Vasu Gounden participates in SAHRC hearing on impact of protests on access to education

SAHRC

South African Human Rights Commission interrogates issue of ensuring that protest-related school closures don't undermine rights to access education.

The Founder and Executive Director of ACCORD, Dr Vasu Gounden, was invited by the South African Human Rights Commission to be one of five panelists on a National Investigative Hearing into the impact of protest-related actions on the right to a basic education in South Africa.

The Commission is concerned with protest-related school closures that are undermining the right to access a basic education. Most of the protests are not related to the right of education but do end up undermining the right to a basic education. The Commission is mindful of the need to protect the right of all people to protest as guaranteed by the Constitution. The Commission therefore decided to hold a national hearing from 13-15 June 2016, to interrogate the issue of how South Africa can ensure that protest-related closures of schools do not undermine the right to access a basic education.

The convening of a national hearing was intended, jointly with relevant stakeholders, to assess, evaluate and strengthen responses for the respect and protection of the right of children to a basic education. The objectives were to:

  1. Assess the compliance of relevant State authorities with their domestic, regional and international obligations;
  2. Assess the responsiveness of relevant State authorities, individually and in cooperation with another, in light of these obligations;
  3. Explore the impact of protest-related action(s) on the right to a basic education;
  4. Identify any shortfalls or gaps in law or practice that further impact on the right to a basic education in the context of protests;
  5. Raise awareness in civil society about protest-related action(s) and its impact on the right to a basic education;
  6. Share recommended practices through lessons-learned and achievements made;
  7. Identify measures taken to mitigate any adverse impacts; and
  8. Make findings and recommendations to strengthen the respect and protection of the right to a basic education.

In addition to Dr Gounden the other panelists consisted of:

  • Commissioner Lindiwe Mokate – South African Human Rights Commission (who was also the Chair of the Panel);
  • Commissioner Danfred Titus – South African Human rights Commission
  • Professor Ann Skelton – Director, Centre for Child Law
  • Dr Chris Madiba – Independent expert in Education

The Commission invited a wide range of institutions to make input at the hearing. This included State institutions (from national and provincial levels), trade unions and civil society.

Article by:

Hayden-Allen
Hayden Allen
General Manager: Corporate Affairs
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