Ahead of the 2025 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction taking place next month, Brazil, the Global Alliance for Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience in the Education Sector (GADRRRES), the Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies (EiE Hub), Switzerland, and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) hosted a high-level gathering to elevate education and school safety in disaster risk reduction discussions and policy-making.
Speakers highlighted the urgent need to strengthen the resilience of education systems and school safety, including in fragile and crisis-affected contexts. They further explained why protecting children and youth’s learning from a range of hazards should be at the core of every country’s disaster risk reduction and resilience work.
“It’s not countries with good disaster risk practices that gain better school safety,” said Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction. “It’s the other way around – countries with good school safety gain better disaster preparedness.” He called on all countries to endorse and implement the Comprehensive School Safety Framework (CSSF) and act for safe schools.
The CSSF sets out an all-hazards approach to strengthen the resilience of education systems, support education continuity and provide children and youth with the skills, knowledge and behaviours to prepare for and respond to all shocks and stresses.
Children and youth are playing a critical role in responding to today’s challenges. “I want to highlight how, in the face of adversity, young people are playing an extraordinary role in leading and developing solutions,” said Arlinda Ramqaj, a teacher and UNESCO SDG4 Youth & Student Network Representative. “Their efforts support children and youth in realising their right to education even in the most difficult circumstances.” She also underscored the urgent need for more resilient education systems and stronger commitments from governments and leaders to safeguard education in times of crises.
Ambassador Cecília Kiku Ishitani, of the Permanent Mission of Brazil to the United Nations in Geneva, outlined her country’s priorities both for the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the upcoming COP30, taking place in Brazil in November 2025. She highlighted Brazil’s commitment to advancing disaster risk reduction, notably through the development of a dedicated education sector plan focused on risk and disaster management. She also affirmed Brazil’s ambition “to make COP30 a landmark event, one that prioritises the implementation of commitments we have been negotiating for decades.”
The representative of the Permanent Mission of Kenya to the United Nations in Geneva, Veronica Nzioki, reaffirmed Kenya’s strong commitment to school safety, especially in the face of climate change and compounding challenges such as conflict. She emphasised that “Kenya is honoured to host the 5th International Conference on the Safe Schools Declaration in Nairobi,” scheduled for December this year. She added that Kenya’s priorities for the conference will include showcasing innovations in the protection of education, as well as reflecting on achievements and ongoing challenges related to the Safe Schools Declaration.
“Securing a future where every child can learn, even in crisis, requires collective action,” said Petra Heusser, Executive Director of the EiE Hub. “This is why the 57 members of the Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies come together to step up visibility, commitment, and funding for education in emergencies.” One example of this collective action is the EiE Hub’s 2025 flagship report on preparedness and anticipatory action for education in emergencies, which will be launched on 12 June in Geneva and online. For more on the launch, or to register, go to: Launch of the EiE Hub’s 2025 flagship report on preparedness and anticipatory action for education | Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies
