The Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to Geneva organizes a celebration to mark the "International Day to Protect Education from Attack"
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Geneva – September 10, 2025
The Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office in Geneva organized a celebration to mark the "International Day to Protect Education from Attack." The event featured a photo exhibition by the Education Above All Foundation and a youth debate organized by the Qatar Debate Center.
The celebration at the United Nations Headquarters was attended by a large number of permanent delegates, diplomats, and representatives of international organizations and non-governmental organizations based in Geneva.
In her opening remarks at the exhibition, Her Excellency Dr. Hind Bint Abdul Rahman Al Muftah, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to Geneva, thanked the attendees for their participation in the occasion and commended the ongoing efforts of the Education Above All Foundation to commemorate this day, including the organization of this educational exhibition in Geneva.
Her Excellency emphasized that the International Day to Protect Education from Attack is not merely an annual commemoration, but an opportunity to highlight the suffering of millions of children deprived of their right to education and trapped in a cycle of conflict and insecurity. She noted that the figures are alarming: between 2020 and 2023, more than 11,000 attacks on schools and universities were recorded, affecting over 19,000 students and teachers in 95 countries.
Her Excellency noted that each image in the exhibition tells a story of tragedy, resilience, and a fundamental human right under attack. She emphasized that protecting education is not an option, but a moral and humanitarian duty. She called on warring parties to stop targeting schools and urged the international community to hold them accountable.
Her Excellency, the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to Geneva, expressed her hope that the commemoration of this day next year will mark progress toward a world where schools are safe havens, not battlefields, and where every child has access to a safe environment to learn and thrive.
As part of the celebration, a youth debate event was organized by QatarDebate, featuring opening statements by Her Excellency Mrs. Maryam bint Abdullah Al-Attiyah, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee, and Ms. Nada Al-Nashif, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights. The event also included interventions by a number of Qatari youth from QatarDebate, who discussed the importance of protecting education from attacks and the role of the international community and youth in promoting this human right and ensuring a safe environment for learning.