EVENT - HRC 51 - Realising the Right to Education Worldwide Through Digital Transformation

Whereas the pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation of education, allowing millions of children and youth to keep accessing education during lockdowns, it has also exacerbated the global digital divides.

The AU and the EU are taking a stand for a digital transformation governed by human rights.

This side event will focus on the realization of the right to education, ensuring access to quality and inclusive education worldwide, in particular analyzing opportunities, challenges, and the role of regional organizations, to address the exclusion of women and girls and/or persons with special needs through using educational technologies and strengthening digital competencies.

Opening remarks

Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, African Union

Eamon Gilmore, Special Representative for Human Rights, European Union

Panelists

Farida Shaheed, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to education 

Alex Wong, Chief, Special Initiatives, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Co-Lead, Giga

Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF Representative European Union Institutions, Director UNICEF Partnership Office

Salima Namusobya, Executive Director of the Initiative for Social and Economic Rights, Kampala 

Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona, Executive Director of The Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Geneva

The event will be moderated by Peggy Hicks, Director of the Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures and Right to Development Division of the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR)