GNLU’s Submission on India’s Education Safety Framework to UN Special Rapporteur

Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) has submitted a comprehensive contribution to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education, Ms. Farida Shaheed, on the topic of “Safety as an aspect of the right to education and as a precondition to its full realization.” This submission was made in response to a call for contributions issued by the UN Special Rapporteur for her upcoming report to be presented at the 59th session of the Human Rights Council in June 2025.

The contribution, prepared by the GNLU Centre for Public and Private International Law (GCPIL), provides an in-depth overview of India’s constitutional and international obligations regarding the right to education. It highlights specific statutory provisions, policies, guidelines, and landmark cases that ensure a holistic right to education, including aspects such as health, psychosocial and physical safety, and security of students1.

The submission also delves into vital legal frameworks such as the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Additionally, it provides information on existing government initiatives such as the PM-POSHAN Scheme, Manodarpan Portal, Sainik Schools Society Rules, National Disaster Management Guidelines, School Safety Policy, and NCERT guidelines.

The contribution was undertaken by an in-depth study carried out by eight law students – Masoom Sanyal, Anushka Bhatt, Souniya Dhuldhoya, Palak Siwach, Sithara B Fatima, Sia Shah, Prathamesh Bhagure, and Vinayak Malhotra – to support the Special Rapporteur’s efforts in addressing critical questions on ensuring safety in educational settings in India.

This submission is expected to contribute significantly to the evaluation of the implementation of international standards, national policies, and community-led initiatives to ensure physical, digital, and emotional safety in educational settings.

Source: https://www.livelaw.in/