Education is a fundamental right for all children and one of the best investments that societies can make. It has the power to transform lives, lift individuals out of poverty, and foster social and economic development. Yet for millions of children around the world, the cost of schooling remains one of the most significant barriers to education, particularly at the pre-primary and secondary level.
Existing international law guarantees free education for all children at the primary level. A proposed new treaty would strengthen international law to explicitly guarantee free public pre-primary education and secondary education to all.
In July 2024, the United Nations Human Rights Council agreed by consensus to begin a process to explore and elaborate an optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child with the aim to explicitly recognize that the right to education includes early childhood care and education, and to guarantee free public pre-primary education (beginning with one year) and free public secondary education for all children. The resolution was advanced by Luxembourg, the Dominican Republic, and Sierra Leone, and co-sponsored by 46 other states from all regions of the world.
A new treaty will not get every child into school overnight, but treaties can be powerful catalysts for change. Free education helps break cycles of poverty, reduce inequality, and empower girls.
A Clear Path Toward Drafting a New Treaty
New Budget Advances Equal Opportunities for All Students
