Her Highness Marks Fifth Observance of the International Day to Protect Education from Attack

The Education Above All (EAA) Foundation, a global leader in education and development, marked the fifth observance of the International Day to Protect Education from Attack (IDPEA). The event, led by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of EAA Foundation, and attended by heads of state, high-level dignitaries and UN representatives, was held at the Qatar National Convention Centre.

The International Day to Protect Education from Attack was established through a resolution spearheaded by the State of Qatar and Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2020. Supported by 62 countries, the resolution declared 9 September as the UN International Day to Protect Education from Attack, a day dedicated to acknowledging and addressing the global need to safeguard education in conflict zones and against other barriers.

This year’s observance, under the theme "Education in Peril: The Human Cost of War," featured a keynote address by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and a high-level panel discussion. Esteemed panellists included: His Excellency Mr. Ahmad Awad bin Mubarak, Prime Minister of Yemen; Her Excellency Mrs. Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of Sierra Leone; Her Excellency Mrs. Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, First Lady of The Gambia; Her Excellency Dr. Wan Azizah binti Wan Ismail, Spouse of the Prime Minister of Malaysia; Her Excellency Rosângela Lula da Silva, First Lady of Brazil; Her Excellency Mrs. Mirela Bećirović, First Lady of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Her Excellency Mrs. Philippa Karsera-Christodoulides, First Lady of Cyprus; Her Excellency Dr. Varsen Aghabekian, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine; Her Excellency Mrs. Saida Shavkatovna Mirziyoyeva, Advisor to The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Her Excellency Mrs. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia and Her Excellency Mrs. Virginia Gamba, UN SRSG for Children and Armed Conflict.

In her speech, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser emphasised the destructive power of attacks on education, stating: “Education is the vessel that will carry children to a bright future. But attacks on education destroy the lives of teachers and students and leave nothing but emptiness, annihilating their future. There is no doubt that those who target education know what they are doing and do so with premeditation.” She went on to call for urgent global action to protect education from attack.

The event featured technical break-out sessions on critical topics such as How Culture Can Bridge Gaps, Mitigating the Human and Financial Toll of Conflict, and Justice and Rule of Law: Rights, Law, and Accountability. These sessions brought together government representatives from Nigeria, Malaysia, South Africa, Tajikistan, SDG advocates, youth from conflict-affected regions like Gaza, Sudan, and Yemen, and representatives from UNESCO, UNICEF, and OHCHR.

A high-level delegation visited the first Assalam School. Students from conflicted-affected countries whose education has been interrupted are able to continue learning at the school. It is supported by EAA Foundation, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Qatar, and other local partners. In partnership with the Al Fakhoora programme, vocational and entrepreneurship training are offered to older students. Disability accommodations and counselling are provided for the students to ensure their physical and emotional well-being.

According to the 2024 report by the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack, attacks on education have increased by 20% compared to previous years. In 2022 and 2023 alone, over 10,000 students and educators were killed, injured, abducted, or harmed in such attacks, with explosive weapons used in one-third of these incidents. Palestine, Sudan, Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Myanmar are among the most affected countries.

Currently, more than 72 million children worldwide are out of school due to conflict, with 53% of them being girls and 17% facing functional difficulties, while 21% have been forcibly displaced. The ongoing attacks on education disrupt learning and have severe short- and long-term consequences for individuals and societies.

Education Above All Foundation’s work is essential for defending against and preventing attacks on education. The observance of IDPEA is particularly pertinent to the advocacy efforts of the State of Qatar, which champions global outreach with the aim of identifying, actioning, and committing to education.

Education Above All Foundation is committed to protecting education during crises. EAA Foundation has supported over seven million out-of-school children affected by conflict across 25 countries, with active projects in Ukraine, Gaza, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan—regions where conflict and inequality severely hinder access to education.

Education Above All’s five programs globally employ multisectoral approaches, innovation, and partnerships to address various educational barriers, including poverty, gender discrimination, disabilities, and climate change. To date, EAA Foundation has supported over 19 million children and youth worldwide, achieving an 89.5% retention rate and reaffirming education as a universal human right.