World Children's Day 2020: Right to education
The COVID-19 crisis has amplified many children’s education disadvantage.
The disruption experienced in their education has already had, and will continue to have, enormous effects far beyond education itself.
The closure of educational establishments severs a lifeline for children and communities, including essential services like access to food, it disrupts parents’ work, and increase the risks of violence against children.
The right to education is a human right guaranteed by the European Social Charter.
The Charter requires States Parties to establish and maintain an education system that is accessible, effective and free of charge.
The European Social Charter is a Council of Europe treaty that guarantees fundamental social and economic rights as a counterpart to the European Convention on Human Rights, which refers to civil and political rights. It guarantees a broad range of everyday human rights related to employment, housing, health, education, social protection and welfare.
The Charter is seen as the Social Constitution of Europe and represents an essential component of the continent’s human rights architecture.
