On Thursday, 29th May 2025, we’re celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Safe Schools Declaration (SSD).
Launched 10 years ago, in 2015 in Oslo, the Safe Schools Declaration has been a stronghold to safeguard education during armed conflict.
The Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA) – an inter-agency coalition formed in 2010 to address the problem of targeted attacks on education during armed conflict – launches a two-day social media campaign today to inform about and celebrate the SSD (follow on LinkedIn (Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack) or Bluesky (@gcpea.bsky.social).
Part of the campaign is a webinar today, Wednesday, 28th May, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm GMT “10 years of the Safe School Declaration – Progress, lessons learned and perspectives in West and Central Africa”. To join on Zoom click here.
INEW and its members are dedicated to promoting awareness for and knowledge about the SSD. On 9th September 2024, the International Day to Protect Education from Attack, we hosted an online seminar about the different tools to protect education, among them, the SSD: Learn more on our dedicated seminar page which features a recording, and from our news.
The SSD serves as a political and normative anchor, encouraging states to take measurable steps to prevent attacks on education and limit the military use of schools. With 121 endorsements to date, it has evolved into an internationally accepted standard – reflected in policy, law, military training, and global discourse.
The 10th anniversary comes at a time of increasing need. Attacks on education are not only persisting – they are intensifying. Between 2022 and 2023, attacks on education increased 20% over the previous reporting period. These numbers underscore why the Declaration remains indispensable: it provides a unifying framework to respond to threats, uphold international law, and protect the future of children caught in crisis.
The Declaration is accompanied by the Guidelines for Protecting Schools and Universities from Military Use during Armed Conflict. While non-binding, the Declaration and guidelines have been instrumental in translating the spirit of the Guidelines into national and military policy and elevating global awareness of attacks on students, educators, and educational institutions, as well as the military use of schools and universities.
GCPEA closely monitored the progress made at the national, regional and international levels on implementing the Declaration and its Guidelines and showcases the practical impact of this political framework. Examples include:
- Several countries, including Denmark, UK and Canada updating their military manuals or policies to reflect commitments made under the SSD or integrating the whole declaration into their Armed Forces operations and trainings.
- Others – at least 10 countries, including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Colombia, Nigeria, and Ukraine – established national and/or regional technical committees to follow up on the implementation of the SSD, adopting action plans to guide and monitor the implementation.
- Countries organised an exchange of experiences – for example Burkina Faso and Malu met in 2024 for an exchange which resulted in Burkina Faso strengthening their efforts to incorporate the SSD into the country’s Education in Emergencies strategy.
- Other countries are working on law to protect schools during armed conflict (see Mali).
- And more incorporated the Declaration in the permanent training for armed forces as well as in annual International Humanitarian Law training (see Mexico).
(Learn more here: Fact Sheet on the Practical Impact of the Safe Schools Declaration).
The SSD had a transformative impact far beyond these achievements: It contributed to an important shift, where education is no longer viewed as collateral in times of war, but is increasingly recognised as core civilian infrastructure, vital to peacebuilding and recovery. This shift has helped embed safe school principles into international legal discourse, peacekeeping mandates, and humanitarian coordination frameworks.
To learn more about why education is livesaving read Concern Worldwide’s blog from last month (Why Education Can’t Wait – Even in Crisis – Irish Network For Education Worldwide) or visit our LinkedIn campaign on Education in Emergencies.
Looking ahead, the Declaration’s promise rests in how deeply it can be embedded in institutions. This means more than endorsement. It calls for legal codification, operational guidance, staff training, and accountability systems that deter attacks and facilitate redress. The Declaration can play a growing role in transitional justice and peace processes. As education becomes more frequently referenced in ceasefire agreements, reparation schemes, and post-conflict reconstruction plans, it is recognised not only as a right – but as a requirement for sustainable recovery.
As the world confronts intersecting crises, from conflict and climate change to displacement and disinformation, the Declaration reminds us that, together, we have the tools to make progress possible. Ten years on, the Safe Schools Declaration is not merely a document. It is a platform – for solidarity, for reform, and for the right of every child to learn in safety.
Read GCPEA’s full brief, fact sheet, and case study about the SSD’s 10th anniversary here:
- SSD 10th Anniversary Brief
- Fact Sheet on the Practical Impact of the Safe Schools Declaration
- Nigeria: A Case Study on Implementing the Safe Schools Declaration
And follow along on social media, sharing and amplifying this important message.
