The International Day to Protect Education from Attack raises awareness about the millions of children and learners whose education is disrupted by conflict and violence and underscores the urgent need for increased efforts and funding to create safe school environments in humanitarian emergencies. Observed annually on 9th September and established by the UN General Assembly, the day reminds us that education is a fundamental right that must be upheld in all circumstances.
At our seminar, Protecting Education: Exploring Tools and Actions for Safer Schools global experts from GADRRRES (Global Alliance for Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience in the Education Sector), Concern Worldwide, Plan International Ireland and Plan International Cameroon joined us to explore the Comprehensive School Safety Framework and the Safe Schools Declaration to protect education and share their experiences from practice. The seminar also aligned with the recent publication of GADRRRES’s CSS Policy Survey, offering a valuable opportunity to introduce and promote this initiative.
We had an exciting speaker line-up and agenda:
- School Safety – Introducing the Comprehensive School Safety Framework & Policy Survey by Anja Nielsen, GADRRRES Advocacy Working Group Co-Chair and Senior Education Policy and Advocacy Adviser at Save the Children UK
- A Political Commitment to Protect Schools – Introducing the Save Schools Declaration by Renna Bazlen, Education Officer at Concern Worldwide
- Practical Insights from Cameroon: Education in Emergencies by Kiye Dendi, National Emergency Response Manager at Plan International Cameroon
- After an attack: Playful Minds for Wellbeing – An MHPSS approach to deal with trauma and restore education by Cristian De Luca, Education in Emergencies Advisor at Plan International Ireland
Anja Nielsen and Renna Bazlen offered in-depth introductions to the two tools and the advocacy efforts supporting them, emphasising that advocacy remains crucial to urging governments to endorse and implement these important tools.
Kije Dendi and Cristian De Luca, speaking to us from Cameroon, demonstrated how these tools impact their on-the-ground work and highlighted the tangible effects of the significant advocacy efforts by GADRRRES, Concern Worldwide, Plan International, and other partner organisations. Their experience shows the real-life impact when governments endorse the framework and declaration and commit to their implementation.
