The head of the North's Human Rights Commission, Prof Brice Dickson, has called for an immediate end to the Holy Cross school protests.
While both sides had legitimate concerns, the right of children to get to and from the Ardoyne school was seriously infringed, Prof Dickson said.
"The treatment of these children is inhumane and their right to an effective education is being affected. It would be sensible for all protests to be called off and for all parties to engage in dialogue." Earlier, hopes for a resolution of the dispute appeared to be rising after suggestions that parents should consider using cars or buses to take their children to school.
As the protest at Holy Cross Girls' Primary School entered its seventh week, the chairman of the school's board of governors, Father Aidan Troy, proposed the idea as a way to ease tensions between the parents and children on one side and residents of the loyalist Glenbryn estate on the other.
Father Troy said deteriorating weather conditions would justify a situation where parents resorted to other means of transport than their twice-daily walk along the Ardoyne Road, protected by a heavy security force presence.
"I think the parents, as the weather gets colder and wetter, should begin to take their cars. If the school wishes to provide a bus to ensure the safe return of children then I think we should use the bus."
Last night, however, Father Troy said his suggestion had never been meant as a way to resolve the stand-off, as this would be "completely unacceptable" to parents. He continued to support those parents determined to walk their children to school, he added, as they were entitled to make that "parental choice".
Father Troy called for continuous security force protection for those deciding to walk.
His suggestion was welcomed by the MP for North Belfast, the DUP's Mr Nigel Dodds, who described it as a "sensible idea".
"This proposal which was floated by the residents recently and which the chairman of the board of governors has mentioned as a possible solution is one which should now be pursued vigorously.
"I call on everyone concerned to redouble their efforts to try to find a solution through the setting up of appropriate mechanisms for dialogue. I very much support the efforts to get face-to-face talks going and I hope they will be successful," Mr Dodds added.
Yesterday afternoon's protest appeared relatively peaceful in comparison to earlier weeks.