On September 9th in Doha, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of the Education Above All (EAA) Foundation and Advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals, attended the 5th International Day to Protect Education from Attack (IDPEA) under the theme "Education in Peril: The Human Cost of War." The event, held at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC), saw participation from global leaders, SDG advocates, UN officials, and members of civil society.
Her Highness participated in a high-level panel discussion featuring esteemed figures such as the Prime Minister of Yemen, HE Ahmad Awad bin Mubarak; First Lady of Sierra Leone, HE Fatima Maada Bio; First Lady of The Gambia, HE Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow; Malaysia's Prime Minister’s spouse, HE Dr. Wan Azizah binti Wan Ismail; First Lady of Brazil, HE Rosangela Lula da Silva; Bosnia and Herzegovina's presidential council spouse, HE Mirela Becirovic; First Lady of Cyprus, HE Philippa Karsera-Christodoulides; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Palestine, HE Dr. Varsen Aghabekian Shahin; Advisor to the President of Uzbekistan, HE Saida Mirziyoyeva; Liberia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, HE Sara Beysolow Nyanti; and UN SRSG for Children and Armed Conflict, HE Virginia Gamba.
During the event, the participants expressed their deep appreciation for Her Highness’s ongoing efforts to safeguard education in conflict zones across over 25 countries. They praised her initiatives in championing education as a universal human right and for her relentless work in creating opportunities for youth in an increasingly challenging global environment.
The panelists shared insights into their countries’ ongoing efforts to provide education to children and youth, even in the face of violent conflicts. They honored the resilience of students, teachers, and families who continue their educational journeys despite numerous obstacles, including limited infrastructure, inadequate salaries, and displacement.
The speakers emphasized that education is crucial for building a brighter future and developing human potential. They called for global leadership to promote peace and protect educational institutions, noting that the destruction of schools and the suppression of education contribute to the downfall of nations.
Condemnation was voiced against the destruction of schools and universities in Gaza and the killing of thousands of children and teachers. The speakers urged the international community to act against the injustices facing Palestinian children, stop the aggression that is robbing them of their future, and hold the responsible parties accountable.
They also advocated for establishing educational centers in areas of displacement and ensuring that youth in these areas are integrated into their new communities. The speakers called for collective international efforts to direct resources toward safeguarding children and educational institutions from the impact of war, stressing the importance of education in achieving peace and development.
In their closing remarks, the participants sent a strong message to the international community, urging a renewed commitment to protect education, support civilian lives, and take concrete steps toward preventing further conflict, holding perpetrators accountable for war crimes, and restoring faith in global institutions.
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