Statement by Gordon Brown United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education 

Speaking from Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he is visiting schools and meeting children, Gordon Brown said:

We are already mourning a human tragedy of monstrous proportion that will bring grief to every school in the world. 

No child should expect that when he or she goes to school that their lives are at risk.

No parent should have to fear that when their child leaves home for class that they should never return.

The whole world will be shocked and heartbroken at the massacre in Peshawar that has destroyed so many innocent young lives.

Prime Minister Sharif has called the attack a national tragedy and our thoughts are with families and school friends. Our hope is that emergency assistance can come immediately to those who are injured.

We must remain resolute in saying that no terrorist group can at any time ever justify denying children the right to an education and we will do everything in our power to support the Pakistan authorities and make sure their schools are safe and protected.

It has never been acceptable for schools to be places of conflict and for children to be subject to violence simply because they want to learn. Education is opportunity and hope for building nations.

Too often innocent girls and boys have become targets for terrorists who want to deny children the right to education and schools have become theatres of war.

No one has the right to deny a boy or girl their education and we will stand alongside the parents and the children against the Taliban‘s refusal to recognise every child has the right to education.