The Problem

What is an attack on education?

Attacks on education are any intentional threat or use of force—carried out for political, military, ideological, sectarian, ethnic, religious, or criminal reasons—against students, educators, and education institutions.

What international laws are violated?

Attacks on education violate the right to education and other internationally protected human rights applicable at all times. During situations of armed conflict, attacks on education may violate international humanitarian and criminal law and constitute war crimes (or crimes against humanity during war or peacetime).

The impact of attacks on education

Attacks on students, educators, and education institutions can have a devastating impact on access to education and education systems and on a society’s overall development in the long-term. This can include everything from a decline in student attendance, teacher flight and a decline in education quality, and impacts on a country’s economic and social development, to death, injury and destruction.