Ei-iE

The rights of migrant teachers and girls and young women were the focus of two important resolutions passed on 24 July at Education International’s 7th World Congress in Ottawa, Canada.

Migration

“Securing the rights of migrant teachers and education support personnel must be at the centre of our campaign for quality education,” said Kathy Wallis, the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT/UK), who proposed the Resolution (3.3) on Migration, Professional Diversity and Racism.

The resolution mandates Education International (EI) to support the work of member organisations in promoting equality for migrant teachers. And Congress resolved to continue to support EI in working with organisations such as UNESCO and the International Labour Organisation to promote the benefits of teacher mobility.

Contributions to the debate were also made by Marietta English, American Federation of Teachers (USA), Karaca Kamuran, E?itim-Sen (Turkey), Milagros Ogalinda, SMP-NATOW (Philippines), Mary Compton, the National Union of Teachers (NUT/UK), Gabriel Caldentey Ramos, STes-I (Spain),

School-Related Gender-Based Violence (SRGBV)

“SRGBV is a serious barrier to the enjoyment of the right to education but remains poorly reported and too often ignored,” said Margaret Rwabushaija, Uganda National Teachers’ Union. “Young children, women and LGBTI people are particularly vulnerable. Being subject to SRGBV often leads to low attendance, drop-outs and low self-esteem.” Rwabushaija proposed the Resolution (3.1) on School-Related Gender-Based Violence.

The resolution mandates EI’s Executive Board to review the EI Declaration on Professional Ethics, to collaborate with the UN and civil society partners on SRGBV, and help member organisations to get governments to end SRGBV within their jurisdictions.

Contributions to the debate were also made by delegates from Malaysia, the USA, Mexico, Canada, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, and Brazil.