Commemoration of the Third UN International Day to Protect Education from Attack

Organiser: The Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office in Geneva

Co-Sponsors: The Permanent Missions of Argentina, Nigeria, Norway, and Spain to the United Nations in Geneva, the Education Above All Foundation (EAA), the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA), the Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies, and Save the Children.

Registration: Please register here for the event before 8 September 2022.

Background:
September 9 was proclaimed the International Day to Protect Education from Attack by an unanimous resolution of the UN General Assembly adopted at its 74^th session. This landmark resolution, which was presented by the State of Qatar and co-sponsored by 62 Member States, aims to catalyze actions to protect students, educators, and education institutions.

Side event:
The Third United Nations International Day to Protect Education from Attack, taking place on 9^th September 2022, represents an important opportunity to galvanize political commitment to protect education during conflict. To commemorate this important date, and mark the opening of the 51^st Session of the Human Rights Council, the Permanent Mission of Qatar and the co-sponsors are are holding this Side Event to highlight the scope and impact of attacks on education and call on all states to take concrete measures to protect students, educators, schools, and universities, including by endorsing and implementing the Safe Schools Declaration, an international political commitment to protect education in conflict endorsed by 114 states.

Meeting objectives:
❖ Leverage the International Day to Protect Education from Attack to impress upon Member
States the need to prioritize the protection of education during the 51st session of the
Human Rights Council and encourage states to make pledges to protect education at the
upcoming Transforming Education Summit;
❖ Highlight the widespread scope and increasing incidence of attacks on education globally,
underscoring the human impact of attacks on education, and identifying good practices to
prevent and respond to these attacks; and
❖ Mobilize endorsement and implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration

Programme:
Opening Remark:
H.E. Dr. Hend Abdalrahman Al-Muftah, Ambassador and Permanent Representative,  Permanent Mission of Qatar to the UN in Geneva 

Keynote Address: 
H.E. Ms. Lolwah Al-Khater, Assistant Foreign Minister of Qatar (video message)

Remarks:
H.E. Mr. Sabri Bachtobji, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent  Mission of Tunisia to the UN in Geneva, on behalf of the Core Group on the Safe  Schools Declaration
Mr. Fahad Al Sulaiti, Chief Executive Officer, Education Above All 
Ms. Farida Shaheed, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education 
Mr. Michel Anglade, Director, Save the Children Office in Geneva, on behalf of the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack 
Ms. Areej Masri, Youth Advisory Board for the Office of the High Commissioner for  Human Rights/Education Above All/Silatech Joint Partnership 

Closing:  
H.E. Ms. Aurora Diaz-Rato Revuelta, Ambassador and Permanent Representative,  Permanent Mission of Spain to the UN in Geneva 

Moderator: Ms. Petra Heusser, Coordinator, Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies