SPECIAL UN RAPPORTEUR ON RIGHT TO EDUCATION VERNOR MUNOZ VISITS BOSNIA

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (26.September,2007) - The Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Human Rights Council on the right to education, Vernor Muñoz,is visiting Bosnia at the invitation of the Bosnian government from 24 September to 2 October 2007.

During this visit, the Special Rapporteur will consider how Bosnia endeavours to implement the right to education, the measures taken for its successful realization and the obstacles encountered, both at the national and international levels.

The Special Rapporteur, who will have the opportunity to visit Bosnian schools, will focus on issues related not only to access to education but also to the quality of education, in particular for girls, children from minority communities and other economically and socially disadvantaged groups such Roma, displaced and returnee children.

He will address particular issues for the promotion of the right to education in Bosnia, such as, inter alia, the coordination between different authorities in charge of education, the phenomenon of two schools under one roof, the implementation of education based on different curricula, the protection of child rights within the school system and the situation of higher education.

The Special Rapporteur will meet with the Bosnian government officials and with civil society representatives, including non-governmental organizations. He will also have discussions with education professionals, academics, students, parents and members of the media. He will be traveling to Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Mostar and their surroundings.

The Special Rapporteur will present a report on his mission to the Council on Human Rights in 2008.

The Special Rapporteur is an independent expert appointed by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to help States, and others, promote and protect the right to education. For further information on the mandate of the Special Rapporteur and copies of available reports, please consult the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

http://www.unhchr.ch/
http://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/education/rapporteur/index.htm