HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser tells WHS “Our schools are the battlefield. It is time to fight back"
Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Education Above All, has today called for greater accountability for those who attack education, saying that “Our schools are the battlefield. It is time to fight back”. Speaking at the World Humanitarian Summit, she has urged the international community to take an approach based on provision, protection, and prevention so that education is placed at the heart of efforts to address humanitarian crises around the world.
Speaking as part of a special session at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, alongside Gordon Brown (UN Special Envoy for Global Education), Julia Gillard (Chair, Global Partnership for Education) and Helle Thorning-Schmidt (Chief Executive, Save the Children International), Her Highness stated that:
- “Money is not enough to fulfil our obligations to provide every child with their right to education that they deserve. Without protection and prevention, what we spend years building can be destroyed in minutes.”
- “The destruction of schools are not just ‘accidents’ of war. Education is under attack. Our schools are the battlefield. It is time to fight back.”
- “What is missing are the mechanisms and the political will to enforce (existing international laws). We must hold the perpetrators of these crimes responsible and accountable. Only when the perpetrators are shamed and punished will we deter others from attacking education. Only then, can we break this vicious cycle of building and destroying, building and destroying.”
Her Highness also highlighted the ongoing work of Education Above All, noting its investment in “providing quality primary education to almost 7 million out of school children.” She also added that Education Above All remained on track to enrol 10 million out of school children in education programs by the end of the year.
