Invitation to shape proposed ‘Geneva Declaration’ on education in emergencies
On the International Day of Education the International Parliamentary Network for Education (IPNEd) issued an invitation to parliamentarians across the world to help shape a new political statement on both the challenge posed by emergencies for education and how to tackle it
“It is increasingly clear that the global learning crisis is exacerbated by growing threats to education posed by conflict, climate change, the global food and nutrition crisis, and disease,“ said IPNEd Executive Director, Joseph Nhan-O’Reilly.
“Last year new research revealed that there are some 222 million children whose right to an education has been ripped from their hands by these crises, this is much more than the previous estimate of 75 million.”
Unless we address the needs of these children and young people there is no chance of delivering SDG 4’s promise of quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.
We are facilitating the development of a political Declaration on education in emergencies and protracted crises.
The Declaration is designed to provide a framework for raising awareness of the unprecedented impact of forced displacement and humanitarian crises on education and to identify and crowd in support for actions which parliamentarians can take in response to the challenges which humanitarian crises pose to education.
It will be discussed and adopted at a meeting of parliamentarians from around the world during the Education Cannot Wait High Level Financing Conference in Geneva in February, 2023.
The draft Geneva Declaration is set out below along with a series of answers to anticipated questions. The draft Declaration and FAQs can also be downloaded here.
Feedback on the draft Declaration can be provided by emailing info@ipned.org
Draft of Geneva Declaration on Education in Emergencies and Protracted Crises for consultation
We parliamentarians from all around the world reaffirm that everyone shall enjoy the right to education.
We note with grave concern that:
The number of crisis-affected school-age children that require educational support has grown to 222 million. This includes as many as 78.2 million out-of-school children, and close to 120 million who are in school, but not achieving minimum proficiency in maths or reading.
The greatest proportion of out-of-school children and young people are either displaced or live in contexts affected by emergencies and protracted crises.
The global learning crisis is exacerbated by growing threats to education posed by conflict, climate change, the global food and nutrition crisis, and disease.
For children and young people caught up in crises - among the most marginalised in the world - their right to a safe, quality education is in peril.
The situation is especially dire for girls, vulnerable minorities, children living with disabilities, and displaced children and young people, all of whom face additional barriers to realising their right to education.
Having fled their countries in search of protection, only 68% of refugee children have access to primary education, compared to 90% globally.
Attacks on education carried out for political, military, ideological, sectarian, ethnic, or religious reasons against students, educators, and education institutions are at an all time high.
Meanwhile:
Education in emergencies and in conflict affected and fragile states remains chronically underfunded, especially against the backdrop of rapidly increasing needs.
If we are to have any chance of delivering the Sustainable Development Goal 4 we must meet the educational needs of displaced children and young people and those living in crisis affected contexts.
We recognize that:
The exclusion of displaced and crisis-affected children and young people from learning stands in stark contrast to the priority that they and their communities place on education.
Education systems are often a country’s most robust national social service – with the potential to not only address the immediate needs of children and youth, but also ensure their protection, and support their health and wellbeing.
Education in emergencies is a life-saving intervention, and safe and continuous access to quality and inclusive education can provide a platform for child protection, mental health and psychosocial support, gender and disability inclusion, and improved nutrition.
Education can be a powerful tool in promoting understanding, tolerance and friendship between peoples and nations.
We therefore commit to use the tools and influence at our disposal to encourage governments – our own and others – to address this challenge, using our our role as policy makers, legislators, advocates and providers of scrutiny to:
Improve equitable inclusive education access and learning outcomes for displaced children and youth, and those affected by crises.
Protect and improve external financing, ensuring financing is equitable, and aligns with national planning priorities and commitments to international conventions, across humanitarian and development instruments.
Build crisis-resilient education systems which must ensure the protection of children and young people’s rights, and address learning needs in a holistic way, including health, wellbeing, nutrition, water, sanitation and protection from violence, sexual exploitation, and abuse.
Scale and mainstream high-impact and evidence-based interventions into policy, law and funding.
