have not received or completed the whole period of their primary education;
13.2 The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize that, with a view to achieving the full realization of this right:
13.2.e
The development of a system of schools at all levels shall be actively pursued, an adequate fellowship system shall be established, and the material conditions of teaching staff shall be continuously improved.
14
Each State Party to the present Covenant which, at the time of becoming a Party, has not been able to secure in its metropolitan territory or other territories under its jurisdiction compulsory primary education, free of charge, undertakes, within two years, to work out and adopt a detailed plan of action for the progressive implementation, within a reasonable number of years, to be fixed in the plan, of the principle of compulsory education free of charge for all.
CRC
Convention on the Rights of the Child
2.1
States Parties shall respect and ensure the rights set forth in the present Convention to each child within their jurisdiction without discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the child's or his or her parent's or legal guardian's race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status.
28.1 States Parties recognize the right of the child to education, and with a view to achieving this right progressively and on the basis of equal opportunity, they shall, in particular:
28.1.a
Make primary education compulsory and available free to all;
28.1 States Parties recognize the right of the child to education, and with a view to achieving this right progressively and on the basis of equal opportunity, they shall, in particular:
28.1.b
Encourage the development of different forms of secondary education, including general and vocational education, make them available and accessible to every child, and take appropriate measures such as the introduction of free education and offering financial assistance in case of need;
28.1 States Parties recognize the right of the child to education, and with a view to achieving this right progressively and on the basis of equal opportunity, they shall, in particular:
28.1.c
Make higher education accessible to all on the basis of capacity by every appropriate means;
28.1 States Parties recognize the right of the child to education, and with a view to achieving this right progressively and on the basis of equal opportunity, they shall, in particular:
28.1.d
Make educational and vocational information and guidance available and accessible to all children;
28.1 States Parties recognize the right of the child to education, and with a view to achieving this right progressively and on the basis of equal opportunity, they shall, in particular:
28.1.e
Take measures to encourage regular attendance at schools and the reduction of drop-out rates.
28.3
States Parties shall promote and encourage international cooperation in matters relating to education, in particular with a view to contributing to the elimination of ignorance and illiteracy throughout the world and facilitating access to scientific and technical knowledge and modern teaching methods. In this regard, particular account shall be taken of the needs of developing countries.
CEDAW
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
10 States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in order to ensure to them equal rights with men in the field of education and in particular to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women:
10.a
The same conditions for career and vocational guidance, for access to studies and for the achievement of diplomas in educational establishments of all categories in rural as well as in urban areas; this equality shall be ensured in pre-school, general, technical, professional and higher technical education, as well as in all types of vocational training;
10 States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in order to ensure to them equal rights with men in the field of education and in particular to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women:
10.b
Access to the same curricula, the same examinations, teaching staff with qualifications of the same standard and school premises and equipment of the same quality;
10 States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in order to ensure to them equal rights with men in the field of education and in particular to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women:
10.c
The elimination of any stereotyped concept of the roles of men and women at all levels and in all forms of education by encouraging coeducation and other types of education which will help to achieve this aim and, in particular, by the revision of textbooks and school programmes and the adaptation of teaching methods;
10 States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in order to ensure to them equal rights with men in the field of education and in particular to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women:
10.d
The same opportunities to benefit from scholarships and other study grants;
10 States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in order to ensure to them equal rights with men in the field of education and in particular to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women:
10.e
The same opportunities for access to programmes of continuing education, including adult and functional literacy programmes, particulary those aimed at reducing, at the earliest possible time, any gap in education existing between men and women;
10 States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in order to ensure to them equal rights with men in the field of education and in particular to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women:
10.f
The reduction of female student drop-out rates and the organization of programmes for girls and women who have left school prematurely;
10 States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in order to ensure to them equal rights with men in the field of education and in particular to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women:
10.g
The same Opportunities to participate actively in sports and physical education;
10 States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in order to ensure to them equal rights with men in the field of education and in particular to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women:
10.h
Access to specific educational information to help to ensure the health and well-being of families, including information and advice on family planning.
CRPD
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
24.1 States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to education. With a view to realizing this right without discrimination and on the basis of equal opportunity, States Parties shall ensure an inclusive education system at all levels and life long learning directed to:
24.1.a
The full development of human potential and sense of dignity and self-worth, and the strengthening of respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and human diversity;
24.1 States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to education. With a view to realizing this right without discrimination and on the basis of equal opportunity, States Parties shall ensure an inclusive education system at all levels and life long learning directed to:
24.1.b
The development by persons with disabilities of their personality, talents and creativity, as well as their mental and physical abilities, to their fullest potential;
24.1 States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to education. With a view to realizing this right without discrimination and on the basis of equal opportunity, States Parties shall ensure an inclusive education system at all levels and life long learning directed to:
24.1.c
Enabling persons with disabilities to participate effectively in a free society.
