Advocacy Grows for Education Inclusion in Mayotte Reconstruction Bill

Human Rights Watch urges inclusion of education provisions in Mayotte's reconstruction bill.

Key Points

  • • HRW calls for educational access inclusion in Mayotte reconstruction bill.
  • • The National Assembly passed the bill unanimously post-Cyclone Chido.
  • • Currently, 9% of school-age children in Mayotte are not enrolled in school.
  • • Restrictive migration policies contribute to educational challenges for youth.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) is calling on the French government to amend its recently passed emergency reconstruction bill for Mayotte to include critical provisions for children's access to education. This appeal comes in the wake of the National Assembly's unanimous adoption of the bill, which is intended to aid recovery efforts following Cyclone Chido's destruction. While the bill facilitates expedited public procurement and sets up a new public institution for reconstruction oversight, HRW argues it neglects significant educational rights concerns.

Elvire Fondacci, an advocacy officer at HRW, emphasized that despite Mayotte being an overseas French territory, the right to education for its children should not be overlooked. Current statistics highlight educational disparities in Mayotte, where 9% of school-age children are not enrolled in school and approximately 15,000 children do not have access to a full school day. This educational crisis is aggravated by stringent migration policies that render many youths undocumented upon turning 18, regardless of their history in Mayotte.

HRW insists that the French government should seize this legislative opportunity to not only address urgent reconstruction needs but also tackle long-standing issues of educational access, advocating for the fundamental right to education in Mayotte. The group's call to action seeks to ensure that the reconstruction bill reflects the needs and rights of all children affected by the cyclone.