{"id":45477,"date":"2021-08-31T19:36:55","date_gmt":"2021-08-31T19:36:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/?p=45477"},"modified":"2025-12-14T04:32:20","modified_gmt":"2025-12-14T04:32:20","slug":"a-call-for-india-to-join-the-safe-schools-declaration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/a-call-for-india-to-join-the-safe-schools-declaration\/","title":{"rendered":"A call for India to join the Safe Schools Declaration"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Schools are the pillars upon which the flame of <\/strong>education<\/strong><\/a> shines bright. It is in acknowledging the pivotal necessity of safeguarding educational bodies that the Safe Schools Declaration was drafted. In this context, recently, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on <\/strong>India<\/strong><\/a> to endorse it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u2018what\u2019 and the \u2018why\u2019 of the Safe Schools Declaration <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A growing account of attacks on students, teachers, schools and universities along with educational infrastructure being used by the military-led to the governments of Norway<\/a> and Argentina<\/a> beginning a process with United Nations<\/a> Member States to draft what is understood today, as the Safe Schools Declaration (GCPEA, n.d.).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only international agreement in regard to the protection of education<\/a> in armed conflict, the Safe Schools Declaration is an inter-governmental political agreement that seeks to safeguard educational bodies from attack<\/a> as well as guarantee the continuity of safe<\/a> education amidst armed conflict by laying out a set of commitments (GCPEA, n.d.).  It was launched in May 2015 at the Oslo Conference on Safe Schools: Protecting Education from Attack, and as of June 2021, 109 States have endorsed it. Unfortunately, India<\/a> is not part of this list (Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2021). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

India\u2019s past with school attacks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While there is a significantly smaller number of school violations and attacks, India<\/a> has witnessed some that in turn resulted in devastating consequences. In a report by the Human Rights Watch published in 2009, in the states of Bihar<\/a> and Jharkhand, tens of thousands of children from marginalised and disadvantaged communities faced a disruption in their education<\/a> due to escalations between Naxalite insurgents and the police (Human Rights Watch, 2009). The damages from Naxalite bombings in government-run schools resulted in relatively minimal structural damage to the collapse of the entire structure (Human Rights Watch, 2009).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In efforts to counter the insurgency, the police and paramilitary forces occupied school<\/a> campuses as well as facilities for extended periods of time, sometimes lasting for several years. While it used to vary in terms of occupation, sometimes shutting down an entire school, and others only occupying parts of the school buildings, education<\/a> was always compromised (Human Rights Watch, 2009). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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During these partial or complete school occupations, it became an inevitability for a large number of girl students<\/a> to drop out of school and while some relocated to other schools in the vicinity, a large number simply dropped out of education<\/a> entirely (Human Rights Watch, 2009). If the school decided to shift location, it often led to an academic environment that simply was not conducive to good education with disused warehouses and traveller shelters being some of the alternative locations of the school<\/a>. Another effect of long-term school occupations was a significant decrease in the enrolment rate as well as the number of students continuing higher years of study (Human Rights Watch, 2009). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it is true that India\u2019s<\/a> reality today in regard to this subject is not as grave or pressing, the damages of even one school shutting down, getting occupied, or being a seat for violence<\/a> have a surge of negative consequences that last generations. Moreover, it impacts not just the individuals\u2019 concerns, but the country\u2019s economic, social and political fabric as well, making it a crucial necessity to strive towards a call for safeguarding<\/a> schools as well as the people who they shelter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are some of the steps India has already taken? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

India\u2019s laws already prevent schools from being used for military purposes as a result of which security forces are not authorized to enter the premises of any educational institution (The Manoeuvres Field Firing And Artillery Practice Act, 1938).\u00a0 Furthermore, India\u2019s<\/a> National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has gone on the record to say that the use of schools by security forces \u201c violates the spirit and letter\u201d of India\u2019s<\/a> Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act further stating that schools should never be a premise security forces take shelter in (Sheppard, 2021)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his annual report, titled \u201cChildren and Armed Conflict\u201d, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres brought to light the fact that, as recently as 2020, the UN had verified the use of seven schools by Indian security forces for four months (Secretary-General, 2021). While there have been efforts by the Indian Government to protect school premises from violation or occupation, as mentioned above, this reveals a prevalent reality that directly and detrimentally affects the education<\/a> of children<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aftermath of joining the Safe Schools Declaration <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There have been numerous positive outcomes from being associated with this Declaration with the most progress this year being from Africa<\/a> (Sheppard, 2021). In June 2020<\/a>, the Central African Republic<\/a> made military occupation a criminal offense, therefore becoming the first country in Africa<\/a> to do so. In January this year, the African Union started requiring countries to contribute troops to its peace operations in order to ensure safety in school, and in October 2021, Nigeria<\/a> is scheduled to host the Fourth International Conference on the Safe Schools Declaration (Sheppard, 2021).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are certain truths that seem glaringly obvious of which one is: children<\/a> should be kept safe<\/a> at all costs. Sadly, as is the case often, theory and implementation do not converge into a harmonious reality. Schools are an area of learning, of growth, where children come with the hope to acquire knowledge, skills, and tools to inch closer to manifesting their budding dreams. It becomes a tragedy when it becomes an area of violence and atrocity and it is with an acknowledgment of this devastating possibility that it becomes all the more crucial for India<\/a> to be part of an international understanding to protect children<\/a>, teachers and other members of staff, in schools across the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Humanium, we are committed to raising awareness and safeguarding children\u2019s rights <\/a>globally, whether it is their right to food<\/a>, education<\/a>, protection<\/a>, health<\/a> or freedom<\/a>. In regard to working towards ensuring and maintaining the safety and equality of children\u2019s rights globally, in September 2020, Humanium signed a Joint-Statement to the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) on the Situation of Children in Armed Conflict<\/a>. The Signatories urged the UN Member States to move forward with concrete action to develop gender-responsive action plans as well as strengthen the dialogue with states for the protection of children from attacks on education.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you would like to support Humanium in its work helping children combat the effects of persisting world issues, please consider sponsoring a child<\/a>, making a donation<\/a> or becoming a volunteer<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Written by Aditi Partha<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information: <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Safe Schools Declaration<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

References: <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

GCPEA (n.d.). The Safe Schools Declaration. <\/em>Retrieved from GCPEA, accessed on 30 July 2021. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Human Rights Watch. (2009). Sabotaged Schooling.<\/em> New York : Human Rights Watch. Retrieved from Human Rights Watch, accessed on 30 July 2021 <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Norvegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2021). Safe School Declaration<\/em>. Retrieved from Government.no, accessed on 30 July 2021.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secretary-General, U. (2021). Children and armed conflict .<\/em> General Assembly Security Council: United Nations. Retrieved from United Nations General Assembly Security Council, accessed on 30 July 2021.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sheppard, B. (2021, May 29). Safe Schools Declaration Protects Education for Millions. <\/em>Retrieved from Human Rights Watch, accessed on 30 July 2021.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sheppard, B. (2021, June 23). UN Head Urges India to  Join Safe Schools Declaration. <\/em>Retrieved from Human Rights Watch, accessed on 30 July 2021.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Manoeuvres Field Firing And Artillery Practice Act 1938 (n.d).<\/em> Government of India, Ministry of Law And Justice, Legislative Department. Retrieved from Government of India, accessed on 30 July 2021.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Schools are the pillars upon which the flame of education shines bright. It is in acknowledging the pivotal necessity of safeguarding educational bodies that the Safe Schools Declaration was drafted. In this context, recently, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on India to endorse it. 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