24.2 In realizing this right, States Parties shall ensure that:
24.2.a
Persons with disabilities are not excluded from the general education system on the basis of disability, and that children with disabilities are not excluded from free and compulsory primary education, or from secondary education, on the basis of disability;
24.2 In realizing this right, States Parties shall ensure that:
24.2.b
Persons with disabilities can access an inclusive, quality and free primary education and secondary education on an equal basis with others in the communities in which they live;
24.2 In realizing this right, States Parties shall ensure that:
24.2.c
Reasonable accommodation of the individual's requirements is provided;
24.2 In realizing this right, States Parties shall ensure that:
24.2.d
Persons with disabilities receive the support required, within the general education system, to facilitate their effective education;
24.2 In realizing this right, States Parties shall ensure that:
24.2.e
Effective individualized support measures are provided in environments that maximize academic and social development, consistent with the goal of full inclusion.
ICRMW
International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
30
Each child of a migrant worker shall have the basic right of access to education on the basis of equality of treatment with nationals of the State concerned. Access to public pre-school educational institutions or schools shall not be refused or limited by reason of the irregular situation with respect to stay or employment of either parent or by reason of the irregularity of the child's stay in the State of employment.
43.1 Migrant workers shall enjoy equality of treatment with nationals of the State of employment in relation to:
43.1.a
Access to educational institutions and services subject to the admission requirements and other regulations of the institutions and services concerned;
43.1 Migrant workers shall enjoy equality of treatment with nationals of the State of employment in relation to:
43.1.b
Access to vocational guidance and placement services;
43.1 Migrant workers shall enjoy equality of treatment with nationals of the State of employment in relation to:
43.1.c
Access to vocational training and retraining facilities and institutions;
45.1 Members of the families of migrant workers shall, in the State of employment, enjoy equality of treatment with nationals of that State in relation to:
45.1.b
Access to vocational guidance and training institutions and services, provided that requirements for participation are met;
UNDRIP
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
14.1
Indigenous peoples have the right to establish and control their educational systems and institutions providing education in their own languages, in a manner appropriate to their cultural methods of teaching and learning.
14.2
Indigenous individuals, particularly children, have the right to all levels and forms of education of the State without discrimination.
14.3
States shall, in conjunction with indigenous peoples, take effective measures, in order for indigenous individuals, particularly children, including those living outside their communities, to have access, when possible, to an education in their own culture and provided in their own language.
ILO 142
Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142)
ILO 142
This ILO Convention requires ratifying states to adopt and develop comprehensive and coordinated policies and programmes of vocational guidance and vocational training, closely linked with employment, in particular through public employment services.
ILO 159
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159)
ILO 159
This ILO Convention requires ratifying states to formulate, implement and periodically review a national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of disabled persons.
ILO 169
The Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169)
Description 1
This ILO Convention requires consultation with and participation of indigenous and tribal peoples in decisions that may affect them.
6.1
In applying the provisions of this Convention, governments shall:
6.1 In applying the provisions of this Convention, governments shall:
6.1.a
consult the peoples concerned, through appropriate procedures and in particular through their representative institutions, whenever consideration is being given to legislative or administrative measures which may affect them directly;
6.1 In applying the provisions of this Convention, governments shall:
6.1.b
establish means by which these peoples can freely participate, to at least the same extent as other sectors of the population, at all levels of decision-making in elective institutions and administrative and other bodies responsible for policies and programmes which concern them;
6.1 In applying the provisions of this Convention, governments shall:
6.1.c
establish means for the full development of these peoples' own institutions and initiatives, and in appropriate cases provide the resources necessary for this purpose.
6.2
The consultations carried out in application of this Convention shall be undertaken, in good faith and in a form appropriate to the circumstances, with the objective of achieving agreement or consent to the proposed measures.
ECHR Protocol
Protocol to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
2
No person shall be denied the right to education. In the exercise of any functions which it assumes in relation to education and to teaching, the State shall respect the right of parents to ensure such education and teaching in conformity with their own religious and philosophical convictions.
European Social Charter
European Social Charter (Revised)
Part II
The Parties undertake, as provided for in Part III, to consider themselves bound by the obligations laid down in the following articles and paragraphs.
Part#I.9
Everyone has the right to appropriate facilities for vocational guidance with a view to helping him choose an occupation suited to his personal aptitude and interests.
Part#II.9
With a view to ensuring the effective exercise of the right to vocational guidance, the Parties undertake to provide or promote, as necessary, a service which will assist all persons, including the handicapped, to solve problems related to occupational choice and progress, with due regard to the individual's characteristics and their relation to occupational opportunity: this assistance should be available free of charge, both to young persons, including schoolchildren, and to adults.
Part#I.10
Everyone has the right to appropriate facilities for vocational training.
