First visit to Seychelles of the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to education

First visit to Seychelles of the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to education

GENEVA (11 October 2013) – Education reforms and the education of vulnerable children are among the issues to be assessed in the Republic of Seychelles by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to education, Kishore Singh, during his official visit to the country from 14 to 21 October 2013.

“This mission will allow us to assess the efforts undertaken by Seychelles to implement the right to education, the measures adopted for its successful realization, and the obstacles encountered at the national level,” said Mr. Singh, announcing the first visit to the country by an independent expert designated by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor and report on the right to education.

The UN expert will also evaluate the recent reform programs adopted by the Seychelles Government on education issues, with a view towards evaluating practical lessons relevant to small island states, including a perspective on the post-2015 education agenda.

The Special Rapporteur, who will visit primary and secondary schools and public universities, will meet with high level Government authorities as well as civil society representatives, including NGOs. He will also hold discussions with educators, academics, students and teachers’ representatives. The mission will take him to the main island of Mahé.

Based on the findings and discussions during the visit, the Special Rapporteur will present a report to the Human Rights Council in 2014.

A press conference will be held on 21 October 2014 at 14.00 in Conference Room 2 in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maison Quéau de Quinssy, Mont Fleuri, Mahé, where the Special Rapporteur will share his preliminary impressions.

Kishore Singh is the Special Rapporteur on the right to education since August 2010. He is an Indian professor specialized in international law, who has worked for many years with UNESCO for the promotion of the right to education, and advised a number of international, regional and national entities on right to education issues. Throughout his career, Mr. Singh has supported the development of the right to education in its various dimensions and worked to better understanding this right as an internationally recognized right. Learn more, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-education

OHCHR Country Page – Seychelles: http://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/seychelles

For inquiries and media requests, please contact:
In Geneva: Stee Asbjornsen (+41 22 917 9827 / sasbjornsen@ohchr.org) or write to sreducation@ohchr.org
In Victoria: Roland Alcindor (+230 212 3726)

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)

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