What are the differences between "right to education", "human rights education" and "human rights-based education"?

These terms are sometimes used interchangeably but important distinctions can be made.

The "right to education" can be seen as the basic human right, reflected in international law, that every young person has to education -- as a means of fulfilling their human potential and enabling their participation in human society. Described in human rights instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (article 26), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (article 13), and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (articles 28,29) it is said to include rights to access education, and to quality education that meets individual, family, cultural and societal needs, and human rights standards generally.

In the past, "human rights education" (HRE) has often been taken to mean education about human rights -- ie transmission of formal knowledge about human rights. There is now formal international agreement that HRE is

"education, training and information aiming at building a universal culture of human rights through the sharing of knowledge, imparting of skills and moulding of attitudes directed to:

(a)  the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;
(b)  the full development of the human personality and the sense of its dignity;
(c)  the promotion of understanding, tolerance, gender equality and friendship among all nations, indigenous peoples and racial, national, ethnic, religious and linguistic groups;
(d)   the enabling of all persons to participate effectively in a free and democratic society governed by the rule of law;
(e)   the building and maintenance of peace;
(f)    the promotion of people-centred sustainable development and social justice"

and that it "encompasses:

(a)    knowledge and skills — learning about human rights and mechanisms for their protection, as well as acquiring skills to apply them in daily life;
(b)    values, attitudes and behaviour — developing values and reinforcing attitudes and behaviour which uphold human rights;
(c)    action — taking action to defend and promote human rights." (UN World Programme for Human Rights Education)

"Human rights-based education" can be said to be an overall approach to education that recognises that early childhood education services and schools are in "the human rights business" -- ie the realisation of human rights is the mission of education.