The Federal Government has expressed commitment to protecting children and teachers in conflict situations, and to avoid the use of schools and universities as military resources or targets.
Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, who made this known on Monday in Abuja, said the current administration has a political commitment to ensure the safety of civilians, preservation of the civilian character of educational facilities, and the general protection of education from attack.
Adamu who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Arc Sonny Echono, said the conference would build on previous conferences by galvanizing support for the Safe Schools Declaration (SSD) and monitoring United Nations member states’ progress in carrying out the declarations and commitments to better protect learners and learning institutions.
The conference “Ensuring Safe Education for All: From Commitment to Practice” will hold between October 25-27 2021.
According to him, the conference would also serve to maintain and amplify the momentum of the SSD and its commitment to make safe education for all a reality.
He said Nigeria is co-hosting the Conference, with the African Union Commission (AUC), the governments of Argentina, Norway, and Spain, as well as the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA.)
The conference also aimed to strengthen implementation of the declaration by sharing good practice in implementing key commitments in the declaration, inspire other states to adopt the practice within their own context and forge global cooperation in the protection of education and deterring military use of schools and universities by bringing together education, defence, and foreign affairs ministries.
It will also be a forum for multilateral and civil society organizations to discuss prevention and response measures, and Identifying actions that governments can take to better achieve accountability for attacks on education and justice for the victims by building and strengthening international and national legal mechanisms.
Adamu said: “By implication, the 112 Member States have committed to protecting children and teachers in conflict situations, and to avoid the use of schools and universities as military resources or targets, thus contributing to preserving the civilian nature of these facilities.
“Specifically, these Member States have expressed political commitment to ensure the safety of civilians, preservation of the civilian character of educational facilities, and the general protection of education from attack.
“Furthermore, by endorsing the Declaration, states have agreed to use the Guidelines for Protecting Schools and Universities from Military Use during Armed Conflict, a non-binding practical tool to deter the military use of schools and universities, Member states also agree to support the efforts of the UN Security Council, the Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict and relevant UN agencies.
“The Conference on Safe schools Declaration is a biennial event with the overarching aim of taking stock and reviewing progress in implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration (SSD) and the Guidelines for Protecting Schools and Universities from Military Use during Armed Conflict, as well as encouraging commitment and action in protecting education from attack.
“With the incessant attacks on Education which is further compounded with the COVID 19 situation, you will agree with me that there is a high need to better protect education for improved educational outcomes,” Adamu said.
The Abuja Conference is the Fourth International Conference on the Safe Schools Declaration, and first to be held on the African continent.
The previous conferences (1st, 2nd & 3rd conferences) were held in 2015, 2017 and 2019 in Oslo Norway, Buenos Aires Argentina and Palma de Mallorca, Spain respectively.
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FG committed to protecting children, teachers in conflict areas ― Minister
FG committed to protecting children, teachers in conflict areas ― Minister
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