Part#II.10
With a view to ensuring the effective exercise of the right to vocational training, the Parties undertake:
Part#II.10.1
to provide or promote, as necessary, the technical and vocational training of all persons, including the handicapped, in consultation with employers' and workers' organisations, and to grant facilities for access to higher technical and university education, based solely on individual aptitude;
Part#II.10.4
to provide or promote, as necessary, special measures for the retraining and reintegration of the long-term unemployed;
Part#II.15
With a view to ensuring to persons with disabilities, irrespective of age and the nature and origin of their disabilities, the effective exercise of the right to independence, social integration and participation in the life of the community, the Parties undertake, in particular:
Part#I.15
Disabled persons have the right to independence, social integration and participation in the life of the community.
Part#II.15.1
to take the necessary measures to provide persons with disabilities with guidance, education and vocational training in the framework of general schemes wherever possible or, where this is not possible, through specialised bodies, public or private;
Part#II.20
With a view to ensuring the effective exercise of the right to equal opportunities and equal treatment in matters of employment and occupation without discrimination on the grounds of sex, the Parties undertake to recognise that right and to take appropriate measures to ensure or promote its application in the following fields:
Part#II.20.b
vocational guidance, training, retraining and rehabilitation;
Part#I.20
All workers have the right to equal opportunities and equal treatment in matters of employment and occupation without discrimination on the grounds of sex.
Part#I.27
All persons with family responsibilities and who are engaged or wish to engage in employment have a right to do so without being subject to discrimination and as far as possible without conflict between their employment and family responsibilities.
Part#II.27
With a view to ensuring the exercise of the right to equality of opportunity and treatment for men and women workers with family responsibilities and between such workers and other workers, the Parties undertake:
Part#II.27.1
to take appropriate measures:
Part#II.27.1.a
to enable workers with family responsibilities to enter and remain in employment, as well as to reenter employment after an absence due to those responsibilities, including measures in the field of vocational guidance and training;
European Framework Convention on Minorities
Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
12.3
The Parties undertake to promote equal opportunities for access to education at all levels for persons belonging to national minorities.
13.1
Within the framework of their education systems, the Parties shall recognise that persons belonging to a national minority have the right to set up and to manage their own private educational and training establishments.
13.2
The exercise of this right shall not entail any financial obligation for the Parties.
14.1
The Parties undertake to recognise that every person belonging to a national minority has the right to learn his or her minority language.
14.2
In areas inhabited by persons belonging to national minorities traditionally or in substantial numbers, if there is sufficient demand, the Parties shall endeavour to ensure, as far as possible and within the framework of their education systems, that persons belonging to those minorities have adequate opportunities for being taught the minority language or for receiving instruction in this language.
14.3
Paragraph 2 of this article shall be implemented without prejudice to the learning of the official language or the teaching in this language.
ADRDM
American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man
II
All persons are equal before the law and have the rights and duties established in this Declaration, without distinction as to race, sex, language, creed or any other factor.
XII
Every person has the right to an education, which should be based on the principles of liberty, morality and human solidarity. Likewise every person has the right to an education that will prepare him to attain a decent life, to raise his standard of living, and to be a useful member of society. The right to an education includes the right to equality of opportunity in every case, in accordance with natural talents, merit and the desire to utilize the resources that the state or the community is in a position to provide. Every person has the right to receive, free, at least a primary education.
ACHR
American Convention on Human Rights
1.1
The States Parties to this Convention undertake to respect the rights and freedoms recognized herein and to ensure to all persons subject to their jurisdiction the free and full exercise of those rights and freedoms, without any discrimination for reasons of race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, economic status, birth, or any other social condition.
26
The States Parties undertake to adopt measures, both internally and through international cooperation, especially those of an economic and technical nature, with a view to achieving progressively, by legislation or other appropriate means, the full realization of the rights implicit in the economic, social, educational, scientific, and cultural standards set forth in the Charter of the Organization of American States as amended by the Protocol of Buenos Aires.
Protocol of San Salvador
Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural rights (Protocol of San Salvador)
3
The State Parties to this Protocol undertake to guarantee the exercise of the rights set forth herein without discrimination of any kind for reasons related to race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinions, national or social origin, economic status, birth or any other social condition.
13.1
Everyone has the right to education.
13.3
The States Parties to this Protocol recognize that in order to achieve the full exercise of the right to education:
13.3.a
Primary education should be compulsory and accessible to all without cost;
13.3.b
Secondary education in its different forms, including technical and vocational secondary education, should be made generally available and accessible to all by every appropriate means, and in particular, by the progressive introduction of free education;
13.3.c
Higher education should be made equally accessible to all, on the basis of individual capacity, by every appropriate means, and in particular, by the progressive introduction of free education;
13.3.d
Basic education should be encouraged or intensified as far as possible for those persons who have not received or completed the whole cycle of primary instruction;
13.3.e
Programs of special education should be established for the handicapped, so as to provide special instruction and training to persons with physical disabilities or mental deficiencies.
