The whole world is set to mark the first International Day to Protect Education from Attack on September 9.
The UN General Assembly had adopted Resolution No. 74/275, in May this year, establishing September 9 as the International Day to Protect Education from Attack.
The resolution, called for by H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Education Above All Foundation and UN Sustainable Development Goals Advocate, and spearheaded by the State of Qatar, aimed to garner global advocacy to ensure accountability for the continued, deliberate attacks on education and the prevalent armed violence experienced by children worldwide.
The Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, H E Ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, tweeted regarding the International Day to Protect Education from Attack saying: “H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Chairperson of @EAA_Foundation, the driving force behind the dedication of an International Day to #ProtectEducationFromAttack, proposed at the 2019 #SocialForum in Geneva dedicating an International Day to keep #ProtectionOfEducation at the top of the public agenda.”
In another tweet, she wrote: “On Sept 9 we will commemorate the first International Day #ProtectEducationFromAttack after the adoption of #UNGA Res A/Res/74/275 presented by Qatar. Start Following the global campaign @SaveFutureNow launched by @EAA_Foundation leading up to the first International Day.”
Education Above All Foundation has launched #UniteToProtect campaign to mark the International Day and also launched a survey on the subject. “On September 9, the world marks the first International Day to #ProtectEducationFromAttack. We must take urgent action and #UniteToProtect learners worldwide under @EAA_Foundation’s new global campaign,” the Foundation has tweeted.
It also tweeted: “Let’s #UniteToProtect today EAA & partners @UNICEF @UNESCO @Qatar_fund @SaveFutureNow launch a global campaign leading up to the first International Day to #ProtectEducationFromAttack on September 9. Use #UniteToProtect to support the uninterrupted right to equitable quality education for all.”
Regarding ‘Unite To Protect’ campaign, Education Above All Foundation writes on its website that it aims to drive transnational advocacy through both high-level and grassroots platforms for the protection of education for the most vulnerable communities and highlight the crucial need to strengthen mechanisms for the protection of education from attack.
It also aims to end the culture of impunity surrounding education-related violations of international laws; and ensure uninterrupted access to inclusive and equitable quality education.
Education Above All Foundation further said on its Twitter handle that according to @GCPEAtweets, education has been attacked over 11,000 times in the past 5 years? “Urgent action is needed to #ProtectEducationFromAttack. We must #UniteToProtect Take the survey. End the culture of impunity.”
Qatar Embassy in the United States tweeted: “@EAA_Foundation is a force for good in communities around the world. EAA’s Al Fakhoora program has provided the tools necessary for children to receive quality education across the region.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had welcomed the adoption of General Assembly Resolution No. 74/275 presented by the State of Qatar and approved by consensus. “As the world fights to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, children and youth in conflict zones remain among the most vulnerable to its devastating impact. We must ensure our children have a safe and secure environment in which to learn the knowledge and skills they need for the future,” UN Secretary-General had said in May.
Qatar Foundation, in a tweet, said, “Education is under attack and the number of attacks are only rising. September 9, the International Day to #ProtectEducationFromAttack is a necessary reminder to the global community. Join us and #UniteToProtect this fundamental human right from attack.”
Qatar Embassy in London tweeted: “Qatar leads international efforts to #ProtectEducationFromAttack and ensure a quality education for all.”
World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) said in a tweet: “September 9 marks the International Day to #ProtectEducationFromAttack. Each year, school children, teachers & education personnel are directly targeted with killing, injury, abduction & detention. #UniteToProtect the world’s learners.”
Street Child United tweeted, “Let’s #UniteToProtect! @EAA_Foundation launched a global campaign leading up to the first International Day to #ProtectEducationFromAttack on Sept 9. Use #UniteToProtect to support the uninterrupted right to equitable quality education for all.”
According to information shared on Education Above All Foundation’s website, the continued deliberate and systematic attacks on education in the past 5 years have witnessed over 11,000 reported attacks in 93 countries; over 8,300 students, teachers, education personnel harmed; over 7,300 attacks directly on schools and over 1,200 attacks on higher education.
“Attacks on education destroy the hopes and ambitions of whole generation of children and youth, and impacts negatively on achieving sustainable development, and sustaining peace and human rights,” it adds.
Education Above All Foundation says that the establishment of the International Day propels the issue of attacks on education to the top of the international agenda, enables us to promote the endorsement and implementation of accountability mechanisms such as the Safe Schools Declaration; to provide a forum for exchange of ideas and experiences on attacks on education and efforts to stop them and to galvanize tangible actions against attacks on education.
