necessary to the full realisation of the right to education, legislation alone is not sufficient to
fulfil the obligations in the Covenant.68 In addition, measures adopted must include express
recognition of violations of the right to education (at a minimum non-discrimination and
freedom guarantees) as well as effective remedies including, where appropriate, judicial
remedies.69
Additionally, the framework of the ICESCR indicates that:70 (i) measures must be
‘reasonable’, ‘effective’ and ‘produce results’ compatible with the obligations under the
Covenant; (ii) States must take into account the means which have proved to be the most
effective in ensuring the protection of other human rights.
The CESCR has expanded on the immediate obligation of State parties to take steps towards
the realisation of secondary, higher and fundamental education for all those within its
jurisdiction. The Committee said that:71
At a minimum, the State party is required to adopt and implement a national
educational strategy which includes the provision of secondary, higher and
fundamental education in accordance with the Covenant. This strategy should
include mechanisms, such as indicators and benchmarks on the right to
education, by which progress can be closely monitored.
If a country has sufficient available resources, it must fulfil immediately all of the obligations
set out in article 13(2) of ICESCR and article 29(1) of CRC. If not already in existence,
legislation should be passed guaranteeing the right to education at all levels.
Progressive obligations
If a country is unable to achieve immediately the article 13(2) and article 29(1) rights72 due to
financial constraints, the full realisation of all the elements of the right to education according
to the features of availability, accessibility, acceptability and adaptability is a progressive
undertaking. The concept of progressive realisation recognises that full realisation of all
economic, social and cultural rights will generally not be achievable in a short period of
time.73 The CESCR noted that the obligation differs significantly from that contained in
68
See Limburg Principles at para 18.
Limburg Principles at para 19.
70
Sepulveda ‘The Nature of the Obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights’ (2003) at 335 – 360.
71
CESCR General Comment No. 13: The right to education E/C.12/1999/10 8 December 1999 at
para 52.
72
These articles set out the obligations in relation to each of the four levels of education: see term of
reference (iv) for a detailed discussion of these obligations.
73
CESCR General Comment No. 3: The nature of States parties obligations E/1991/23 14 December
1990 at para 9.
69
52