Basic education in developing countries: United Nations session on the rights of the child in September 2001

The committee adopted the own-initiative report by Glenys KINNOCK (PES, UK) on basic education in the context of the UN Special Session on Children, to be held in September 2001. The report reemphasised the importance of education geared to peace in regions where children grow up in a context of violence and are often victims of armed conflict. It said that schools should be "zones of safety", where children's rights were respected and sexual harassment and acts of violence were taken seriously. It argued that people of all ages, including those who left school very young, should be able to take part in learning programmes throughout their lives. The committee also highlighted the need to devote particular attention to reintegrating former child soldiers through special education programmes. �