Early childhood care and education

CLADE considers that early childhood care and education are human rights from birth. According to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, every child has the right to develop his or her full potential in every circumstance, at any time, in any part of the world.

Instead of breaking up the concept of childhood, it should be considered within a human rights-based approach and acknowledge that children are holders of rights from birth. The acknowledgement of education as a human right from birth implies recognizing that the enjoyment of rights has value in itself and must be realized on account of the human nature of children.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child also sets out that the actions of State Parties shall be in the best interests of the child, and the main purpose shall be the development of the child’s personality, natural talents and abilities, acknowledging that each child has his/her own characteristics, interests and capacities, as well as learning needs.

Based on these concepts, CLADE has promoted, among other activities, consultations with education communities (including listening to small children), studies, debates and advocacy actions for the acknowledgement of early childhood education as a human right in regulatory frameworks and public policies, and for adequate and sustainable public financing in the region, for this type of education.