United Nations negotiates global treaty for free early childhood education

Negotiations began in Geneva to establish a new international agreement aimed at guaranteeing free access to childcare, preschool, and secondary education for all children. The discussions are being held within an Intergovernmental Working Group, established by a July 2024 resolution of the Human Rights Council.

The proposed optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child seeks to formally recognize that the right to education encompasses care and instruction during early childhood. The three-day meeting aims to define the legal obligations of States, structure international cooperation, establish monitoring goals, and create guidelines for drafting the document.

The session includes participation from high-level officials, including the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Chair of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, and the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education.