The United Nations (UN)’s International Day to Protect Education from Attack is annually observed across the world on 9th September to raise awareness regarding the importance of safeguarding schools as places of protection and safety for students and educators and the need to keep education at the top of the public agenda.
- 9th September 2022 marks the observance of the 3rd International Day to Protect Education from Attack.
- The day aims to raise awareness of the plight of millions of children living in war-affected countries.
Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution A/RES/74/275 on 28th May 2020 and proclaimed the 9th September of every year as the International Day to Protect Education from Attack.
ii.The resolution was presented by the state of Qatar and co-sponsored by
62 countries.
iii.The annual observance of this day is facilitated by the United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with the partners within or outside the UN system.
- The first ever International Day to Protect Education from Attack was observed on 9th September 2020 .
Significance:
i.The day is marked to make people aware that out of school, children are easy targets of abuse and exploitation . The school should provide a safe place for students and safeguard them from threats and crises.
ii.The day signifies a crucial step to breaking the cycle of crisis and reducing the likelihood of conflicts in the near future.
iii.According to the U.N., more than 22,000 students, teachers, and academics were injured, killed, or harmed during attacks on education.
- Afghanistan, Cameron, and Palestine are some of the countries where the most direct attacks on students occur.
Education Under Attack 2022:
According to the report titled ‘’Education Under Attack 2022’’ by Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA)-
i.More than 5,000 reported attacks on education and incidents of military use of schools and universities, harming more than 9,000 students and educators in at least 85 countries were recorded in 2020 and 2021.
ii.Attacks on education and military use of schools increased by one-third in 2020 compared to 2019, and remained at the same rate in 2021.
iii.The highest incidences of attacks on education schools were recoded in countries such as in Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Myanmar, and Palestine.
About Safe Schools Declaration (SSD):
i.It was opened for state endorsement in Oslo, Norway, in May 2015.
ii.By endorsing the Declaration, States commit to restoring access to safe education and to developing education systems that are conflict-sensitive and promote respect between social or ethnic groups.
- The Safe Schools Declaration (SSD) was endorsed by around 114 states across the world.
- Tunisia is the 114th State t o endorse the SSD
iii.The SSD State-led Implementation Network will promote cooperation, assistance, and peer-to-peer exchange of experience and good practice amongst states that have endorsed the Declaration.
About Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA):
i.Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA), a unique inter-agency coalition was formed in 2010 to address the problem of targeted attacks on education during armed conflict
ii.UNESCO is a core member of GCPEA which is committed to raising awareness and contributing to policy dialogue; deepening research on effective prevention and response strategies.
