Human Rights Must Include Children’s Right to Education, Secretary-General Says in Video Message to London Event

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message to an education event with Kailash Satyarthi, in London today:

Right Honourable, Gordon Brown, Special Envoy for Global Education; Mrs. Sarah Brown; Nobel Laureate, Mr. Kailash Satyarthi; teachers, campaigners and young people,

I thank the Overseas Development Institute and A World at School for organizing this important event on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

This milestone convention is clear:  human rights must include children’s rights.  Yet, too many children are still denied their right to go to school.  Many are victims of violence, forced into work or underage and early marriage, discriminated against or exploited.

Education is often the first right to be lost especially for girls and the most marginalized.  That is why I encourage you all to join the global movement: “Up for School”.  It demands an end to discrimination.  It declares that every child should go to school.

Please join me in supporting the rights of all children everywhere.  Together, let us stand “Up for Education”.