The first part of the research of LARNO is devoted to examine the background of the right to education, in order to measure its implementation, understand and deal with the possible obstacles in developing and implementing this right, and contribute to find common public policies to be designed all over the Latin American region.
The right to education is a fundamental human right. It embodies the principles of indivisibility and interdependence of all human rights because education covers civil, cultural, economic, social and political aspects.
This right can be considered a key right, as it allows for the complete exercise and enjoyment of all other human rights. All civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights can be better enjoyed if people have received a minimum education. The effective implementation of the right to education is a prerequisite for democratization and for the full participation of all citizens in all spheres of life.
Even though the right to education for all has been included in several international and regional human rights instruments, including free and compulsory basic quality education, millions of children still remain deprived of educational opportunities. Thus, achieving a real progressive development of this right is one of the most important moral challenges of our times.
Latin-American countries use different tools to measure the implementation of the right to education, including indicators. A developed system of indicators or other measurement tools could provide researchers with a useful starting point for a common approach to measure the implementation of this right in their respective countries.
The documents referring to the right to education include legal instruments, which are presented in three different dimensions: international, regional and national, as well as a general selected bibliography.
© Painting by Oswaldo Guayasamin. Madre y niño. Quito-Ecuador, 1989. |
