The session began with a message sent by HE Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, where he stressed that the cost of crises and the harsh consequences suffered by children cannot be calculated, recalling the effects of war on the bodies, minds, and souls of these young children, from killing to sexual rape, to recruitment into wars and displacement, and loss of opportunities.
He explained that education is not a basic human right in itself, but a condition for achieving all human rights, calling on all countries to invest in education, and to spare no effort to protect students and teachers alike, and to punish those responsible for attacks on places of education. He also urged all countries to adopt the Declaration on the Safety of Schools, and to stand by all efforts to ensure that children continue their education in times of crisis and after the end of the fighting.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations concluded his message urging the protection of education and the basic ri
ght to education.
Following the high-level session, EAA’s observance of the International Day to Protect Education from Attack featured technical break-out sessions on critical topics such as How Culture Can Bridge Gaps, Mitigating the Human and Financial Toll of Conflict, and Justice and Rule of Law: Rights, Law, and Accountability. These sessions brought together government representatives from Nigeria, Malaysia, South Africa, Tajikistan, SDG advocates, youth from conflict-affected regions like Gaza, Sudan, and Yemen, and representatives from UNESCO, UNICEF, and OHCHR.
A high-level delegation visited the first Assalam School. Students from conflicted-affected countries whose education has been interrupted are able to continue learning at the school. It is supported by EAA Foundation, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Qatar, and other local partners. In partnership with the Al Fakhoora programme, vocational and entrepreneurship training are offered to older students. Disability accommodatio
ns and counselling are provided for the students to ensure their physical and emotional well-being.
Currently, more than 72 million children worldwide are out of school due to conflict, with 53 percent of them being girls and 17 percent facing functional difficulties, while 21 percent have been forcibly displaced. The ongoing attacks on education disrupt learning and have severe short- and long-term consequences for individuals and societies.
Education Above All’s five programs globally employ multisectoral approaches, innovation, and partnerships to address various educational barriers, including poverty, gender discrimination, disabilities, and climate change. To date, EAA Foundation has supported over 19 million children and youth worldwide, achieving an 89.5 percent retention rate and reaffirming education as a universal human right.
The International Day to Protect Education from Attack was established through a resolution spearheaded by the State of Qatar and Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser at
the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2020. Supported by 62 countries, the resolution declared 9 September as the UN International Day to Protect Education from Attack, a day dedicated to acknowledging and addressing the global need to safeguard education in conflict zones and against other barriers.
Source: Qatar News Agency