Blog of Berthe De Vos-Neven, SI UN Representative in Geneva.
As we look ahead to the 57th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC57), it’s crucial to reflect on the discussions and initiatives from HRC56 that continue to shape our path forward. One of the most pressing issues addressed at HRC56 was the global crisis of attacks on education, a topic that remains alarmingly relevant today. In the lead-up to HRC57, we revisit key moments from HRC56, including UNICEF’s powerful call to action, “Education is under attack!” The reflections shared in this blog by Soroptimist International’s Berthe De Vos-Neven emphasize the urgent need to protect education and ensure a safer future for children worldwide.
UNICEF is declaring “Education is under attack!” Attacks on schools, students and teachers are attacks on children’s right to an education – and on their futures. Soroptimist International (SI) UN Representative in Geneva, Berthe De Vos-Neven, reflects on a key side event hosted during the Fifty-Sixth Session of the Human Rights Commission (HRC56), held in June 2024.
Global Attacks on Education
There is a worsening trend of attacks on education globally, impacting the futures of entire generations. Without access to education, children living in conflict lack the skills needed to contribute to their countries and economies. Education is crucial for breaking the cycle of crisis and reducing future conflicts. These attacks not only violate international humanitarian law but also deny children the right to learn in a safe environment.
Children’s right to education cannot be safeguarded in conflict zones without protecting the education system itself. Schools should be safe spaces protecting children from threats and crises; however, out-of-school children are vulnerable to abuse, exploitation, and recruitment by armed groups. One in every five children globally is displaced by violence and conflict, exposing them to multiple forms of violence and excluding them from education.
In armed conflicts, education serves as a lifeline, providing safety for students and teachers. In 2022, there were over 3,000 attacks on schools and universities worldwide, a 20% increase from 2021. Recent attacks have occurred in Myanmar, the Central Sahel region, North-East Nigeria, Ukraine, and Gaza, where thousands of schools have been damaged or destroyed.
Loss of Education and Future Opportunities
Missing out on any form of education prevents children and young adults to develop the skills to find safe and paid work, which can make them more vulnerable targets of modern slavery. In some countries, girls are being specifically targeted with extreme levels of violence in a bid to discourage them from attending school. In 2023, approximately 781 million adults, 66% of whom are women, remain illiterate in terms of reading and writing capabilities, the majority from developing countries. Numeracy is also important, but comparable data at the global level is lacking.
Legal Frameworks and Initiatives for Protection
Access to high-quality education and training throughout the life course transforms lives and communities. These rights are established human rights under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security.
Furthermore, the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA) listed as one of its strategic objectives regarding education that States should promote lifelong, flexible education, training and retraining for all girls and women. Individuals should benefit from an ongoing acquisition of knowledge and skills beyond childhood and adolescence. This recommendation was included throughout the years after 1995 and reaffirmed by Sustainable Development Goal 4, the cross-cutting benefits of education on sustainable development and its fundamental role in achieving gender equality.
Global and Local Efforts; Effective Responses
In July 2019, the Human Rights Council (HRC 41st session) reaffirmed the Human Right to Education, emphasising its importance, especially in conflict zones, as a critical global issue requiring a multifaceted approach. This is supported by global campaigns like UNESCO’s Global Education Coalition, which mobilises diverse partners to ensure educational continuity during crises.
The Safe Schools Declaration, initiated in Oslo, Norway, in May 2015, is a key initiative aimed at protecting students, teachers, and educational institutions during conflicts. It promotes the continuation of education during wars and includes measures to prevent the military use of schools. To date, 119 states have endorsed this declaration, committing to restoring and developing safe, conflict-sensitive education systems that foster respect among different social and ethnic groups.
On March 19, 2024, an Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) briefing on Protecting Education in Emergencies (EiE) highlighted the severe challenges faced by education in conflict zones. Schools are frequently attacked, looted, and used for military purposes, with students, teachers, and staff often threatened or harmed. In 2022, the UN reported at least 1,163 attacks on schools, a 112% increase from 2021. In the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, over 1,000 schools have been impacted by conflict or disasters since early 2024.
Besides compliance, the need to implement punishment of perpetrators in the legal system, the prioritisation of educational institutions, and the most important element receiving more and adequately funding to ensure high-quality education. Furthermore, the international community needs to advocate more effective measures to guarantee that such attacks are put to a stop. Attacking schools or abducting girl students can’t become the new norm!