IASC Briefing on Protecting Education in Emergencies
Tuesday, 19 March
Watch the full recording of the briefing here: IASC Briefing on Protecting Education in Emergencies
Armed conflict has a devastating impact on children’s access to education, as well as affecting students’ and teachers’ health and socio-emotional wellbeing in a variety of ways. In many conflicts, schools are attacked, looted, and used for military purposes. Students, teachers, and other education personnel are often threatened, abducted, attacked, or prevented from accessing classrooms.
International humanitarian law and international human rights law provide the legal framework that governs the protection and provision of education in armed conflict. Notable other efforts to protect education during armed conflict include the Safe Schools Declaration – which has been endorsed by 119 States – and the accompanying Guidelines for Protecting Schools and Universities from Military Use. The Paris Principles and Commitments, launched in 2007, also highlight the importance of education both for preventing children from being associated with armed forces or armed groups, and for re-integrating those that have been previously associated.
However, ensuring that all countries follow these international rules and commitments remains a significant challenge, as does holding accountable those responsible for attacks on education.
The briefing will be an opportunity to discuss the criticality of protecting education from attack, the entities operating in this domain, the norms protecting education, as well as about what more needs to be done to save lives and protect education from attack.
Speakers
- USG Virginia Gamba, Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict
- Ms. Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait (ECW)
- Ms. Suzanna Tkalec, Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator, Democratic Republic of Congo
- Ms. Samarre Marcelin Tecier, Youth Representative, Haiti
- Ms. Mina Bakshi, Youth Representative, Afghanistan
Moderator
- Ms. Mervat Shelbaya, Head of Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) secretariat
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