INEE statement on current crises

With heavy hearts, we are hearing every day from INEE members about tragic events that threaten lives, livelihoods, and the fundamental human right to education. More than ever, we stand with those whose rights are threatened and denied. We call on governments and the larger international community to respect the right to education for all girls, boys, women, and men, and to provide access to quality education to populations affected by conflict and crises. The INEE network, with its more than 18,000 members in 190 countries, will continue to advocate and respond to disruptions in education, and will actively support those working to ensure that this right is continually guaranteed to all. 

The emergencies happening in Afghanistan, Haiti, Lebanon, Myanmar, Ethiopia, and Madagascar, as well as in the many countries deeply impacted by climate change, the ongoing global pandemic, along with conflict and violence, are a stark reminder of the threats posed to the education across the globe. It is critical at this time to re-emphasize the importance of education during crisis and the work being done by INEE members around the world. 

Even before the global pandemic struck, more than 127 million children and youth in countries affected by conflict and crisis were not accessing education. The continued pandemic and today’s growing crises are exacerbating this unacceptable figure. Without greater attention and continued support for education in emergencies, we as a global community will face an unprecedented crisis. Education for all must continue. Education must be accessible by everyone. Education must be characterized by quality, safety, and relevance. Education must be prioritized and protected as a matter of global urgency. In particular, the right to education for women and girls must be upheld, as well as the right to live free of gender-based violence and discrimination. 

As we have done for the past 20 years, INEE supports and assists its members and all education actors and stakeholders (including education staff in governments and Ministries of Education). We offer many ways for members to engage with each other and the work of delivering education in emergencies. We also offer a variety of learning and training opportunities, a technical support Help Desk, and hundreds of curated resources in many languages that are available to everyone everywhere for free on the INEE website. Some of our most utilized tools include:

• INEE Minimum Standards for Education: Preparedness, Response, and Recovery
• INEE Guidance Note on Psychosocial Support
• INEE Guidance Notes on Safer School Construction
• INEE Guidance Note on Gender
• COVID-19 resources 

INEE exists for and because of its members. We are in this together. Our support for each other, our work with each other, and our collective voice do and will continue to make a positive difference, now more than ever.

In solidarity,

Dean Brooks
INEE Director, on behalf of the INEE Secretariat and the INEE Steering Group