Fact Sheets

En español: El Derecho a Trabajo: Obligaciones de Derechos Humanos de los Gobiernos y los Actores No Estatales

Safety in schools is a fundamental human rights issue and is related to children’s rights to education, health, security and dignity. Children have the right to a school environment that is safe, healthy and that enables children to learn.

Five printable flyers prepared by CESR for the Independent Commission on Public Education, New York City Trainings

In the United States, it is hard to use direct legal action to enforce human rights obligations. The U.S. has not ratified the several major human rights treaties, including those protecting the right to education. As a result, international treaties have not become part of our domestic law and do not provide a cause of action in court. Even when the U.S. does ratify a treaty, Congress makes what are called “reservations,” “understandings” and “declarations” that prevent individuals from using the treaties in U.S. courts. So, what are other ways that can we use human rights in the U.S.?

The right to education can only be met when students feel safe and able to express themselves in school. Human rights guarantee that school policies protect the child’s right to human dignity and create an environment in which children can learn and develop to their fullest potential, without discrimination. These rights are protected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

En español: El Derecho Humano al Trabajo