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International Journal of
Population Studies The right to lifelong learning

As longevity grew, it was possible to delay the provision currently to formulate a convention on the rights of older
of learning for people in the later years while gaining persons so that there will be one comprehensive legal
a better understanding of the need for learning during international treaty for their protection (Coalition to
the later years and the appropriate process to provide it. Strengthen the Rights of Older People, n.d.).
Research was conducted to determine if learning was even The second international instrument focuses on
necessary at this stage and, if so, what purposes it would discrimination in education. This convention against
serve for older persons and society. However, the context discrimination in education contains 19 articles that
has changed. The imperative for late-life learning policy define discrimination and the goals and policies of
is now additionally impelled by human rights rather than education systems free from discrimination. The
purely societal requirements or optional policies. It is clear Recommendation against Discrimination in Education
that the current learning infrastructure and practices are was adopted by UNESCO’s General Conference on
not designed for the later decades in a century of life. The December 14, 1960. Countries agree to respect, protect
right to learning requires a systemic approach to learning and fulfill this right, and they are obliged to make
provision throughout life for all citizens. national commitments for compliance. One hundred
and seven countries have ratified the convention and
1.1. Two international instruments for the right to enshrined the right to education without discrimination
education
in their constitutions (UNESCO, n.d.). All countries in
When the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was the world have ratified at least one treaty covering certain
adopted in 1948, education or learning was formally aspects of the right to education. UNESCO regularly
recognized as a human right – The first international monitors the implementation of the Convention and the
instrument. Article 26 stated that learning should be Recommendation against Discrimination in Education to
provided through the stages of life, though it did not hold all countries accountable through legal mechanisms.
specify until the end of life (United Nations, 1948). The At the international level, human rights mechanisms are
right to learning values the individual’s dignity and ensures competent to receive individual complaints and have
optimum development. Learning was seen as vital for all settled the right to education breaches. Where the right to
individuals, particularly because knowledge is necessary for education has been violated, citizens are able to have legal
accessing other interdependent civil, political, economic, recourse before the courts of law (United Nations, 1999).
and social rights (United Nations, 1948). Individuals There is increasing clarity in the way the rights are
are seen as active agents in their own learning to thrive, expressed with time. The right to education and learning are
participate and contribute to the societies in which they not the same, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals
live. As a legal right, compliance by signatory countries was (SDG) list them both (UNESCO, 2015). The right to lifelong
obligatory. learning is associated with the life outcomes of individuals,
Universal human rights have specified principles that while the right to education is a societal or institutional
must be understood for policy development and national means to assure it. The United Nations expects each country
governance. They are: (i) Universality and inalienability; to choose its own approach to resource and implement the
(ii) indivisibility; (iii) interdependence and inter-relatedness; way these rights are guaranteed to its citizens.
(iv) equality and non-discrimination; (v) participation and In 2015, world leaders agreed to 17 interrelated SDGs
inclusion; (vi) empowerment; and (vii) accountability and to create a better, fairer world by 2030 (United Nations,
the rule of law (United Nations Population Fund, 2005). 2015). SDG 4 states: “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality
These overarching principles govern the way in which other education and promote lifelong opportunities for all”
related United Nations (UN) treaties that govern human (United Nations, 2015). Target 4.7 reads: “By 2030, ensure
rights are conceived and implemented. that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed
The Universal Declaration adopted in 1948 states that to promote sustainable development, including, among
human rights are the rights inherent to all human beings, others, through education for sustainable development
regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality,
religion, or any other status but does not specifically promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence,
mention age and other conditions such as disability. global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity
Later, additional international conventions, such as the and culture’s contribution to sustainable development”
Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), offered (United Nations, 2015).
protection for vulnerable groups such as girls and women, However, the value of the legal right to lifelong learning
children, and persons with disabilities. There are efforts is not well understood, tested, or applied. Some advocates

Volume 9 Issue 3 (2023) 34 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.339