means of realizing other inherent human rights.55 It includes the right to all levels of education and training, on the basis of intellectual capacity. Modern education is one of the ways in which people can lift themselves out of poverty and identify and defend their rights. 171. The right to education affects the growth, development and welfare of human beings, particularly children and youth.5" The Commission recognises that, as a fundamental right, education is the primary vehicle by which economically and socially marginalised children and adults can lift themselves out of poverty and obtain the means to participate fully in their community.57 Thus, it plays a I vital role in the protection of human rights in that its aim is to develop intellectual capacity and thereby enable individuals to claim their rights at all levels. 172. Moreover, education should be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. As an empowerment right, education is the primary vehicle by which economically and socially marginalized adults and children can lift themselves out of poverty and obtain the means to participate fully in their communities." 173. Based on the foregoing, the Commission notes that education is one of the ways in which people can lift themselves out of poverty and identify and defend their rights. In particular, it enables marginalized populations to participate fully in community life. Furthermore, the right to education also includes the right to traditional and ancestral knowledge for indigenous peoples. 174. In this case, the eviction of the Batwa from their ancestral forest deprived them of this form of teaching, as the elders were no longer able to pass on their knowledge, particularly medicinal knowledge, to the younger generations in situ, as stated in the various testimonies made by members of this community who were victims of this eviction. These testimonies all point to the fact that there is knowledge related to the identity of the Batwa from which they ss General Comment No. 13 of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on the implementation of Article 13 of the lntemational Covenant on economic, Social and Cultural Rights; adopted at the 21" Session, 1999 ss ACHPR, Principles and Guidelines on the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights in the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, para 69 $7 ACHPR, Principles and Guidelines on the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights in the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, para 69 ss General Comment No. 13 of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on lhv implementation of Article 13 of iuial Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; adopted at the 21" Session, l%*°;w,,.,.;* . rf. _ . {4\ 3s . . u I . 1 . . ,,,., "I v * I