While the right of millions of students, especially girls, to study in Afghanistan these days is in serious and immediate danger in a safe and happy environment, the world’s attention to International Day to Protect Education from Attack, is doubly essential.
Some shocking facts of our world:
- More than 22,000 students, teachers, and academics were injured, killed, or harmed in attacks on education during armed conflict or insecurity over the past five years.
- Between 2015 and 2019, 93 countries experienced at least one reported attack on education.
- Students and educators were most frequently harmed by direct attacks in Afghanistan, Cameroon, and Palestine.
- Armed forces, other state actors, and armed groups used schools and universities for military purposes in 34 countries between 2015 and 2019, including as bases, detention centers, and weapons stores.
- In the past five years, state armed forces or armed groups reportedly recruited students from schools in 17 countries.
The UN General Assembly on May 29, 2020, through its resolution A/Res/74/275, established September 9 as the International Day to Protect Education from Attack. The resolution proclaiming the day was presented by the State of Qatar and was cooperated by 62 countries.
The resolution reaffirms that everyone has the right to education, and to that end, recalls the commitments made by the UN in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of August 12, 1949, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The day calls for attention to the serious situation of more than 75 million children in the age group 3-18 in 35 crisis-affected countries.
During times of conflict, children remain one of the most vulnerable sections of the population. Their ability to receive and provide education remains an even greater challenge. Without protecting places of education and educators during conflicts, an entire generation risks ending up lacking the essential skills and knowledge necessary to build a prosperous life. Through this day, the UN is therefore sending a clear message that schools, education, and the right to education of children should remain at the top priority to the public agenda.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have been invited through the resolution to facilitate the observance of September 9 of every year as the International Day to Protect Education from Attack.
Relevant Resources
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees
- Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of August 12, 1949
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
- International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
- Convention on the Rights of the Child
- Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
- UN GA resolution 64/290 of July 9, 2010, on the right to education in emergency situations
More information is available here.
Shishir Lamichhane
Government Attorney (Nepal)
Roya Institute Representative in Nepal