World Summit for Social Development: Realising the Right to Education: Reclaiming Public Systems for Equity and Inclusion

Education is one of the foundational commitments of the 1995 Copenhagen Summit and a pillar of poverty eradication, inequality reduction and social integration which are central to the Doha summit. Education is not simply a service; it is a legal right and public good that creates possibilities for empowerment, inclusivity, and upward mobility and a cross-cutting enabler that underpins WSSD2’s broader ambitions.

This virtual panel discussion will take place during the World Social Summit for Development (WSSD) to explore strategies for realizing the right to education through strategic litigation, the localization of international human rights standards, and collaboration with social movements. It will focus on tackling educational inequality and ensuring that no one is left behind.

When: 3rd November 2025, 2.00-3.30pm (UTC) // 5.00-6.30pm (Qatar local time) 

Languages: Event will be held in English and interpreted into Arabic, French and Spanish

Register to join the event

Poster for the virtual event with QR code to register to join.

A collaborative effort by:

• ActionAid

• Africa Network Campaign on Education for All

• Asia South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult Education

• Brazilian Campaign for the Right to Education

• Global Campaign for Education

• Global Student Forum

• Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

• Education International

• International Commission of Jurists

• Latin American Campaign for the Right to Education

• Oxfam

• Public Education and Human Rights Coalition

• Right to Education Initiative

• Right to Education Forum India

• The Alternatives Project

• United Nations Research Institute for Social Development

• World Organization for Early Childhood Education

Panel breakdown

Moderator: Tatyana Friedrich, Regional Entities Representative, Steering Committee, Latin American Campaign for the Right to Education

Setting the Context: Connecting the dots: our collective advocacy for education
Grant Kasowanjete, Global Coordinator, Global Campaign for Education

Opening Remarks

• Gwang-Chol Chang, Chief of Section of Education Policy, UNESCO

• Jayani Prisangika, Director of Planning, Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka

• Illich Gustavo Ortiz, Director of Strengthening Territorial Management, Delegate for the Ministry for Education, Colombia

• Jo Bourne, Chief Technical Officer, Global Partnership for Education

Ground Realities, Legal Strategies & Civil Society Collaboration 

• Bringing Human Rights Home: Connecting International Norms and National Policy Frameworks
  Anjela Taneja, Public Services and Inequality Lead, Oxfam 

• Litigating the Right to Education : Legal Oversight of Private Education
  Karuna Parajuli,  Legal Advisor Asia Pacific Programme, International Commission of Jurists

• Mobilizing communities and building social movements for public education
  Florian Lascroux, Coordinator, Capacity Building and Solidarity unit, Education International

• Taking students seriously: how empowerment of young people is the key
  Jacob Blasius, Executive Director, Global Student Forum