France has today become the latest country to endorse the Safe Schools Declaration (SSD), a series of common sense steps aimed at protecting students and teachers from attack in areas affected by war and conflict.

The declaration, created in 2015 and immediately endorsed by 37 countries around the world, is an opportunity to demonstrate a global commitment to education in areas of war and conflict. 

France’s move to endorse the SSD should provide leadership to other EU member states and the Francophone Afrique community. France joins other countries from across Europe, South America and the Middle East to take a stand to protect education. Countries yet to sign-up include the UK, Germany and USA.

EAA defends and delivers quality education to the poorest and most marginalised children, youth and women  around the world. EAA’s legal advocacy programme, Protect Education in Insecurity and Conflict (PEIC), is a founding member of the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA) the organisation that has advocated for the Safe Schools Declaration.

GCPEA brings together leading organisations including; PEIC, UNICEF, UNESCO, Save the Children and Human Rights Watch to promote education as a basic human right and the driver of human development.

Maleiha Malik, Academic Advisor for PEIC said:

“Attacks on students and their schools in conflicts must stop now. We are heartened that France has signed up to the Safe Schools Declaration, joining more than 50 other countries to deliver this united message.

“It is only by working together that we can protect students and their teachers from further attacks. Education is the driver of human potential and a universal human right. It drives stability and prosperity and lays the foundations for peace. We urge all governments to join France and others to make our global voice stronger.

“It is time for the international community to join the 58 countries across the world and stand up and support the Safe Schools Declaration.”