By viv , 19 July 2017

Using the law for children's rights: An introductory guide

While many authorities can tolerate some traditional campaigning methods, it is usually harder to ignore the law. As part of broader campaigns, the law can be a powerful tool for achieving the changes that children need. Legal advocacy is now being used systematically in a few countries – leading to strong outcomes for children – and it has great potential for wider use.

By erica , 17 July 2017

What does the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights’ new general comment say about states’ human rights obligations in relation to the privatisation of social services?

Recently the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) published its much-awaited new General Comment 24 – an authoritative interpretation of international human rights law – on ‘State Obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Context of Business Activities’.

By erica , 6 July 2017

Tanzania: Stop threatening rights groups

International organisations urge respect for free expression, association

 

(Nairobi, July 6, 2017) – The government of Tanzania should end its hostile rhetoric toward civil society groups and threats to obstruct their work, 18 national and international nongovernmental organisations said today. The comments have targeted groups helping pregnant girls finish their education and those working to protect the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people.

By viv , 5 July 2017

Commercialisation in public schooling: An Australian study

Commercialisation is creeping into our public school system. A new report, Commercialisation in Public Schooling, reveals teachers are concerned about the influence commercialisation is having in schools; on everything from the provision of tests like NAPLAN, through to private providers offering classes in PE, Music, Drama and even professional development courses for teachers.

The report reveals schools are now forced to buy-in a substantial volume of educational products and services that were once provided by education departments.

These include:

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By viv , 30 June 2017

Indian Supreme Court rules that children living with or affected by HIV must be protected from discrimination in education

On 5 May 2017, in a public interest litigation brought by Naz India in 2015, India’s Supreme Court held that children living with or affected by HIV (that is, children who are HIV positive and children who are HIV negative but whose parent[s] is HIV positive) should be afforded protected status and included as a ‘child belonging to a disadvantaged group’ under India’s Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act (2009).

By viv , 30 June 2017

General comment No. 24 on state obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the context of business activities

Businesses play an important role in the realisation of economic, social and cultural rights, inter alia, by contributing to the creation of employment opportunities and, through private investment, to development. However, the Committee has been regularly presented with situations in which, as a result of states' failure to ensure compliance with internationally recognised human rights under their jurisdiction, corporate activities negatively affected economic, social and cultural rights.

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By erica , 29 June 2017

Urgent call for the end of student criminalisation and the re-establishment of dialogue between the authorities and students of the National Autonomous University of Honduras

Press release
 
(June 27, 2017) In light of the deepening crisis in student rights and the prevention of the defence of the right to education, the undersigned regional and international civil society organisations and networks, urgently call upon the authorities of the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) to immediately re-establish dialogue with the University Student Movement (Movimiento Estudiantil Universitario: MEU), ensuring full compliance with the content and spirit of the agreements reached on July 20, 2016.