International Day to Protect Education from Attack

No child should risk death to learn. Yet this year, as violence against children in armed conflict continues to climb to unprecedented levels, education is once again caught in the crossfire. The past 12 months saw a staggering 44 percent surge in attacks on schools, resulting in the death, abduction and trauma of thousands of teachers and students. Each violation carries profound consequences — not only for teachers and young learners, but for the future of entire communities and countries. The United Nations is working tirelessly to stop this scourge and ensure every child can access their basic right to education, even in the most dangerous contexts. But we cannot do it alone. Countries must invest in education systems that can reach every child and fully endorse and implement the Safe Schools Declaration. I also call on all parties to conflict to meet their obligations under international law, respect schools as places of safety and hold accountable those responsible for attacks. T...

This dataset presents verified incidents of violence, threats, and disruptions affecting education systems globally from January 2020 to May 2025.It includes structured, incident-level records of attacks against students, teachers, schools, and educational infrastructure. The data enables global awareness, humanitarian response, and academic analysis of how education is endangered during conflict and crisis.

This year, 9 September marks the sixth United Nations International Day to Protect Education from Attack , with commemorative events being held in the days before and after, in Geneva and elsewhere. These include a dedicated exhibition by Education Above All, entitled “ Reshaping Action ”, and a Youth Hub Debate, hosted by Qatar Debates, which will both take place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on 9 September, from 11 am onwards. Explore the full programme!

The United Nations Secretary-General's Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict for the year 2024 presents a harrowing account of the violence endured by children in conflict zones . The report verifies a staggering 41,370 incidents , the highest number of grave violations against children in armed conflict since the inception of the Children and Armed Conflict mandate almost 30 years ago. Countries with the highest levels of violations in 2024 were Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, notably the Gaza Strip, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Somalia, Nigeria, and Haiti. Most grave violations showed an increase in 2024, including attacks on schools (44%), and rape and other forms of sexual violence (34 %). In addition, the number of children victims of multiple grave violations increased by 17% through the convergence of abduction, recruitment, and use, and sexual violence, representing an alarming escalation in brutality.

More than one in six children globally now live in areas affected by conflict, forced to face unthinkable violations. Children in conflict zones face devastating consequences, as urban warfare has turned homes into battlegrounds. The presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance continues to endanger entire communities, with children being especially vulnerable . These weapons alone are responsible for about 25% of child casualties in armed conflicts. In addition, over 3,000 children were detained due to their real or alleged involvement with armed groups , marking an increase from the previous year. The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict , Virginia Gamba, emphasizes that these children should be seen primarily as victims and urges authorities to seek alternatives to detention. At the same time, she warns that children caught in hostilities are being robbed of their childhood, as governments and armed groups continue to violate...

While 2024 marked the 35th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 2025 commemorates 25 years of OPAC —the protocol banning the recruitment of children under 18 into armed forces —and 20 years of UN Security Council Resolution 1612 , which created mechanisms to monitor and report on violations against children in conflict. Despite worsening conditions in countries like Lebanon, Mozambique, and Haiti, where grave violations surged, nearly 16,500 children formerly associated with armed groups received protection or reintegration support in 2024, an increase from the previous year. Since 2005, over 200,000 children have been released from conflict parties. Progress was also made through around 40 new commitments by conflict parties, including action plans, training initiatives, and bilateral dialogues—such as the agreement signed with the Syrian National Army in June 2024. Positive developments were also seen in Iraq, Pakistan, and the Philippines, where preventive mea...

 A unanimous decision of the United Nations General Assembly have established the International Day to Protect Education from Attack , is calling on UNESCO and UNICEF to raise awareness of the plight of millions of children living in countries affected by conflict. The resolution proclaiming the Day was presented by the State of Qatar and co-sponsored by 62 countries. The General Assembly resolution affirms that governments have the primary responsibility to provide protection and ensure inclusive and equitable quality education at all levels to all learners, especially those in vulnerable situations. It further emphasizes the need to intensify efforts and increase funding to promote safe and protective school environments in humanitarian emergencies by taking all feasible measures to protect schools, learners and educational personnel from attack, refrain from actions that impede children’s access to education, and facilitate access to education in situations of armed conflict....

  In 2025, six years after the first commemoration of International Day to Protect Education from Attack, armed conflict continues to escalate globally and attacks on education remain pervasive. Between 2022 and 2023, the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack reported approximately 6,000 attacks on students, educators, schools, and higher education institutions. This period also saw a 20% increase in the use of educational facilities for military purposes by parties to conflict. Over 10,000 students were killed, abducted, arrested, or otherwise harmed during this time. According to the 2025 UN Secretary-General’s Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict , there was a 44% increase in attacks against schools in 2024 compared to the previous year. High-level event for the Sixth commemoration of the International Day to Protect Education from Attack. On September 9th ,  at UN Geneva , the UNESCO and partners will mark the International Day to Protect Education fro...

Armed conflicts have devastating impacts on education, often turning schools, universities and other educational institutions into targets and battlegrounds. Educational institutions should always be safe havens, sources of knowledge, and pathways to foster peace and development. International humanitarian law recognizes the civilian nature of educational facilities, and mandates their protection under the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution. UN Security Council Resolution 2601 further reinforces this protection by emphasizing the need to safeguard educational institutions from the impacts of armed conflict. The Safe Schools Declaration also provides essential guidelines to protect learning environments and ensure continuity of education for children and young people . Other frameworks, such as the Comprehensive Safe School Framework (CSSF), support educational authorities and practitioners to address the root causes of conflict drivers.