On February 13, 2024, a prestigious gathering of international experts, academics, education stakeholders, and representatives of regional and international human rights systems convened to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Abidjan Principles. These principles, heralded as a reference text and rapidly recognised as an authoritative resource on the right to education, have significantly shaped discourse and action in the field. 

The event, expertly moderated by our Executive Director, Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona, and Joshua Castellino, Executive Director of Minority Rights Group International, featured insightful discussions spanning various dimensions of the Abidjan Principles' impact and relevance. 

The first section delved into the enduring significance of the Abidjan Principles five years post-adoption. Esteemed contributors including Ann Skelton from the University of Pretoria, UNESCO and Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Dr. Frank Adamson from California State University, and Dr. Prachi Srivastava from the University of Western Ontario, examined the evolving landscape of education rights frameworks and the pivotal role of the Abidjan Principles in this context. They underscored the principles' emphasis on access, inclusion, and quality as fundamental pillars of public education. 

Subsequently, the discussion shifted to the concerning trend of privatisation and commercialisation in and of education. Dr. Priyadarshani Joshi from the Global Education Monitoring Report, Dr. David Giband from the Université de Perpignan, and Dr. Prachi Srivastava continued the dialogue, exploring the implications of the growing presence of technology providers in education from a human rights perspective. They also addressed the evolving role of the state and the emergence of the figure of 'edupreneur' in the education sector. 

Providing valuable regional perspectives, Mudford Zachariah Mwandenga from the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Javier Palummo from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights shared insights into regional contexts and the application of the Abidjan Principles to safeguard the right to education. 

In the final discussion segment, examples illustrating the practical application of the Abidjan Principles were presented. Contributors including Johnstone Shishanya from the East African Centre for Human Rights (EACHRights), Karuna Parajuli from the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) Nepal, Mudford Zachariah Mwandenga, Javier Palummo, and Sandy Fredman from Oxford University - Pembroke College, highlighted the principles' relevance at national and regional levels, particularly in protecting early childhood care and education rights. 

To conclude the session, participants offered concise reflections on the necessary steps to achieve the right to education, emphasising the pivotal role played by the Abidjan Principles in advancing these efforts. 

For those who missed the event, the full recording is available here, providing an opportunity for broader engagement and dissemination of the valuable insights shared.