International Day to Protect Education from Attack

International Day to Protect Education from Attack is observed on September 9 to highlight the importance of safeguarding schools, students, teachers, and other education personnel from violence and conflict. Education should be a safe space where children and young people can learn, grow, and build hopeful futures—regardless of where they live.

The observance raises awareness of the devastating impact attacks can have on access to education and encourages stronger protection for learning environments around the world. It is also an opportunity to stand in solidarity with communities affected by conflict and to support international efforts that keep schools open, secure, and welcoming for every learner.

The **International Day to Protect Education from Attack** is observed on **September 9**. The United Nations General Assembly established the observance through Resolution 74/275, adopted on May 28, 2020, in response to the growing number of attacks affecting schools, students, teachers, and other education personnel in conflict and crisis settings. Qatar introduced the initiative, with support from countries and international organizations concerned about the destruction and militarization of educational spaces. The first observance took place on September 9, 2020.

The day emerged from broader international efforts to recognize education as a fundamental right that must be protected during armed conflict. For many years, United Nations agencies, governments, and civil-society organizations had documented attacks including bombings, shootings, abductions, threats, and the occupation of schools for military purposes. The adoption of the Safe Schools Declaration in 2015 and the development of international guidance on protecting schools from military use helped build momentum for a dedicated global observance.

Over time, the day has become a platform for drawing attention to the long-term consequences of attacks on education. When schools are damaged or closed, children may lose access not only to lessons but also to safety, nutrition, psychosocial support, and a sense of stability. Teachers and education workers can also face intimidation, injury, or displacement. The observance therefore emphasizes prevention, accountability, the protection of educational facilities, and the need to provide continuity of learning during war, occupation, terrorism, natural disasters, and other emergencies.

Its cultural significance lies in affirming that schools are more than buildings: they are places where communities preserve knowledge, identity, opportunity, and hope for the future. Each **September 9**, governments, international institutions, educators, and advocacy groups use the occasion to call for stronger legal protections and practical measures for students and teachers. The day also underscores a shared principle—that education should remain a safe and impartial space, even when societies are divided by violence.