|
|
 |
 |
|
Home > NGO Group for the CRC > Thematic Subgroups > Education Subgroup on Education, Literacy and MediaRelated Links | History | Work Plan The Subgroup on Education, Literacy and Media places particular importance to articles 17, 28 and 29 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It aims to contribute to the international debate and action, both within and outside the United Nations, in favour of children's right to education and appropriate information. HistoryArticle 29 of the Convention of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) states: "State Parties agree that the education of a child shall be directed to the development of the child's personality, talents, mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential." The opening paragraphs of the Dakar Framework for Action from April 2002 further reiterates: "that all children, young people and adults have the human right to benefit from an education that will meet their basic learning needs… learning to know, to do, to live together and to be… so that they can improve their lives and transform their societies." Moreover, a statement entitled A World Fit for Children claims "A world fit for children is one in which all children get the best possible start in life and have access to a quality education…" Such opinions reflect the universal view that children's education is of crucial importance to the international community. The subgroup on Education, Literacy and the Media is a reaffirmation of this view. Established in the early 1990's, its main objectives were initially to influence the UN mechanism and systems and to contribute to a greater understanding on the thematic issues. In the last decade, it has been able to develop and maintain these objectives through its numerous activities and the avid participation of its members. One of its activities is acting as a forum of sensitisation. In 1994, it created a 15 page brochure entitled, "Guidelines on Education on the Convention on the Rights of the Child." The brochure mainly discussed the definition of education in its formal and informal sense, including education of adults, of children, of the illiterate and education in remote areas. In the following years, the subgroup prepared a statement on the importance of articles 28 and 19 of the Convention, which were presented in April of 1998 in Copenhagen. It cooperated with the subgroup on Sexual Exploitation for a joint statement addressed to the UN on the theme day on Violence against Children at Home and the in the Schools. The subgroup also worked on improving the reporting system on education, literacy and the media for the Committee on the Rights of the Child. In 1995, the Subgroup was involved in a study on country reports regarding articles 17, 28 and 29 of the CRC. The study called attention on the lack of government reports to the Committee and on the governments' failure to efficiently report on specific paragraphs of the articles. The former chair of the Committee, Sandra Mason, further supported its continuation, along with the Danish Ministry of Education. The study was then presented at the 1st Conference on Children's Rights in Education in Copenhagen in 1998. Since then the subgroup has persisted in promoting and developing of a new reporting system for the education articles of the Convention. The new initiative regarding the Experimental Reporting System started in the beginning of 2001, where the governmental bodies were contacted to join for a first cooperation. The subgroup was also equally committed to several theme days and conferences regarding Children and the Media. In 1996, it coordinated NGO contributions and prepared a declaration for the theme day entitled "The Child and the Media" in order to address the influence of media over child development and to highlight certain negative effects on children. 3 panels were organised for the theme day: children's participation in the media, how to protect children from violence in the media and how to preserve a child's identity in the media. The subgroup co-contributed, together with Defence for Children International and other NGOs to present a joint oral statement on the right to education at the Children's Rights and Education Conference in Brazil in March 2001 and at the 2nd International Conference on Children's Rights in Education held in British Colombia. Focusing primarily on UN action, the subgroup represents an unparalleled effort to take stock of the state of basic education in the world. The International Psychologist Association and Baha'i International jointly chair the subgroup. 2005 Work Plan1. Name: Subgroup on Education, Literacy and Media 2. Mission: to promote and monitor dimension in the CRC, which relate to education, literacy and media 3. Convenor: Agneta Ucko, Director of the Arigatou Foundation in Geneva 4a. Members of the Subgroup: 5. Number Of Meetings Per Year: 3 - 4 6. Background Information: 7. Work Plan NGO GroupPriority Goal 1 - To become a strong collective global voice for children's rights
Subgroup Activities:
Subgroup Activity:
Subgroup Activity:
Subgroup Activity:Actively participate in the planning and implementation of the 3rd International Conference on Children's Rights in Education, tentatively scheduled for 2005. Invite NGO’s that have expertise in education and/or media that are not presently members of the NGO Group. NGO GroupPriority Goal 3 - To strengthen the NGO Group as an organisation
Subgroup Activity: Invite NGO Group members to join the Subgroup on Education 8. Contributions, Human and Financial Resources Past Work Plans and Reports
|
 |