18
Everyone affected by a diminution of his physical or mental capacities is entitled to receive special attention designed to help him achieve the greatest possible development of his personality. The States Parties agree to adopt such measures as may be necessary for this purpose and, especially, to:
18.a
Undertake programs specifically aimed at providing the handicapped with the resources and environment needed for attaining this goal, including work programs consistent with their possibilities and freely accepted by them or their legal representatives, as the case may be;
Inter-American Convention on discrimination against persons with disabilities
Inter-American Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities
III
To achieve the objectives of this Convention, the states parties undertake:
III.1
To adopt the legislative, social, educational, labor-related, or any other measures needed to eliminate discrimination against persons with disabilities and to promote their full integration into society, including, but not limited to:
III.1.a
Measures to eliminate discrimination gradually and to promote integration by government authorities and/or private entities in providing or making available goods, services, facilities, programs, and activities such as employment, transportation, communications, housing, recreation, education, sports, law enforcement and administration of justice, and political and administrative activities;
III.1.b
Measures to ensure that new buildings, vehicles, and facilities constructed or manufactured within their respective territories facilitate transportation, communications, and access by persons with disabilities;
III.1.c
Measures to eliminate, to the extent possible, architectural, transportation, and communication obstacles to facilitate access and use by persons with disabilities;
III.1.d
Measures to ensure that persons responsible for applying this Convention and domestic law in this area are trained to do so.
III.2
To work on a priority basis in the following areas:
III.2.b
Early detection and intervention, treatment, rehabilitation, education, job training, and the provision of comprehensive services to ensure the optimal level of independence and quality of life for persons with disabilities;
ACHPR
African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights
17.1
Every individual shall have the right to education.
18.3
The State shall ensure the elimination of every discrimination against women and also censure the protection of the rights of the woman and the child as stipulated in international declarations and conventions.
18.4
The aged and the disabled shall also have the right to special measures of protection in keeping with their physical or moral needs.
ACRWC
African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child
3
Every child shall be entitled to the enjoyment of the rights and freedoms recognized and guaranteed in this Charter irrespective of the child’s or his/her parents’ or legal guardians’ race, ethnic group, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national and social origin, fortune, birth or other status.
11.1
Every child shall have the right to education.
11.3
State Parties to the present Charter shall take all appropriate measures with a view to achieving the full realization of this right and shall in particular:
11.3.c
make higher education accessible to all on the basis of capacity and ability by every appropriate means;
11.3.e
take special measures in respect of female, gifted and disadvantaged children, to ensure equal access to education for all sections of the community.
11.6
State Parties to the present Charter shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that children who become pregnant before completing their education shall have an opportunity to continue their education on the basis of their individual ability.
13.2
State Parties to the present Charter shall ensure, subject to available resources, to a disabled child and to those responsible for his care, assistance for which application is made and which is appropriate to the child’s condition and in particular shall ensure that the disabled child has effective access to training, preparation for employment and recreation opportunities in a manner conducive to the child achieving the fullest possible social integration, individual development and his/her cultural and moral development.
13.3
The State Parties to the present Charter shall use their available resources with a view to achieving progressively the full convenience of the mentally and physically disabled person to movement and access to public highway buildings and other places to which the disabled may legitimately want to have access to.
Maputo Protocol
Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa
12.1
States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to:
12.1.a
eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and guarantee equal opportunity and access in the sphere of education and training;
12.1.b
eliminate all stereotypes in textbooks, syllabuses and the media, that perpetuate such discrimination;
12.1.c
protect women, especially the girl-child from all forms of abuse, including sexual harassment in schools and other educational institutions and provide for sanctions against the perpetrators of such practices;
12.1.d
provide access to counselling and rehabilitation services to women who suffer abuses and sexual harassment;
12.1.e
integrate gender sensitisation and human rights education at all levels of education curricula including teacher training.
12.2
States Parties shall take specific positive action to:
12.2.a
promote literacy among women;
12.2.b
promote education and training for women at all levels and in all disciplines, particularly in the fields of science and technology;
12.2.c
promote the enrolment and retention of girls in schools and other training institutions and the organisation of programmes for women who leave school prematurely.
22
The States Parties undertake to:
22.a
provide protection to elderly women and take specific measures commensurate with their physical, economic and social needs as well as their access to employment and professional training;
23
The States Parties undertake to:
23.a
ensure the protection of women with disabilities and take specific measures commensurate with their physical, economic and social needs to facilitate their access to employment, professional and vocational training as well as their participation in decision-making;
24
The States Parties undertake to:
24.a
ensure the protection of poor women and women heads of families including women from marginalized population groups and provide an environment suitable to their condition and their special physical, economic and social needs;