The Negative Impact of the Crisis Caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Safeguarding of the Children's Right to Education

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on children worldwide, particularly on the safeguarding of their right to education. While children were generally less directly affected by the severe medical consequences of the virus than older age groups, they were strongly affected by the social, educational and psychological consequences of pandemic-related measures. School closures, interruptions of care structures, reduced access to protection programmes and the weakening of support systems for children with disabilities or vulnerable family backgrounds created substantial risks for children’s development. The article argues that the right to education, recognised in Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, must not be treated as secondary during public health crises. The long-term consequences of the pandemic and lockdown measures for children’s mental, physical and educational development will only become fully visible in the future. For this reason, the protection of children’s rights requires additional efforts, targeted investment in education and stronger public attention, especially because children themselves lack powerful lobbying structures to represent their interests.