(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Qatar attaches great importance to the right to education in conflict zones, as evident by "Protect Education in Insecurity and Conflict" initiative launched by H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Unesco Special Envoy for Basic and Higher Education, as a programme of Education Above All Foundation to protect, support and promote the right to education in crisis, conflict and war zones.
Noor Al Sada, Second Secretary at Qatar's permanent mission to the UN office and other international organisations in Geneva, made the remarks during her address at a conference under the theme 'Safe Schools: Protecting Education from Attack'.
She highlighted Qatar's initiative to establish a fund for education and professional development for the benefit of displaced persons and refugees who are victims of conflicts in the Middle East, which was launched on April 12.
"This initiative aims at saving a generation of displaced children and youth at the regional level, it focuses on providing a 'dual education system,' and embodied in 'building schools in refugee camps' with the coordination of refugee-hosting countries," she said, noting that the conference discusses the right to education for children in violent conflict, one of the key human rights challenges.
"While the Universal Declaration of Human Rights says that 'Everyone has the right to education,' the 'Safe Schools Declaration' ensures the realization and fulfilment of this right in the most difficult times of armed conflict and insecurity.
"We believe that by endorsing the Safe Schools Declaration we are not only saving schools and protecting education, but we are saving lives and wellbeing of students and educators. We are investing in the education as the gateway to the enjoyment of all other human rights and as a tool for prosperity and lifelong development for those trapped in the conflict torn zones.
"Governments and all other sincere partners need to work together to go forward with this collective pursuit to its desired ends," the Qatari diplomat said.
"We need to enforce the 'Safe Schools Declaration' on the ground, in order to make schools and other educational facilities safe heaven, efforts should further reach out to non-state armed groups to engage and train them, and support should be given to victims of attacks on schools.
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