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Human Rights Review
Published in: Human Rights Review 4/2020

21-07-2020

Educational Values in Human Rights Treaties: UN, European, and African International Law

Author: Pablo Meix-Cereceda

Published in: Human Rights Review | Issue 4/2020

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Abstract

While human rights treaties provide a formidable set of principles on education and values, domestic Courts often tend to adjudicate claims in terms of local arguments for or against each particular educational practice. This article explores how international human rights law could inspire the interpretation of domestic law and educational practice, without neglecting specific cultural aspects. Firstly, the article reviews the sociological debate on values in education and shows its importance for the legal discussion. Secondly, some critical contestations of international cultural human rights are outlined, as well as certain arguments to justify the importance of this model. The study of international law follows: the UN, the European Court of Human Rights, and three relevant African Charters, as well as every reference to education made by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and by the African Court is examined. Lastly, a comparative section reveals a certain cultural commonality inspired by the UN treaties, but also reflects some cultural and institutional differences between the European and the African regional systems.
previous article Towards Improved Compliance with Human Rights Decisions in the African Human Rights System: Enhancing the Role of Civil Society
next article The Regional Law of Refugee Protection in Africa by Marina Sharpe

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Footnotes
1
G. Lenski’s major work Power and Privilege. A Theory of Social Stratification spread the use of the term “stratification” in sociology. Nevertheless, John Dewey had used the notion already in 1916 (2015, p. 101).
 
2
Makani v Arundel School (CCZ 7/16, Const. Application No. CCZ 17/15) [2018] ZWCC 7 (29 June 2016).
 
3
Governing Body of the Juma Musjid Primary School & Others v Essay N.O. and Others (CCT 29/10) [2011] ZACC 13; 2011 (8) BCLR 761 (CC).
 
4
Ibid., paras 40 and 41.
 
5
Olmstead et al. v. United States [1928] USSC 133; 277 U.S. 438 (1928).
 
6
Head of Department, Department of Education, Free State Province v Welkom High School and Another; Head of Department, Department of Education, Free State Province v Harmony High School and Another (CCT 103/12) [2013] ZACC 25; 2013 (9) BCLR 989 (CC); 2014 (2) SA 228 (CC) (10 July 2013).
 
7
Ibid. paras 112–116.
 
8
Adopted 10 December 1948 UNGA Res 217 A(III) (UDHR).
 
9
Declaration of the Rights of the Child (Proclaimed by the General Assembly, resolution 1386 (XIV), A/RES/14/1386, 20 November 1959) (DRC).
 
10
Convention on the Rights of the Child (adopted on 20 November 1989, entered into force 2 September 1990) 1577 UNTS 3 (CRC) art 29 para 1.
 
11
The African Commission for Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) sent on 23 March 2018 a letter of urgent appeal to the authorities of Uganda “Concerning alleged child labour in extractive industries, particularly gold mining.”
 
12
Association pour le progrès et la défense des droits des femmes maliennes (APDF) and the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA) v Republic of Mali African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights 11 May 2018, especially paras 71–78. In addition, the ACHPR’s 40th activity report (of 2016) acknowledged that “In January 2016, child marriage was declared illegal in Zimbabwe by the Constitutional Court” (para 27.a.ix).
 
13
The ACHPR’s 34th activity report (2013) found positive developments for human rights in this regard in Senegal and the ACHPR’s 36th activity report (of 2014) in four states of the Sudan.
 
14
The ACHPR’s 34th activity report (2013), para 21, denounced the situation in the Republic of Congo.
 
15
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (adopted 16 December 1966, entered into force 3 January 1976) 993 UNTS 3 (ICESCR) art 13 para 1.
 
16
So, the ACHPR in Purohit v. Gam., Comm. 241/2001, 16th ACHPR AAR Annex VII (2002–2003) para 57.
 
17
The expression is attributed to Pitirim Sorokin (Jonsson 2016, 3).
 
18
CESCR, General Comment no. 13, para 1.
 
19
Charter of the United Nations (adopted 26 June 1945, entered into force 24 October 1945) (UN Charter) art 1 para 1.
 
20
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (adopted 7 March 1966, entered into force 4 January 1969) 660 UNTS 1.
 
21
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (adopted 18 December 1979, entered into force 3 September 1981) 1249 UNTS 1.
 
22
Mittler (2000, 10) has developed a model of inclusive education. In his words, “inclusion implies a radical reform of the school in terms of curriculum, assessment, pedagogy and grouping of pupils. It is based on a value system that welcomes and celebrates diversity arising from gender, nationality, race, language of origin, social background, level of educational achievement or disability” (emphasis added.)
 
