While the committee acknowledged the ICESCR may provide developing countries like Bangladesh an exception to providing education to non-nationals, it affirmed that each state should recognize the right of each child to education regardless of their status.319 This “progressive realization” of the right to education does not apply to Bangladesh’s denial of education to Rohingya refugee children. Bangladesh is obliged to ensure immediate access to education for these children, including its provision through internationally-funded humanitarian agencies and non-governmental organizations. In April 2018, the committee stated it was “deeply concerned” that Bangladesh restricts Rohingya refugees’ movement outside of the camps to access education and other basic services.32° Bangladesh endorsed the Global Compact on Refugees at the United Nations General Assembly on December 18, 2018, welcoming it as “a paradigm shift in establishing migration as a development phenomenon” and stating that “Bangladesh stands ready to work with all interested parties” for its implementation.32* However, Bangladesh’s prohibition on the integration of Rohingya refugee children in formal education, more than two years after they arrived and without any prospect of safe or voluntary return, flouts the Global Compact’s provisions: States and relevant stakeholders will contribute resources and expertise to expand and enhance the quality and inclusiveness of national education systems to facilitate access by refugee and host community children (both boys and girls), adolescents and youth to primary, secondary and tertiary education. More direct financial support and special efforts will be mobilized to minimize the time refugee boys and girls spend out of education, ideally a maximum of three months after arrival.322 319 CESCR, “Statement of the CESCR,” para. 8. 329 CESCR, “Concluding Observations on the initial report of Bangladesh,” April 18, 2018, paragraph 27, E/C.12/BGD/CO/1, https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=E/C.12/BGD/CO/1&Lang=En (accessed June 12, 2019). 321 UN, “General Assembly Endorses First-Ever Global Compact on Migration, Urging Cooperation among Member States in Protecting Migrants,” December 19, 2018, https://www.un.org/press/en/2018/ga12113.doc.htm (accessed May 10, 2019). 322 Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Part Il: Global Compact on Refugees, A/73/12 (Part Il), “Education,” section 2.1, paragraph 68, September 13, 2018. 79 HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | DECEMBER 2019

Select target paragraph3

Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents