SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION DEPLORES VIRGINIA TECH SHOOTINGS

April 24 2007


The Special Rapporteur on the right to education, Vernor Muñoz Villalobos, issued the following statement on 24 April 2007:


In my capacity as Special Rapporteur on the right to education, I wish to express my profound sadness following the grievous incident which recently occurred at the Campus of Virginia Tech. As I have stated before, the targeting of schools, universities, students, teachers and other civilians for any reason is unacceptable.

My thoughts are with the parents, families and friends of all those who were victims in the attack. I would like to express to them my sentiments of condolences and solidarity.

I would also like to reiterate that the right to education requires to be provided in a safe and protected environment.

I am confident that the United States authorities will spare no efforts to investigate this tragic episode. Given the fact that similar incidents occurred in educative establishments on other occasions, I hope that the renewed reflection and debate that this sad event has triggered in the United States on the implications of the legislation related to the possession of arms by the general public, will encourage the society to consider the possibility to revise it.