September 9

International Day to Protect Education from Attack is observed every year on September 9. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2020, the day draws global attention to the devastating consequences of attacks on schools, students, teachers and educational institutions during armed conflicts and humanitarian crises.

The day emphasizes a fundamental principle: education is a human right, and children should be able to learn in safety and dignity, even during times of crisis.

Why September 9?

The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution in 2020 establishing September 9 as the International Day to Protect Education from Attack. The initiative recognizes the urgent need to protect education from the effects of armed conflict and to ensure that schools remain safe places for learning.

The day also provides an opportunity to highlight the work of governments, humanitarian organizations, educators and communities seeking to protect students and teachers around the world.

What does “education under attack” mean?

Attacks on education can take many forms. They may include:

• Bombing or destruction of schools
• Occupation of schools by armed forces or armed groups
• Attacks against students and teachers
• Kidnapping or abduction of students
• Threats and intimidation of teachers
• Sexual violence associated with conflict
• Recruitment of children by armed groups
• Destruction or looting of educational facilities
• Restrictions preventing children from reaching school safely
• Attacks on universities and other educational institutions

Such attacks can make children afraid to attend school and can deprive entire communities of access to education.

The consequences go beyond the classroom

When a school is destroyed, the damage is not limited to a building.

A child may lose:

• Access to education
• A safe daily routine
• Friends and social relationships
• Emotional and psychological security
• Opportunities for future employment
• Hope for a better future

Teachers may also be forced to flee their communities, while families may have to choose between education and physical safety.

Long interruptions to education can have consequences that continue long after a conflict ends.

Children are particularly vulnerable

Children living in conflict zones are among the people most affected by attacks on education. They may already have experienced displacement, poverty, loss of family members or other forms of violence.

For them, a school can provide much more than academic instruction. It can offer protection, stability, friendship, nutrition, psychological support and a sense of normality.

Protecting schools therefore means protecting children’s futures.

Education during war and conflict

Armed conflicts around the world have repeatedly disrupted education. Schools can become damaged or destroyed, teachers can be displaced, and students may be unable to travel safely.

In some situations, educational buildings are deliberately used for military purposes. This can expose students and teachers to additional danger and can prevent schools from functioning as safe civilian spaces.

International humanitarian law provides important protections for civilians and civilian objects during armed conflict. The international community has also developed initiatives and commitments specifically aimed at reducing attacks on education.

The Safe Schools Declaration

An important international initiative is the Safe Schools Declaration, a political commitment through which countries endorse measures to protect education from attack and reduce the military use of schools and universities.

The declaration encourages countries to implement the Guidelines for Protecting Schools and Universities from Military Use during Armed Conflict.

The broader objective is straightforward: schools should be places of learning, not battlefields.

The psychological impact

Exposure to violence and conflict can deeply affect children’s mental and emotional well-being.

Students who experience attacks or prolonged insecurity may face:

• Fear and anxiety
• Trauma
• Difficulty concentrating
• Loss of motivation
• Sleep problems
• Social isolation
• Grief
• Interrupted emotional development

Teachers also face enormous pressures when they attempt to continue educating children in dangerous circumstances.

Providing psychosocial support alongside education is therefore an important part of humanitarian response.

Education is a pathway to peace

Education has significance beyond academic achievement.

A good education can help young people develop:

• Critical thinking
• Communication skills
• Understanding of different cultures
• Respect for human rights
• Conflict-resolution skills
• Empathy
• Civic responsibility

Protecting education during conflict therefore contributes not only to individual development but also to peacebuilding and long-term recovery.

What happens when education is interrupted?

Conflict-related disruption can produce a vicious cycle:

Conflict → school closure → learning loss → reduced opportunities → poverty and instability

Keeping education functioning can help break that cycle.

Even when conventional schools cannot operate, humanitarian organizations may provide temporary classrooms, community-based education, distance learning or alternative learning spaces.

Protecting teachers

Teachers are essential to educational continuity, but they can themselves become targets of violence.

Protecting teachers means:

• Ensuring their physical safety
• Providing safe transportation where necessary
• Supporting teachers who are displaced
• Offering psychological assistance
• Providing teaching materials
• Maintaining salaries and professional support
• Protecting their right to work without intimidation

A school cannot function without teachers who feel safe enough to teach.

How can the international community help?

Governments and international organizations can contribute by:

1. Strengthening legal protections for schools, students and teachers.
2. Investigating attacks on education and holding perpetrators accountable.
3. Keeping schools safe through appropriate security and emergency planning.
4. Providing humanitarian assistance to affected communities.
5. Supporting displaced students and teachers.
6. Providing psychosocial care for children affected by violence.
7. Rebuilding damaged schools after conflicts.
8. Maintaining alternative education programs when schools cannot operate normally.
9. Preventing the military use of schools whenever possible.
10. Including education in emergency and peacebuilding programs.

What can ordinary people do?

Awareness is also important at the community level. People can:

• Learn about attacks on education around the world.
• Support organizations providing education in conflict zones.
• Encourage governments to prioritize education during humanitarian crises.
• Share reliable information about the importance of protecting schools.
• Stand against violence directed at students and teachers.
• Promote peace, tolerance and dialogue in their own communities.

A message for students

Every child deserves the opportunity to sit in a classroom without fear.

A school should be a place where a child can read, write, ask questions, make friends, dream about the future and discover his or her abilities.

War should never take that opportunity away.

International Day to Protect Education from Attack: Key Facts

Item	Details
Observed	September 9
Established by	United Nations General Assembly
Established	2020
Main purpose	To raise awareness of attacks on education and promote protection of students, teachers and educational institutions
People especially affected	Children, students, teachers and communities in conflict-affected areas
Key message	Education is a human right and schools must be protected
Related initiative	Safe Schools Declaration

Conclusion

International Day to Protect Education from Attack reminds the world that war must not destroy a child’s right to learn.

Schools are more than buildings. They represent hope, opportunity, stability and the possibility of a peaceful future. When education is protected, children have a better chance of rebuilding their lives and their communities.

On September 9, the world is called upon to remember a simple but profound principle:

Every child has the right to learn in safety. Every teacher has the right to teach without fear. Every school should be a place of peace—not a target of war.