France’s National Assembly unanimously adopted a proposal aimed at strengthening the protection of children against violence in schools and extracurricular settings. The initiative followed the Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram scandal and renewed scrutiny of how abuse allegations are detected and handled.
The original article notes hundreds of reports of sexist and sexual violence in the education system and describes proposed measures to reinforce checks on adults and oversight, including in private schools.
Education must also be safe
Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognises the right to education, while Article 3 protects personal security. A meaningful right to education therefore presupposes an environment in which children can learn without violence or abuse.
Article 18 protects freedom of religion and belief, but that freedom does not remove the duty to safeguard children in faith-based educational institutions. Article 29 also recognises that rights may be subject to lawful limitations necessary to protect the rights and freedoms of others.
Original French source: https://connaissezvosdroits.ch/mondial-protection-enfants-a-lecole-apres-betharram/