The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is preparing a General Recommendation on girls and women’s right to education, which is a document produced by the Committee to give guidance on the interpretation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. For this purpose, the Committee is holding a half-day discussion on the topic on 7th July.

Non-governmental organisations and experts are also invited to send written contributions by 20th June (more information here).

The Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Right to Education Project are preparing a contribution on the impact of the privatisation in/of education on girls' right to education. Both organisations have been conducting research and/or reflecting on privatisation in/of education from a human rights perspective and would like to draw to CEDAW’s attention some of the impacts privatisation has on girls’ education.

For the preparation of this contribution to the CEDAW, we are collecting thoughts, data, and comments, and we would like to invite all civil society organisations working in the education field to share with us information and evidence we could refer to in our paper. Your input will be crucial in informing the contribution we are putting together.

 To facilitate this consultation, here is a list of guiding questions:

1. In your view, has privatisation in/of education led to the exclusion of women and girls from enjoying equal access to educational opportunities or otherwise impeded their ability to realise their right to education on equal footing with men and boys? If so, why? Do you have some examples?

2. Has privatisation in/of education resulted in other detrimental impacts on women and girls, such as the use of gender insensitive curricula or the propagation of gender stereotypes?  If so, why? Do you have some examples?

3. Does your organisation have any specific research or case studies highlighting the impact of privatisation on women and girls?

4. What do you think are the key messages to communicate to the CEDAW Committee around the issue of privatisation in/of education and its impact on girls?

You can send your ideas via the Right to Education’s online forum here http://www.right-to-education.org/page/right-education-discussion-forum, or you can contact directly Delphine Dorsi (Right to Education Project) Delphine.dorsi@actionaid.org, and Mayra Gomez (Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights): Mayra@globalinitiative-escr.org if you prefer.