Education has always been one of the top priorities for Qatar. Not only has the country worked over and above to establish educational facilities and ease of access to education locally but it has also supported millions of students internationally to gain their basic right to education.

Yesterday saw a significant move forward in Qatar’s endeavor to advance the right to education globally as the world marked the first International Day to Protect Education from Attack.

The day was formally recognized under United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/74/275, earlier this year, in an effort spearheaded by Her Highness Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser on behalf of the State of Qatar. At least 62 countries co-sponsored the Resolution.

In a high-level event yesterday, Sheikha Moza virtually joined international leaders to commemorate the day and reiterate the commitment toward protecting the right to education in conflict as well as from different kinds of attacks and violence that children experience across the globe.

Schools and universities should always be safe havens.
Never targets.

Today, 9 September, is the first Int’l Day to #ProtectEducationFromAttack.

Let’s #UniteToProtect! All countries must endorse the #SafeSchoolsDeclaration. https://t.co/2TWqR7Cf7H pic.twitter.com/syNb7vtb79

— UNESCO (@UNESCO) September 9, 2020

The event was held through the joint efforts of Education Above All, the State of Qatar, UNICEF, and UNESCO and called for unified and global advocacy to develop robust mechanisms ‘to monitor violation of international law and ensure perpetrators are held accountable,’ Qatar News Agency reported.

Speaking at the event, HH Sheikha Moza urged united global effort to confront this issue, urgently and effectively.

“We do not want this day to be simply a ceremonial day on the United Nations (UN) calendar,” she said, adding, “Protection of education must be reflected and embodied by action on the ground.”

“Verbal support from the international community is no longer enough when serious, practical solutions are missing. Decision-makers should not hide behind rhetoric without taking real steps toward change.

“Despite these frustrations, we still believe there are those within the international community who are willing to unite and take a stand.

“Protecting the lives, education, and future of those children is a responsibility that the international community cannot afford to ignore; a test that it cannot fail.” #ProtectEducationFromAttack #UniteToProtect pic.twitter.com/EaTS02hH8P

— Education Above All Foundation (@EAA_Foundation) September 9, 2020

“I cannot imagine that any state, country, organization, or individual wants to bear the lasting shame of being on the wrong side of history having been silent, complicit, or lenient over the deliberate killing of children in classrooms, where they believed they were safe,” she underlined.

HH added that there is a dire need for decision-makers to come up with effective mechanisms to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.

“So long as we persist in monitoring attacks, sooner or later, we will put an end to impunity. Protecting the lives, education, and future of those children is a responsibility that the international community cannot afford to ignore, a test that it cannot fail,” Sheikha Moza said, asking the international community to unite to protect education.

According to recent data, there have been more than 11,000 attacks on education in the last five years. Over 22,000 children, teachers, and academics in more than 93 countries have been killed or injured, HH mentioned.

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