In this present report, the Special Rapporteur considers ways in which the right to education contributes to the prevention of atrocity crimes and mass or grave human rights violations. Stressing that education has a key role to play at all stages of prevention, the Special Rapporteur underlines the particularly forceful preventive potential of the right to education in the very early stages, before warning signs are apparent. That role is to be linked with the aims of education and the right to inclusive and equitable quality education, as established in international instruments.
 
Peace, acceptance of the “other”, respect for cultural diversity, the participation of all in the development of society and an education that is adequate and adapted to the specific needs of people in their own context are objectives of education that have been widely recognized by States and in human rights mechanisms at the international and regional levels. However, education is not afforded the importance or the funding it deserves and needs in order to play those roles.
 
The Special Rapporteur, highlighting circumstances under which schools can become tools for division and lay the groundwork for future violent conflicts, focuses on a number of steps regarding the organization of school systems, pedagogy and the values and skills to be transmitted to learners that are crucial in terms of prevention. She proposes an education framework (known in English as the “ABCDE framework”) that encompasses the interrelated features of education needed in order for the preventive potential of the right to education to be fully deployed. Namely, education should promote acceptance of self and others; a sense of belonging to society; critical thinking; diversity; and the capacity of learners to feel empathy for others. The right to inclusive and equitable quality education must be taken seriously and be prioritized if States and other stakeholders are serious in their commitment to prevent violent conflicts, atrocity crimes and mass or grave human rights violations
Le Pacte international relatif aux droits économiques, sociaux et culturels (PIDESC) a été adopté par l'Assemblée générale des Nations unies en 1966.
 
L'article 13 est l'article le plus complet sur le droit à l'éducation. Il reconnaît le droit universel à l'éducation sans aucune discrimination et définit un cadre pour la pleine réalisation de ce droit, y compris : l'enseignement primaire obligatoire et gratuit, l'enseignement secondaire généralement disponible et accessible par l'introduction progressive de la gratuité, l'égalité d'accès à l'enseignement supérieur, et des mesures pour favoriser l'alphabétisation et l'amélioration de la qualité d'enseignement.
 
Cet article établit également la liberté des parents de choisir le type d'éducation qu'ils veulent donner à leurs enfants et la liberté de créer et de diriger des établissements d'enseignement, conformément aux normes minimales fixées par l'État.
 
L'article 14 concerne l'obligation de l'État d'adopter un plan d'action pour assurer la gratuité de l'enseignement primaire obligatoire si ce n'est pas encore le cas.