Civil Society demands G20 countries make strong commitments on the Education 2030 Agenda

Sept. 6, 2018 - PRLog -- GLOBAL: More than 600 CSOs from around the world have made specific recommendations for how the G20 could better solve common challenges that our world faces today. As Education Ministers prepare to meet on September 5th (http://sdg.iisd.org/events/g20-education-ministerial-meeting/), the Global Campaign for Education (http://www.campaignforeducation.org/en/) (GCE) and the Latin American Campaign for the Right to Education (http://v2.campanaderechoeducacion.org/en/the-campaign/mission.html)(CLADE) urge G20 States to make strong commitments on SDG4 and the 2030 Education Agenda, with a particular focus on gender and tax justice as a way to promote the right to education.

"We urge the G20 States to fully embrace the SDG4/ E2030 Agenda, and ensure the realisation of the right to education for all people. This requires adequately financed public education systems, committed to inclusive education and non discrimination, in particular gender equality which is seeing serious drawbacks. It is worrisome that some of the G20 countries, which are the largest economies in the world, are not making sufficient public investments in public education, despite broad consensus that this is key for the implementation of all SDGs and human rights" said Camilla Croso, President - Global Campaign for Education

This year, under the theme "Building consensus for fair and sustainable development" G20 countries will meet to discussways to strengthen global institutions, improve financial regulation and implement key economic reforms needed in each member economy.

Education remains a critical enabler to achieving the G20 objectives and plays an essential role in tackling shared global challenges of poverty, threats to inequality, including gender discrimination. Prioritising education secures inclusive development while promoting equitable, transformative education for all.

Representatives of CLADE and GCE participated in C20 dialogues with recommendations to suggest stronger language for the G20 States related to education, employment and inclusion. Additionally, the Global Campaign for Education supported the joint CSO declaration for G20 Education Ministers signed by 77 organisations.

"G20 has a historical responsibility in the realization of the right to education. This means promoting the holistic vision of education and its role in the construction of social justice. The economic dimension is crucial in this search, which is why the G20 contribution is strategic for the states to adequately finance public and free education systems and fly the inclusion flag for social transformation" added Vernor Muñoz, GCE Head of Policy and Advocacy.

Among its demands for education, CLADE and GCE call for G20 States to guarantee education as a human right, through inclusive public education systems that promote the transformation towards gender equality which must be adequately financed. Included in the document is a call for States to adopt measures to contain tax evasion, ensuring tax justice as a key element for the sustainability of educational financing; guarantee 12 years of public primary and secondary education is compulsory and free; and invest at least 4% to 6% of their GDP, or 15% to 20% of their public budget in education, according to the financial commitments they have signed in the 2030 Education Agenda.   Read the full C20 policy (https://civil-20.org/c20/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/C20-2...) document here.

About SDG4, Gender and Tax Justice

The SDG4 goal is to "ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all." It is only through education that we can bridge poverty and inequality divides worldwide. While significant progress has been made since 2000, governments and stakeholders must commit to advancing the education goal and ensure all girls and boys complete free primary and secondary schooling by 2030.

Increasing inequality between and within countries remains a significant problem to humanity. Tax avoidance and evasion impairs societys' ability meet the basic needs of every individual and undermines human rights and equality.  Radical international tax reforms are essential to achieve, free, quality public education for all. We call for a new international governance mechanism on taxation, based on a balanced system of rights and obligations, that improves the quality of life of all people.

Gender inequalities in education are a function of gender discrimination and patriarchal social and cultural structures. G20 countries and governments can revolutionize girls' and women's experience of the education system through adopting enabling laws, policies and practices to make education available, accessible, acceptable and adaptable.