A/RES/64/290
Recognizing that a large proportion of the world’s children out of school live
in conflict-affected areas and in natural-disaster-stricken regions, and that this is a
serious challenge to the fulfilment of the international education goals, including
millennium development goal 2,
Underscoring the fact that the Convention on the Rights of the Child must
constitute the standard in the promotion and protection of the rights of the child and
that the requirements for the realization of the right to education, pertinent also to
emergency situations, are set out in articles 28 and 29 of that Convention,
Deeply concerned that, despite the progress made in recent years towards
achieving the goals of the Education for All initiative agreed upon at the World
Education Forum, held in Dakar in April 2000, 11 the level of funding for
international education goals is inadequate,
10F
Deeply concerned also that, in the humanitarian consolidated and flash appeals
launched in 2009, the education sector was one of the most underfunded with
respect to meeting the original requirements,
Recognizing that ensuring the right to education in emergency situations
requires specifically designed, flexible and inclusive approaches consistent with
protection needs, conflict mitigation initiatives and disaster risk reduction
considerations,
Condemning the targeting of civilians as such in situations of armed conflict,
including schoolchildren, students and teachers, as well as attacks on civilian
objects such as educational institutions, as prohibited under international law,
recognizing that such acts may constitute grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions
of 1949 12 and, for States parties, war crimes under the Rome Statute of the
International Criminal Court, 13 and reminding all parties to armed conflict of their
obligations under international law to refrain from the use of civilian objects,
including educational institutions, for military purposes and child recruitment,
1F
12F
Acknowledging that protecting schools and providing education in emergencies
should remain a key priority for the international community and Member States,
Recognizing the important role that education can play in supporting efforts in
emergency situations to halt and prevent abuses committed against affected
populations, in particular efforts to prevent all forms of violence, including rape and
other acts of sexual violence, exploitation, trafficking in persons and the worst
forms of child labour,
Emphasizing the importance of the promotion of human rights education and
learning at all levels, including through the implementation of the World Programme
for Human Rights Education, 14 as appropriate, and encouraging all States to develop
initiatives in that regard,
13F
Considering that quality education can mitigate the psychosocial impact of
armed conflicts and natural disasters by providing a sense of normalcy, stability,
structure and hope for the future,
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11
See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Final Report of the World
Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26–28 April 2000 (Paris, 2000).
12
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970–973.
13
Ibid., vol. 2187, No. 38544.
14
See resolutions 59/113 A and B.
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