International Day for the Protection of Education from Armed Attack (9 September 2021)

On the occasion of the International Day for the Protection of Education from Armed Attack, established in May 2020 by the United Nations General Assembly with a resolution also voted by our country, Italy strongly reiterates that education is a fundamental right of children that must always be guaranteed and protected, even in situations of armed conflict and humanitarian emergency. Schools must be refuges from abuse, violence and recruitment by armed groups and tools to build peaceful and inclusive societies.
Our country cooperates with United Nations Agencies, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and civil society organisations to guarantee the right to education in conflict areas. Italy works in all relevant fora to bring protecting education from armed attacks to the international community’s attention.
At the last Red Cross and Red Crescent Quadrennial Conference (Geneva, 9-12 December 2019), the Italian initiative to enable children to live in safety and enjoy their rights, including the right to education in situations of armed conflict, received the largest number of endorsements from other Governments and civil society organisations.
In addition, our country promotes numerous awareness-raising events in the main Onusian fora dedicated to human rights. Italy contributes to promoting the complete adherence to the “Declaration on Safe Schools”, approved in 2015 to protect students, school staff and educational infrastructure in times of war, also given the 4th “International Conference on Safe Schools” to be held this year (25-28 October 2021) in Abuja.