23
ICCPR, art 18 para 4. Also in ICESCR, art 13 para 3.
 
24
Case of Mürsel Eren v Turkey European Court of Human Rights 7 February 2006 (ECLI:CE:ECHR:2006:0207JUD006085600).
 
25
Case of Kjeldsen, Busk Madsen and Pedersen v Denmark European Court of Human Rights (Grand Chamber) 7 December 1976, (ECLI:CE:ECHR:1976:1207JUD000509571) and case of Jiménez Alonso and Jimenez Merino v. Spain European Court of Human Rights (decision) 25 May 2000 (ECLI:CE:ECHR:2000:0525DEC005118899).
 
26
Northern Cyprus: Case of Cyprus v Turkey European Court of Human Rights (Grand Chamber) 10 May 2001 (ECLI:CE:ECHR:2001:0510JUD002578194). Turkey: Case of İrfan Temel and others v Turkey European Court of Human Rights 3 March 2009 (ECLI:CE:ECHR:2009:0303JUD003645802). Transdniestria: Case of Catan and others v the Republic of Moldova and Russia European Court of Human Rights (Grand Chamber) 19 October 2012 (ECLI:CE:ECHR:2012:1019JUD004337004).
 
27
Case of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights v Kenya (006/2012) [2017] African Court 28; (26 May 2017) para 179.
 
28
Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (entered into force 18 May 1954 ETS No.009).
 
29
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (European Convention on Human Rights, as amended) (entered into force 3 September 1953) (ECHR).
 
30
Case of Dahlab v. Switzerland European Court of Human Rights (decision) 15 February 2001 (ECLI:CE:ECHR:2001:0215DEC004239398).
 
31
Case of Leyla Şahin v. Turkey European Court of Human Rights (Grand Chamber) 10 November 2005 (ECLI:CE:ECHR:2005:1110JUD004477498).
 
32
Among others, the case of Kervanci v. France European Court of Human Rights (in French) 4 December 2008 (ECLI:CE:ECHR:2008:1204JUD003164504) and the case of Dogru v. France European Court of Human Rights 4 December 2008 (ECLI:CE:ECHR:2008:1204JUD002705805).
 
33
Case of Lautsi v. Italy European Court of Human Rights (Grand Chamber) 18 March 2011 ECLI:CE:ECHR:2011:0318JUD003081406.
 
34
Case of Valsamis and case of Efstratiou, both of the European Court of Human Rights 18 December 1996 (ECLI:CE:ECHR:1996:1218JUD002178793) and (ECLI:CE:ECHR:1996:1218JUD002409594).
 
35
See above n. 25.
 
36
Ibid.
 
37
Case of Konrad v Germany European Court of Human Rights (decision) 11 September 2006 (ECLI:CE:ECHR:2006:0911DEC003550403).
 
38
Case of Folgerø and others v Norway European Court of Human Rights (Grand Chamber) 29 June 2007 (ECLI:CE:ECHR:2007:0629JUD001547202).
 
39
Case of Hasan and Eylem Zengin European Court of Human Rights 9 October 2007 (ECLI:CE:ECHR:2007:1009JUD000144804) and case of Mansur Yalçın and others v Turkey European Court of Human Rights 16 September 2014 (ECLI:CE:ECHR:2014:0916JUD002116311).
 
40
The ACHPR, for instance, has repeatedly stressed the importance of both formal and non-formal human rights education (5th ordinary session, held in Benghazi on 3–14 April 1989).
 
41
The Supreme Court (Administrative Chamber) delivered three rulings on 11 February 2009: judgments nos. 340/2009 (ECLI:ES:TS:2009:340); 341/2009 (ECLI:ES:TS:2009:341); and 342/2009 (ECLI:ES:TS:2009:342).
 
42
The Constitutional Court dismissed three applications for conscientious objection against the subject: judgment no. 28/2014 of 24 February 2014 (ECLI:ES:TC:2014:28); judgment no. 41/2014 of 10 April 2014 (ECLI:ES:TC:2014:41) and judgment no. 57/2014 of 5 May 2014 (ECLI:ES:TC:2014:57).
 
43
See n. 38 and n. 39.
 
44
Case of Folgerø, cit. (see n. 38), para 88: “The intention was that the school should not be an arena for preaching or missionary activities but a meeting place for different religious and philosophical convictions where pupils could gain knowledge about their respective thoughts and traditions (…). In the view of the Court, these intentions were clearly consonant with the principles of pluralism and objectivity embodied in Article 2 of Protocol No. 1”. And para 89: “(…) From the drafting history it emerges that the idea was that the aim of avoiding sectarianism and fostering intercultural dialogue and understanding could be better achieved with an arrangement, such as here, bringing pupils together within the framework of one joint subject (...) Moreover (…) the second sentence of Article 2 of Protocol No. 1 does not embody any right for parents that their child be kept ignorant about religion and philosophy in their education.” A similar reasoning in paras 58 & 59 of the Zengin case (see n. 39).
 
45
African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (adopted 11 July 1990, entered into force 29 November 1999) (African Child Charter or ACC).
 
46
List of states updated on 28 June 2019 (last deposit by São Tomé and Príncipe on 27 June 2019).
 
47
African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (adopted 30 January 2007, entered into force 15 February 2012) (ACDEG).
 
48
List of states updated on 28 June 2019 (last deposit by São Tomé and Príncipe on 27 June 2019).
 
49
Art 12 of the ACC refers to the right “to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child.” See also N.J. Udombana (2006, 190).
 
50
ACHPR, 34th activity report (2013), para 21.vii. Emphasis added.
 
51
ACHPR, 36th activity report (2014), p. 11, para v. Emphasis added.
 
52
ACHPR, 30th activity report (2011), para 251.
 
53
ACHPR, combined 32nd and 33rd activity reports (2012), para 251.
 
54
ACHPR, 38th activity report (2015), para 41.​B.​vi. Emphasis added.
 
55
ACHPR, 43rd activity report (2017).
 
56
ACDEG art 43 para 1.
 
57
ACDEG art 43 para 2.
 
58
Gonzales Lluy and others v Ecuador Inter-American Court of Human Rights Series C No 298 (1 September 2015) para 234. See also Hevia Rivas (2008, 143 and 2010, 29).
 
59
Socio Economic Rights and Accountability Project v. Nig., Comm. 300/2005, 25th ACHPR AAR Annex (May–Nov 2008). The complaint was declared inadmissible due to lack of proof concerning the exhaustion of domestic remedies.
 
60
ACC, art 11 para 2.b.
 
61
African Charter, art 25: “State Parties (…) shall have the duty to promote and ensure through teaching, education and publication, the respect of the rights and freedoms contained in the present Charter (…).”
 
62
Resolution on Human and Peoples’ Rights Education, adopted by the ACHPR at its 14th Session, December 1993. The text is available at https://​www.​ohchr.​org/​EN/​Issues/​Education/​Training/​Compilation/​Pages/​5ResolutiononHum​anRightsEducatio​n(1993).​aspx.
 
63
In its 35th activity report, of 2013, the ACHPR highlighted “Lesotho’s (…) new curriculum for schools which includes components of human rights issues affecting children.”
 
64
ACDEG, art 12. Emphasis added.
 
65
ACDEG, art 31 para 2.
 
66
See above “Promoting understanding, tolerance and peace.”
 
67
ACHPR, 31st activity report (of 2011), para 30.
 
70
Khosa v Minister of Social Development 2004 (6) SA 505 (CC) (Justice Mokgoro).
 
71
Christian Education South Africa v Minister of Education (CCT4/00) [2000] ZACC 11; 2000 (4) SA 757; 2000 (10) BCLR 1051 (18 August 2000).
 
72
Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (adopted 9 June 1998, entered into force 25 January 2004) art 5.
 
73
Case of Mgwanga Gunme v. Cameroon, Comm. 266/2003, 26th ACHPR AAR Annex (Dec 2008–May 2009), see paras 145–150.
 
74
Ibid para 108.
 
75
African Charter art 17 para 2.
 
76
Organization of African Unity Charter, 25 May 1963, (OAU Charter) Preamble.
 
77
ACC art 11 para 2.g.
 
78
C.W. de Kiewiet (1941, 188), in his History of South Africa, wrote that “In all the great colonial regions of the world the history of the ruthless exploitation of natural resources is a full one.”
 
79
African Charter art 21 para 1.
 
80
Soc. and Econ. Rights Action Ctr. v. Nig, Comm. 155/96, 15th ACHPR AAR Annex V (2000–2001).
 
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Metadata
Title
Educational Values in Human Rights Treaties: UN, European, and African International Law
Author
Pablo Meix-Cereceda
Publication date
21-07-2020
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Published in
Human Rights Review / Issue 4/2020
Print ISSN: 1524-8879
Electronic ISSN: 1874-6306
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12142-020-00599-6

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