Qatar Embassy: Schools and universities must remain safe places for learning and development, not targets of conflicts and armed struggles
Osama Diab
The Embassy of the State of Qatar in Kuwait has affirmed that protecting education from attacks constitutes a shared international responsibility and a fundamental necessity to ensure the right of future generations to learn and build their future. It stressed that schools and universities must remain safe places for learning and development, rather than targets of conflicts and armed struggles.
This statement was issued by the Embassy, which obtained a copy for "Al-Anbaa," on the occasion of the International Day for Protecting Education from Attack, observed annually on September 9. The Embassy joined the international community in commemorating this occasion and participating in the global campaign "Together to Protect Education," led by the Qatar Foundation for Education, Community and Social Development.
The Embassy clarified that commemorating this day comes amid escalating armed conflicts and humanitarian crises in various parts of the world, which pose increasing threats to students, teachers, and educational facilities. This situation calls for intensified international efforts to ensure the continuity of the educational process and prevent wars and conflicts from depriving entire generations of their fundamental right to education.
It pointed out that the "Education Under Attack 2026" report, issued by the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack, documented no fewer than 8,566 incidents of attacks on education and the military use of schools and universities during 2024 and 2025. This represents an increase of over 40% compared to the previous period. Furthermore, at least 10,600 students, teachers, professors, and education sector employees were harmed, reflecting the magnitude of challenges facing the right to education and the impact of targeting educational institutions on the future of individuals and societies.
The Embassy emphasized that the State of Qatar has been at the forefront of international efforts to consolidate the protection of education as a global issue. It led efforts to secure the adoption of a UN General Assembly resolution in 2020, supported by 62 countries, which designated September 9 as the International Day for Protecting Education from Attack. This contributed to raising international awareness of the risks faced by children, teachers, and educational institutions in conflict zones, and reinforced calls for protection and accountability.
In this context, the Embassy recalled the affirmation by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Community and Social Development, that education is the vessel that carries children toward a bright future. She warned that attacks on education destroy the lives of students and teachers and eliminate their future prospects, calling for urgent global action to protect education from attacks.
The Embassy added that the State of Qatar continues to support international efforts to protect education and ensure its continuity in conflict and crisis zones through its national institutions and international partnerships, primarily the Qatar Foundation for Education, Community and Social Development, which leads the "Together to Protect Education" campaign to enhance international protection for education and end impunity for related violations.
On this occasion, H.E. Ali bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Kuwait, stated, "Protecting students, teachers, schools, and universities is a shared responsibility that requires preventive action, readiness, effective response, and enhanced accountability, so that wars and conflicts do not permanently deprive an entire generation of its right to learn and build its future."
The Embassy stressed that protecting education from attacks requires moving from condemnation to action, by preventing the targeting of schools and universities, respecting the rules of international law and international humanitarian law, monitoring and documenting violations, and enhancing accountability. It also involves supporting affected learners and teachers, investing in education systems capable of withstanding crises, and leveraging technology and innovative educational solutions to ensure learning continuity in emergencies.
It affirmed that protecting education is not limited to safeguarding educational buildings and facilities; rather, it fundamentally means protecting the future of generations, enhancing community resilience, and creating the necessary conditions for peace and development. It noted that depriving a child of their school due to war affects not only their present but also threatens their future and that of society as a whole.
The Embassy of the State of Qatar in Kuwait called on the international community, governments, educational institutions, international and humanitarian organizations, and local communities to renew their commitment to protecting education from attacks, support students and teachers affected by conflicts, ensure the continuity of education in emergencies, and strengthen monitoring, documentation, and accountability mechanisms. This aims to guarantee respect for the fundamental right to education and ensure that no child is left behind due to war or conflict.
On this occasion, the State of Qatar reaffirmed its commitment to supporting international efforts to protect education from attacks and to enhancing the right to education as a fundamental pillar for building safer, more stable, and peaceful societies.
