Learning Partner: Right to Education Initiative
Even as human rights face increasing pressure globally, the fact that education is a universally recognised human right remains one of the most powerful arguments for policy change and improved implementation. Education Out Loud’s Global Learning Partner, the Right to Education Initiative, is equipping grantees to harness this strength through human rights–based advocacy and social accountability.
Every day, civil society organisations across the globe reach into their toolbox of strategies and arguments – looking for the ones that will persuade decision-makers to shape education policies or improve implementation of education initiatives to better meet the needs of communities. Education Out Loud continuously engages learning partners to present the grantees with new knowledge, skills, and tools to support this mission.
One of the most recent contributors to this toolbox is the Right to Education Initiative (RTE), which is a non-governmental international human rights organisation established in 2000 by the first UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education, Katarina Tomaševski. Originally launched as an online repository of legal and policy resources, RTE has grown into a globally recognised advocate for education as a human right, and a resource for civil society to understand and use human rights law and mechanisms to advance the right to education.
Using human rights law as a strategic tool
“Our vision is to ensure the human right to education is realised for all, and we believe civil society plays a central role in advocating for this right. These organisations are often closest to the communities affected. They are also the ones who can benefit most from understanding how to use human rights law as a strategic approach in their advocacy,” says Delphine Dorsi, Executive Director of Right to Education Initiative.
In the role of global learning partner to Education Out Loud, RTE has recently carried out a training for grantees on human rights approach to advocacy and social accountability and are currently preparing a set of online tools to be shared with the entire Education Out Loud community. Next steps are a one-on-one follow up with selected grantees and a programmatic review of how grantees across the Education Out Loud portfolio are already using the human rights-based approach.
“The training helped demystify the legal aspects of the right to education, and gave practical tools to identify violations, monitor obligations, and build stronger arguments. Many found the 4As Framework especially useful, as it offered a new way to frame their work and opened space for dialogue, even in difficult contexts,” says Juliana Lima, RTE’s Project Manager on monitoring and advocacy.
Building momentum in challenging contexts
Even though human rights are under pressure in many places, Delphine Dorsi sees every day that they still offer a strong foundation for advocacy. This is especially true when arguments are linked to international treaties or national constitutions — documents that governments have committed to implement. What’s striking is that according to Delphine Dorsi, this approach can also work in contexts where you wouldn’t expect much sympathy for international law or human rights language.
“Even in difficult contexts, naming and recognising the violation of the right is an important step. Civil society organisations who mobilise for the respect and implementation of the right to education can be heard and get support outside their country, and in some instances, the involvement of independent experts, such as UN human rights committees or UN special rapporteurs, can open space for dialogue and push for meaningful change,” says Delphine Dorsi.
The 4As Framework: Understanding the Right to Education:
- Developed by Katarina Tomasevski, the first UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education, and adopted by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in General Comment 13 (1999, para.6), the 4As Framework defines the essential features of a meaningful right to education:
- This framework is useful as it helps spot where education systems are failing people, it is a tool to build stronger arguments when talking to governments or funders and is a way to use international law to push for real change. This framework both helps identify what is wrong, and shows a clear, rights-based way to demand better..
- Available: Education must be free, and supported by adequate infrastructure, trained teachers, and sufficient resources.
- Accessible: Education must be accessible to all, without discrimination. This includes physical, economic, and informational access, with special attention to marginalised groups.
- Acceptable: The content, methods, and environment of education must be relevant, culturally appropriate, and of good quality. Schools should be safe and respectful spaces.
- Adaptable: Education must be flexible to meet the diverse and changing needs of learners and communities, including addressing inequalities and local contexts.
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Right to Education Initiative
- The Right to Education Initiative (RTE) is an international, non-governmental, human rights organisation dedicated exclusively to promoting and defending the right to education. RTE envisions a world where all individuals — regardless of their status or circumstances — can enjoy their right to quality education.
- RTE works to protect the international, legal, political, and institutional frameworks that guarantee the right to education. It supports their implementation at the national level, and empowers civil society actors to effectively use human rights law and mechanisms to advance the realization of this right. This is achieved through monitoring, reporting, advocacy, and litigation.
- Since 2024, RTE has served as one of four Global Learning Partners for Education Out Loud, providing grantees with training in human rights–based advocacy and monitoring. Additionally, RTE is conducting a programmatic review of how human rights approaches are applied across the Education Out Loud portfolio. As part of this effort, RTE is compiling examples and best practices from the broader civil society to serve as inspiration and guidance for civil society organisations supported by Education Out Loud and others.