We further commit to:
Support communities affected by crises to amplify the voices, needs, and experiences of displaced and crisis-affected communities, learners and teachers in our parliaments and other forums.
Align national priorities and international commitments to transform the resilience of education systems to crises, including those set out in the Incheon Declaration, the Busan Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, the Heads of State Declaration on Education Financing, the Global Compact on Refugees, the Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, the Safe Schools Declaration and the Comprehensive School Safety Framework.
Together we will learn, share ideas, and agree on joint and individual actions that accelerate educational progress, collaborating with fellow parliamentarians from around the world, reaching across geographical and political divides to create shared understanding and collective action.
We commit to build on the work of our peers, noting in particular the resolution on Education in Situations of Crisis adopted by the Francophone Parliamentary Assembly in 2021.
Acknowledging the scale of this challenge and the gravity of its impact on individuals, communities, nations and the world, we commit to act with urgency and determination to protect the right to education of displaced children and young people and those affected by crises.
We formally adopt this declaration on February 16, 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland during the Education Cannot Wait High-Level Financing Conference.
Answers to questions about the proposed Declaration
What is the Geneva Declaration?
The Geneva Declaration is a political statement of concern and commitment made by individual members of national parliaments in response to the growing challenge posed by displacement and crisis to the right to education.
How is it being developed?
The development of the Declaration is being facilitated by the International Parliamentary Network for Education - a global network of parliamentarians from over 60 countries - with the support of the Geneva Hub for Education in Emergencies.
The Declaration takes inspiration from existing consensus statements including the Commitment to Action on Education in Crisis adopted at the 2022 UN Transforming Education Summit as well as statements from individual parliaments and parliamentary assemblies such as the resolution on Education in Situations of Crisis adopted by the Francophone Parliamentary Assembly in 2021
IPNEd’s members are being consulted on the contents of the Declaration as are experts from the field of education in emergencies, such as members of the the Geneva Hub for Education in Emergencies. Their input will shape the final document which will be adopted at a high-level event on political leadership for education in emergencies at Education Cannot Wait’s High-Level Financing Conference in Geneva in February 2023.
How will it be used?
The Declaration is designed to provide a framework for raising awareness of the unprecedented impact of forced displacement and humanitarian crises on education.
It sets out a series of ways in which parliamentarians both alone and in collaboration with their peers from within their parliaments, regions and globally commit to act in response to the challenges which humanitarian crises pose.
The Geneva Declaration will be shared with parliamentarians who will be encouraged to identify practical ways in which they can implement the commitments made in it.
Both IPNEd and the Geneva Global Hub for EiE are committed to growing political knowledge, understanding and action in support of education in emergencies and to supporting implementation of the Declaration. Both entities are working to develop tools and opportunities for parliamentarians to take effective action on education in emergencies.
Will parliamentarians be asked to formally endorse the Declaration?
The Declaration is being developed with wide ranging contributions from members of parliament from all around the world and will be adopted by consensus in a high level meeting of parliamentarians in Geneva.
We do however hope that individual members of parliament will promote the Declaration and use it to shape their, their party and parliament’s work on education for children and young people affected by crises.
Why is it called the Geneva Declaration?
The Declaration will be adopted at a meeting of parliamentarians in Geneva on the margins of the Education Cannot Wait High-Level Financing Conference. Geneva is also a city that embodies a long humanitarian tradition, hosting key and diverse actors; it is home to the UN’s second headquarters, 38 international organisations, 750 NGOs, the Permanent Missions of 181 UN Member States, and leading academic institutions. A centre of multilateral diplomacy, Geneva is also a global financial centre and a hub for innovation.We hope that the Geneva Declaration draws on that heritage and calls on all those institutions to affirm the statement and work together to improve equitable inclusive education access and learning outcomes for displaced children and youth, and those affected by crises.
How do I provide feedback on the draft or find out more?
If you would like to comment on any aspect of the draft Declaration or would like to find out more about the initiative please email info@ipned.org