The Right to Education

The Right to Education is a fundamental human right. It occupies a central place in Human Rights and is essential and indispensable for the exercise of all other human rights and for development. "As an empowerment right, education is the primary vehicle by which economically and socially marginalized adults and children can lift themselves out of poverty, and obtain the means to participate fully in their communities." None of the civil, political, economic and social rights can be exercised by individuals unless they have received a certain minimum education.

Go to the UNESCO website on the right to education for more information on UNESCO's programs to insure this right for all people, the legal basis for this right, and other resources.

Check out the Salamanca Statement and Framework for Action on Special Needs Education, adopted by the World Conference on Special Needs Education : Access and quality, (Salamanca, Spain, 10 June 1994)