The decision passed by the UN General Assembly on protection of education from attacks yesterday, reminds me a quote commonly attributed to the legendary US personality, President Roosevelt in which he said: “Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people”. He said great minds discuss ideas understanding the highest level messages behind an event and look for solutions to help the world to get rid of crisis. This is simply what H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Education Above All and UN Sustainable Development Goals Advocate, did when she called for protection of education from attacks in areas of conflicts.
The resolution adopted by UN General Assembly established September 9 to be marked every year as the International Day to Protect Education from Attack. The resolution was called by H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, and spearheaded by the State of Qatar and mobilized international support for the proposal in order to ensure accountability for the persistent and deliberate attacks on educational institutions and the prevalent armed violence experienced by children worldwide
. The UN resolution 74/275 was presented by the State of Qatar and was approved by consensus. The resolution was co-sponsored by 57 member states, aims to raise awareness to the plight children affected by armed conflict, who are in the most desperate need of educational support. As it is clear for everyone, children living in countries at war in different parts of the world have suffered under direct attacks and extreme levels of violence and abduction. They are used as human shields, killed, raped, recruited to fight, but the international community failed to hold perpetrators accountable. This prompted H H Sheikha Moza to push toward making protection of education and children, a global humanitarian hot issue where the international community bears responsibility.
The international day provides an annual platform where the international community can review progress, new data and make commitments towards effective mechanisms to end impunity for those who attack schools and children. The resolution also sends a clear message on the importance of safeguarding schools as places of protection and safety for students and educators, as well importance of ensuring safe and secure environment where children learn the knowledge and skills they need for the future. The UN resolution is great success of Qatari diplomacy as great minds find solutions for such kind of violation of basic human rights in conflicts zone, while small minds in countries imposing blockade on Qatar are discussing people.
