Failing our children: bariers to the right to education

Recommendations for enabling fair access to education

Produced by: Human Rights Watch (HRW) , 2005

The paper examines barriers to education such as fees, the impact of HIV and AIDS, discrimination and lack of access, violence, child labour and gender-specific barriers. It also provides an assessment of the legal standards related to educational access.

This report is based on more than thirty investigations conducted by Human Rights Watch in over twenty countries since 1998. It is based on interviews with hundreds of children who were out of school, faced barriers to gaining access to education, or had experienced abuses in the educational system, as well as members of their families, nongovernmental organisations and other advocates, officials, and other sources.