UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
Doha: Global leaders came together to reaffirm the importance of protecting the right to quality education in conflict zones, during a virtual event held to mark the first International Day to Protect Education from Attack, yesterday.
Qatar hosted the high-level virtual event together with Education Above All (EAA), Unicef and Unesco, which called for attacks on education to stop. The event also featured Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani; UN Secretary-General, António Guterres; President of the 74th Session of the General Assembly, Prof Tijjani Muhammad Bande; Secretary-General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), Hassan Al Thawadi; President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Peter Maurer; and Executive Director of Unicef, Henrietta Fore.
“I urge all member states to honour their commitments to the existing international agreements that prohibit hindrance to the right to education. Schools and universities supposed to be safe places where learners can grow, develop and empower. I laud the states that have taken steps to protect education institutions,” said Guterres.
“We need to ensure that when it comes to education - all means all - I urge all UN member states to ensure the provision of education even during conflicts and particularly for the most vulnerable such as refugees, and displaced persons,” he added.
The first International Day for Protection of Education from Attack was marked yesterday, following a unanimous resolution passed by the UN General Assembly in May. The Day was adopted by consensus after intense consultations led by the delegation of Qatar to the UN. Efforts to introduce the Day were spearheaded by H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser as part of a decades-long commitment to protecting education in conflict and insecurity and ensuring children in developing countries can realise their fundamental right to education.
During the event, several policy makers, goodwill ambassadors and civil society representatives participated in panel discussion on ‘Global action to protect education from attack,’ and ‘Promoting effective policy choices and public action in the era of COVID-19’.
“The International Day to Protect Education from Attack serves as a strong, clear and timely wake-up call for the entire international community and especially for political leaders,” said Philippe Goffin, Minister of Foreign Affairs and of Defence, of Belgium.
“Indeed, it is up to us, as States, to provide protection and ensure inclusive and equitable quality education. It is up to us to defend the right to education. It is up to us to ensure that the perpetrators of attacks against schools are held to account,” he added.
David Beckham, Unicef Goodwill Ambassador and founder of the 7 Fund for Unicef emphasized that International Day to Protect Education from Attack, is a reminder that all countries and people are responsible for preventing attacks on education.
