UN expert to assess Algeria’s efforts to promote and protect the right to education for all

GENEVA (22 January 2015) –The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to education, Kishore Singh, will be visiting Algeria from 27 January to 3 February 2015 to evaluate the Government’s ongoing plans for future education reform as it seeks to provide opportunities for all sectors of society.

“I am particularly concerned to see that all children in Algeria, including girls, and the vulnerable, are able to get education of good quality, and that poverty is not restricting access,” Mr. Singh said, announcing his first official mission to the country.

“This visit will allow us to assess the efforts undertaken by Algeria to implement the right to education, the measures adopted for its successful realization, and the obstacles encountered both at the national and international level,” the Special Rapporteur noted.

The UN expert will look into national resources devoted to education including post-secondary education, and reforms in technical and vocational education. Equality of opportunities and universal access are among the issues to be assessed.

During his eight-day mission, Mr. Singh will visit primary and secondary schools and public universities, and will meet with Government and civil society organizations, including non-governmental organizations. He will also hold discussions with educators, academics, students and teachers’ representatives.

A press conference will be held on 3 February 2015 at 11:00 am, at UNDP, 41 rue Mohamed Khoudi, el Biar, Algiers, where the Special Rapporteur will present his preliminary observations and recommendations. Access to the press conference is strictly limited to journalists.

ENDS

Mr. Kishore Singh (India), the Special Rapporteur on the right to education since August 2010, is a 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 bodies 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 promote better understanding of this right as an internationally recognized right. Learn more, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Education/SREducation/Pages/SREducationIndex.aspx

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

UN Human Rights, Country Page – Algeria: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/MENARegion/Pages/DZIndex.aspx

For inquiries and media requests, please contact:
In Algiers (during the mission): Ms. Dalila Bouras (Tel : (+213-21) 92 54 42 ; (+213-21) 92 01 01 – Ext. 133, 134 or 135 ; Fax : (+213-21) 92 54 42); Email :bouras@un.org; unic.dz@undp.org; unic.algiers@unic.org)
In Geneva (before and after the mission): Ms. Kellie-Shandra Ognimba (+41 22 917 9617 / KOgnimba@ohchr.org) or write to sreducation@ochcr.org

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