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Students experimenting with science materials in a class at a girls' school in the Wihdat Camp for Palestinian refugees in Amman, Jordan.
Students in a science class at a school for girls in the Wihdat Camp for Palestine refugees in Amman, Jordan.
Photo:Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ/Mark Garten

Building resilience when classrooms are under threat

Seven years after the first observance of the International Day to Protect Education from Attack, armed conflict shows no sign of abating and continues to escalate around the world. Attacks on education have also risen sharply over the past two years, with 8,566 reported attacks on educational institutions, compared with 6,000 in 2022 and 2023.

Against this alarming backdrop, this year's global observance is being held under the theme "Can Education Survive Attack? The Resilience of Human Communities."

A new plan to protect education from attack

Last April, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵESCO approved the , strengthening efforts to protect the right to education during conflicts and crises. The Plan sets out practical steps to help schools and education systems prepare for attacks, respond when they happen and recover afterwards.

At the national level, the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ¡¯s education, science and culture agency helps countries keep education going before, during and after crises. This includes assessing how schools and learners are affected, providing safe and inclusive places to learn, helping young people develop skills for work, supporting teachers, repairing damaged schools and making education systems better prepared for future crises. These help protect learning while making education more resilient over the long term.

A shocking new toll for children caught in conflict

Children faced ¡°shocking¡± levels of violence in armed conflict in 2025, according to the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Secretary General¡¯s Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ verified 38,558 violations affecting 24,174 children ¡ª the highest number of children affected since monitoring under the mandate began.

Killing and maiming were among the most widespread violations, affecting 14,224 children. Children were also recruited and used in conflict, abducted and denied humanitarian assistance.

Fighting increasingly took place in densely populated areas, exposing children to air strikes, artillery and explosive drones. Homes, schools, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure were damaged or destroyed, while children faced danger fleeing violence or seeking food, water and medical care.

The highest number of grave violations were verified in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Myanmar and Somalia. Government forces were responsible for the majority of verified grave violations.

New technologies raise risks for children in conflict

New technologies are changing warfare and increasing risks for children. The growing use of drones and artificial intelligence in targeting processes has enabled faster and more frequent strikes, including in densely populated areas, sometimes with limited human oversight.

These developments raise concerns about the risk of errors, reduced human control and greater harm to children. Stronger safeguards, transparency and accountability are needed to ensure new military technologies comply with international law and protect children¡¯s rights.

In his final recommendations, Ant¨®nio Guterres calls for measures to ensure that new military technologies, including drones and artificial intelligence, remain under human control and comply with international law.

From conflict to a new beginning

In 2025, more than 13,000 children formerly associated with armed forces or groups received protection or support to help them reintegrate into their communities. However, funding cuts and the withdrawal of some United Nations peace operations have reduced efforts to monitor violations, protect children and provide reintegration support.

The Secretary-General calls for children associated with armed groups to be treated primarily as victims, with detention used only as a last resort. He urges greater funding for child protection, education and reintegration programmes, as well as action by technology and social media companies to prevent their platforms from being used to recruit or exploit children.

Background

The day was established by a unanimous decision of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ General Assembly, calling on Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵESCO and Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵICEF to raise awareness of the plight of millions of children living in countries affected by conflict. The resolution proclaiming the Day was presented by the State of Qatar and co-sponsored by 62 countries.

The General Assembly resolution affirms that governments have the primary responsibility to provide protection and ensure inclusive and equitable quality education at all levels to all learners, especially those in vulnerable situations. It further emphasizes the need to intensify efforts and increase funding to promote safe and protective school environments in humanitarian emergencies by taking all feasible measures to protect schools, learners and educational personnel from attack, refrain from actions that impede children¡¯s access to education, and facilitate access to education in situations of armed conflict.

Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵESCO and Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵICEF will facilitate the annual observance of the Day in close collaboration with partners within and outside the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ system. Working on the frontlines in conflict-affected countries, the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ entities have long assisted Member States in strengthening their capacity to provide access to quality educational opportunities for all in times of crisis.

Children in conflict: 2025 at a glance

In 2025, 1,667 children were detained for actual or alleged links to armed groups, or for national security reasons, depriving them of their rights.2025 numbers at a glance.

  • 24,174 children were affected by verified violations: 64% were boys, 33% girls and 3% of unknown sex.
  • 14,224 children were killed or maimed, with killings up 34% and maiming up 10%.
  • 6,607 children were recruited or used by armed forces or groups.
  • 1,667 children were detained for actual or alleged links to armed groups or for national security reasons.
  • 13,112 children received protection or support to help them reintegrate into their communities.

Source:

Resources

Three years ago, conflict swept across Sudan, abruptly disrupting education across much of the country. Today, more than 8 million children and youth, representing over half of the school-aged population, remain out of school. Out-of-school rates are the highest in regions such as Darfur, where the crisis is most severe. Millions of children and youth havehad their education interrupted¡ªby crisis, not by choice.

The  was opened for state endorsement in Oslo, Norway, in May 2015. It is a political commitment to better protect students, teachers, schools and universities during armed conflict, to support the continuation of education during war, and to put in place concrete measures to deter the military use of schools. 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. 

an abstract illustration of people engaged in an event

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ observances.