Tomorrow today; 2010 - unesdoc - Unesco

Child rights and equity throughclimate change educationSuchitra D. Sugar, Consultant, Climate Change and Environment Education, UNICEF,Stephanie Hodge, Education Specialist, Cross Sector Coordination, UNICEF andSonia Sukdeo, Education Officer, Disaster Risk Reduction, UNICEFUNICEF is contributing to the Decade of Education forSustainable Development (DESD) through qualityeducation, girls’ empowerment initiatives and the mainstreamingof equity considerations 1 within its Basic Educationand Gender Equality programme. UNICEF’s ideological frameworkfor good quality education is founded upon the Conventionon the Rights of the Child (CRC). The application of the CRC toeducation provides a whole-child, equity-promoting and rightsbasedapproach. It stresses that all children – but especially themarginalized – have a right to good quality education, includingeducation on, and participation in, issues that affect theirlives, such as climate change and environmental degradation.The CRC underpins the key principles that drive the process ofmaking schools child-friendly. These include the principles ofdemocratic participation, child-centredness, inclusionand safe, protective environments.Over 72 million children are out of school. 2 In sub-Saharan Africa only 65 per cent of primary-school-agedchildren are in school – the lowest rates of primary schoolparticipation in the world. In UNICEF’s 2010 publication,Progress for Children, UNICEF’s Executive Director,Anthony Lake, states:“Today, it is clear that we have made significantstrides towards meeting the MDGs… But it is increasinglyevident that our progress is uneven in manykey areas. In fact, compelling data suggest that in theglobal push to achieve the MDGs, we are leaving behindImage: Selim IltusSchool girls identifying environmental features and hazards in their community on a map that they have created[ 129 ]