All Means All: A Human Rights Analysis of Access to Education for Undocumented Migrant Children in Ecuador and Italy

This thesis examines how Ecuador and Italy fulfill their international human rights obligations to guarantee education for undocumented migrant children. It analyzes legal frameworks, human rights guidance, and reports from civil society to identify barriers such as restrictive migration policies, administrative hurdles, language challenges, and discrimination. Findings show a gap between formal commitments and lived realities of undocumented migrant children: Ecuador offers a relatively inclusive framework with practical obstacles, while Italy provides legal access but struggles with implementation. The study concludes that bridging this gap requires aligning domestic law with human rights standards, strengthening enforcement, and adopting inclusive, context-sensitive measures to ensure education for all children, regardless of migration status.