Japan steps towards free high school education for all

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Education

A new chapter has begun in Japan’s educational history: high school education is now free for all students, regardless of household income. This landmark reform, effective since April 2025, stems from a historic parliamentary agreement and is expected to have far-reaching implications for students, their families, and the nation’s future. It marks a transformative moment […]

Thailand’s air pollution crisis threatens children’s health, development, and education

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Education, Health

Thailand’s air pollution crisis is no longer just an environmental issue—it has become a full-scale public health emergency, with children at its epicentre. Every day, millions of Thai children inhale toxic air, putting their health, development, and future at serious risk. Driven by urban smog, agricultural burning, and industrial emissions, the crisis has turned breathing […]

Discrimination and exclusion define life for migrant children in Italy

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Education, Exploitation, Health, Human Rights, Migration, refugees

Migrant children in Italy are facing systemic discrimination and exclusion driven by the country’s entrenched migration policies. Instead of providing protection and opportunity, Italian laws and practices increasingly isolate young migrants from society, further stripping them of their rights to education, health care, and safety—rights which are guaranteed under international law. The worsening political climate […]

Paris parents’ protest reignites debate on France’s education crisis

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Education, Human Rights

In Paris, parents are demonstrating in the face of persistent difficulties that compromise their children’s access to quality education: increasingly frequent class closures, unreplaced absences and a general deterioration in teaching. At the same time, more and more teachers are leaving the profession due to low pay, deteriorated working conditions and lack of institutional support. […]

Myanmar children continue to fight for their right to education in Thailand 

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Education, Migration, refugees

Ongoing conflict in Myanmar has forced thousands of children to flee to Thailand, where they face significant barriers to accessing education. Despite legal provisions guaranteeing their right to schooling, many migrant children struggle with issues such as legal status, language barriers, and financial hardship. To ensure their right to education is upheld, greater collaboration between […]

Fighting the dual challenges of child sexual abuse and HIV in Zambia

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Education, Health

Child sexual abuse (CSA) and HIV remain two of the most pressing threats to children’s health and well-being in Zambia. Cultural myths and inadequate health responses further exacerbate this crisis. Tackling these issues therefore requires a holistic approach that combines legal reforms, community engagement, and strengthened healthcare systems. Zambia’s socio-cultural landscape Child sexual abuse (CSA) […]

Educational inequities for marginalized students in New Zealand

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Education, Human Rights, Indigenous people

New Zealand (known by its Māori name Aotearoa, which translates to “land of the long white cloud”) prides itself on values of equality and fairness, yet significant inequities persist within its education system, particularly for Māori (the country’s indigenous population) and Pasifika (South Pacific Islanders and their descendants) students (Jiaheng, 2024). Despite the overall high […]

Addressing discrimination faced by Muslim children in Indian education

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Education

Muslim children in Indian education face discrimination and challenges that hinder their access to quality learning opportunities. Despite comprising around 14% of the population, Muslims encounter obstacles such as declining enrollment rates, contentious bans on religious attire like the hijab, and the closure of Islamic schools (madrasas). These issues exacerbate educational disparities and contribute to […]

How ‘free’ is public education? The hidden costs of free education in Kenya

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Education

Kenya, along with all other African jurisdictions, has committed to guaranteeing 12 years of primary and secondary education for all children in line with the African Union’s (AU) Continental Education Strategy (Human Rights Watch, 2024). Despite this, and visible domestic policy efforts to ensure and provide ‘free’ education, hidden costs continue to prevent large numbers […]

Student kidnapping frightens Nigeria again

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Education, Exploitation, Human Rights, violence

As of early March 2024, Nigeria is living in a spiralling security crisis: over 380 children have been kidnapped by Islamist insurgents like Boko Haram in the country’s northeast and other criminal groups in the northwest. Thanks to the negotiations between the government and the gunmen, 137 students have been released, but many more are […]