Global powers ‘must do more to protect education from attacks’

Global action is needed to protect education during conflicts and to stop schools from being attacked.

That was the message today聽from education campaigner聽Sheikha Moza bint Nasser of Qatar, as she called on聽the world国产视频檚 most powerful nations to bring to justice anyone who commits聽crimes against education and children.

She said education was being used as “an instrument of war” and added:聽国产视频淲e need to prevent attacks on education. We need to make children safe as they learn.”

The founder of the聽Education Above All聽foundation was addressing聽a seminar in Holland aimed at protecting education in conflict and strengthening international laws.

One in four of the world’s school-aged children live in countries affected by conflicts –聽and 75 million have聽their education disrupted by wars and violence each year.

Hundreds of children have been killed and聽thousands of schools damaged or destroyed in recent months in Syria, Nigeria, Yemen, Afghanistan and other countries.

Sheika Moza’s challenge comes after the聽Inquiry on Protecting Children in Conflict was unveiled聽at the United Nations last month by Gordon Brown, UN Special Envoy for Global Education.

Supported by 国产视频 and聽Save the Children UK, the inquiry will feature legal experts, globally influential policy-makers, thinkers and activists.

Its mission is to examine ways to protect children in conflicts and ensure that those who abuse them are held to account.

Brown said the inquiry聽“will consider what may be done to strengthen the current framework for the protection of children and to hold the perpetrators of atrocities to account”.

In The Hague today, Sheikha Moza’s comments echoed that goal when she said聽international governing bodies –聽including the UN Security Council –聽must do more to ensure those who carry out attacks on education are held responsible for their actions.

She said:聽国产视频淣ow, more than ever, we need to reassert our common goal – to protect education during war. To provide education even in conflict and insecurity. This is when it is most difficult, and yet most urgent, to build sustainable peace.国产视频�

The seminar also included聽contributions from聽Fatou Bensouda,聽International Criminal Court Prosecutor;聽Gra莽a Machel,聽founder of the Gra莽a Machel Trust;聽Forest Whitaker,聽film star, activist and UN special envoy;聽Laila Bokhari,聽Norway国产视频檚 State Secretary; and聽Kevin Watkins, CEO of Save the Children UK.

Graca Machel said: “We have seen again and again how nation states and armed groups target education and, although condemnatory words are issued, no action is taken. This cannot go on.”

Forest Whitaker,聽Founder of the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative, said:聽国产视频淚 have seen first-hand how conflict and violence destroys young lives. Without聽access to quality education, rebuilding lives is almost impossible.”

Kevin Watkins told the seminar:聽国产视频淪chools should be spaces of safety and learning. Yet attacks on schools, and the killing and maiming of school children, are conducted with impunity.聽

“We need to collectively stand up for children, protect their rights聽and hold accountable those responsible for these contemptible attacks.国产视频