A/68/294 importance of the right to education as a powerful lever in the elimination of the intergenerational transmission of poverty. An implementation strategy should provide permanent support in the form of grants and bursaries to the children who remain deprived of education, in particular children who are victims of extreme poverty. 121. Similarly, a universal goal related to women’s empowerment should be closely linked to education as a fundamental right, with special measures in favour of women and girls in vulnerable and marginalized situations. Educating women and girls should, a priori, be viewed as a human rights imperative, rather than being undertaken solely because of potential benefits to their children or to society. States must develop “legislative developments” and adopt specific laws for women’s empowerment through education within the framework of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Strengthening national legal systems for the right to education 122. National legislation establishing the right to basic education has been developed in many countries as part of the Education for All process. Governments must be encouraged to carry that process further so that education laws are modernized to address education quality, financing, the provision of technical and vocational education and training, the regulation of private providers of education and lifelong learning. 123. Developing appropriate process and outcome indicators with national targets and benchmarks must be an integral part of all implementation strategies. Measuring, reporting on and ensuring that any future development goals are nationally enforceable will be instrumental in achieving progress. National targets must be equitable and must address measures related to quality, access and learning achievements. International minimum learning standards should be included. 124. Existing legal obligations must be operationalized in goals and targets to assess progress in achieving the right to a quality education. Goals and targets for progressive implementation should require Governments to annually report on progress through indicators. Where possible, indicators should include benchmarks that must be reached within an agreed time frame. Sustained public investment in education as a national priority 125. No State committed to fostering development can afford to neglect to invest in education. Recognizing that the right to development and the right to education are mutually reinforcing, investment must be a continuous priority. Efforts to promote the expansion of education opportunities may fail if they are not sustained by political and financial support and by a legal framework that guarantees continued State investment in this strategic sector. The education agenda should necessarily contain clear and firm commitments by States to provide necessary resources as part of their human rights obligations. 24/26 13-42277