{"id":272426,"date":"2023-09-13T22:31:21","date_gmt":"2023-09-14T02:31:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/78\/?p=272426"},"modified":"2023-09-13T22:31:41","modified_gmt":"2023-09-14T02:31:41","slug":"pga-remarks-on-un-international-day-to-protect-education-from-attack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/78\/2023\/09\/13\/pga-remarks-on-un-international-day-to-protect-education-from-attack\/","title":{"rendered":"PGA Remarks on Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ International Day to Protect Education from Attack"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-21px|||||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”7px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Remarks by Dennis Francis, President of the 78th session of the General Assembly<\/strong><\/p>\n

13 September 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n

[As delivered]<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Her Highness, Sheikha Moza Bin Naseer,<\/span><\/p>\n

President of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Julius Maada Bio,<\/span><\/p>\n

Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres,<\/span><\/p>\n

Excellencies,<\/span><\/p>\n

Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, we come together to tackle one of the most pressing challenges of our time \u2014 an issue that has garnered unanimous support from the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ membership, and our sincere appreciation extends to Qatar for its leadership in bringing it to prominence.<\/span><\/p>\n

Education, and the right to education, is currently at risk.<\/span><\/p>\n

Among other challenges, conflicts and humanitarian emergencies are preventing students from fully enjoying their fundamental right to quality learning, leaving lasting and profound scars on entire generations.<\/span><\/p>\n

An attack on a school is not merely the destruction of bricks and mortar; it symbolizes the shattering of those children’s entire educational futures, not to mention their inability in future to make a meaningful contribution to the Sustainable Development of their communities and societies.<\/span><\/p>\n

With 2 billion people living in war zones, education is, at best, in jeopardy, and at worst, ruthlessly weaponized to extremist ends.<\/span><\/p>\n

In too many corners of our world, students and educators face the constant threat of abduction, sexual violence and murder, while their schools are being bombed, burned down or exploited for military purposes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Indeed, since 2020, more than 600 schools and universities have been targeted, destroyed or attacked.<\/span><\/p>\n

What we are witnessing is an extremely worrying global trend, and it is imperative that we unequivocally refuse such abuse.<\/span><\/p>\n

Excellencies,<\/span><\/p>\n

It is critical, also, that we look at this issue through a gender lens – for the impacts are far from equal.<\/span><\/p>\n

We are acutely aware that boys face a higher risk of being targeted for recruitment and radicalization by extremist groups.<\/span><\/p>\n

But that girls suffer the worst humiliation and bear a disproportionate and systemic burden of conflict-related sexual violence.<\/span><\/p>\n

These disturbing trends translate to the severe curtailment of children’s educational opportunities and prospects for the future, for girls and boys alike.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, what can the General Assembly do to protect education from these deleterious attacks?<\/span><\/p>\n

Firstly, let me commend the ground-breaking initiative, led by the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Secretary-General and Her Highness, establishing a Youth Advisory Group to Protect Education from Attack.<\/span><\/p>\n

Consulting directly with – and meaningfully involving young people, in particular those most directly affected – is paramount to ensuring their lived experiences are reflected in our policies.<\/span><\/p>\n

Initiatives like the Safe Schools Declaration, championed by Argentina and Norway in 2015, exemplify the type of unwavering commitments essential to battling this scourge.<\/span><\/p>\n

What we urgently require is:<\/span><\/p>\n