So HRW dropped its yearly rundown on kids' rights. They're giving some props, saying a few countries actually did decent stuff lately. Japan and Malawi scrapped public high school fees, and Vietnam made all public school tuition free. The U.S. and Kosovo also signed onto that Safe School Declaration thing, which is supposed to keep schools from getting bombed in war zones.
But the real hype is about this potential UN treaty. Back in September, 92 countries talked about making a new optional protocol to the existing child rights convention. The current global rules only guarantee free primary school. This new treaty would cover everything from preschool through high school, which would be a huge deal for millions of kids. The coolest part was that actual children got to speak directly at the UN meetings, calling out how costs and crappy schools still lock people out.
HRW admits other areas, like child labor and online safety, saw some minor wins too, with places like Denmark and Australia setting age limits for social media. But they're quick to point out that overall, the situation is still bad. They cited failures in places like Mayotte, and the UN recorded a record number of attacks on kids in conflict zones last year. The group's whole point is that while these national changes are good first steps, a solid international treaty is the only way to make free education a real global guarantee.
But the real hype is about this potential UN treaty. Back in September, 92 countries talked about making a new optional protocol to the existing child rights convention. The current global rules only guarantee free primary school. This new treaty would cover everything from preschool through high school, which would be a huge deal for millions of kids. The coolest part was that actual children got to speak directly at the UN meetings, calling out how costs and crappy schools still lock people out.
HRW admits other areas, like child labor and online safety, saw some minor wins too, with places like Denmark and Australia setting age limits for social media. But they're quick to point out that overall, the situation is still bad. They cited failures in places like Mayotte, and the UN recorded a record number of attacks on kids in conflict zones last year. The group's whole point is that while these national changes are good first steps, a solid international treaty is the only way to make free education a real global guarantee.
