On 10 December 2024, to celebrate the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) adopted in 1948, our Director, Delphine Dorsi, spoke at a seminar organised by the Irish Network for Education Worldwide on ‘Education - A Human Right under Threat’, where she emphasised the importance of education as a fundamental human right. The event brought together experts and advocates to discuss the guarantees and obligations tied to this right, the role of states and stakeholders in its realisation, and the growing threats posed by climate change to education, with Insights from COP29.
Ponke Danker from the Irish Network for Education Worldwide opened the seminar by celebrating the anniversary of the UDHR and stressed the often overlooked significance of upholding the right to education, as established in Article 26 of the Declaration.
Delphine Dorsi, our Director, emphasised the centrality of education in shaping individuals and society, quoting Nelson Mandela ‘Education is the most powerful weapon we have to change the world.’. She showed how education has a transformative power that extends beyond societal change to personal growth, making it indispensable for creating a more equitable and sustainable future. In today’s context, with growing threats such as inadequate funding, privatisation, and inequitable access, education, and Mandela’s statement remain crucial for marginalised groups, including girls, children with disabilities, and migrants.
Delphine firmly stated that education is not a privilege, it is a human right, found in Article 26 of the UDHR and reinforced by various international and regional treaties, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. These frameworks oblige states to guarantee access, quality, and non-discrimination to, in and through education.
She emphasised that the right to education does not stop in school, it is a lifelong right, from birth throughout life, through formal and informal education. She outlined the four features of the right to education, the ‘4 As’: Availability, Accessibility, Acceptability, and Adaptability. For education to be meaningful, it must be free, inclusive, and tailored to meet diverse needs.
However, numerous challenges threaten the realisation of this right, many exacerbated by climate change. Overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, and inadequate infrastructure compromise educational quality. Many children are still out of school, especially girls, who often face systemic barriers. Privatisation, which treats students as consumers, risks deepening inequality and weakening education’s status as a universal right. While technology offers opportunities, particularly for students with special needs and those in remote areas, it also poses risks, such as data privacy concerns and the potential replacement of human teachers.
Erin Robyn O’Riordan, a youth voice and member of Plan International Ireland, reflected on the intersection of education, climate justice, and social equity, after her participation at COP29. She expressed disappointment at the insufficient attention given to the right to education during COP 29, addressing the need for investment in education to prepare young people for climate action. She argued that access to education empowers marginalised communities to participate in global solutions and shift societal priorities.
She continued stating that education is a core human right, and part of the fight for collective liberation. Unfortunately, the right to education can often be minimised next to other rights that are more critical in the short term. But rights are intersectional and all equally important.
She also suggested books for young adults and children to tacked climate justice: It’s Not That Radical: Climate Action to Transform Our World and Climate is Just the Start by Mikaela Loach
Anfal Saquib, first emergency response manager from Education Cannot Wait (ECW) spoke about the devastating impact of climate change on education. Over 400 million students have faced school closures due to extreme weather since 2022. She stressed that the climate crisis is an educational crisis which is overlooked in the climate agenda. Safeguarding the right to education is about access and continuity, quality, a safe environment, and resilience. As our technological abilities advance it is sometimes possible to implement anticipatory action, where we are able to predict some climate disasters in advance and act accordingly. It is also essential to provide dedicated funding to safeguard education in crisis settings, she emphasised that education continuity is essential in building resilience to climate shocks.
Colin Matthew, Ontario Secondary School Teacher Federation's executive officer and an affiliate of Education International, offered a perspective on the intersection of education and climate change. He also criticised COP29 for not addressing the right to education. He stressed the need for climate education across curricula for students to be able to engage in the complex global challenges, global cooperation and monitoring of education, and teacher training, where they will have the essential role of advocating for the needs of students and climate change education.
The seminar ended with a call to action: education needs to be a priority, states must prioritise its funding, strengthen policies to guarantee access and integrate education into broader social and environmental solutions. Education, as a universal human right, is not merely a policy goal, but it is the foundation for building a just, sustainable, and inclusive future. In the face of growing global challenges, safeguarding the right to education is essential for empowering individuals, fostering collective progress, and ensuring no one is left behind.
You can watch the seminar on youtube: 
Human Rights Day Event Recording