A Call to Action: Supporting the Education of Afghanistan's Children and Young People

Publié
Thème(s):
Humanitarian Sectors - Education
Human Rights and Children's Rights
English

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Following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, we have grave concerns for  the human rights of Afghan citizens, especially women, girls, people with disabilities,  and ethnic and religious minorities. 

We are particularly concerned about the right to education. 

Whilst the international community must ensure the re-establishment of the  conditions that guarantee the full rule of law and the respect of human rights and that  those in power in Afghanistan respect the right to education, permission to operate  and attend educational facilities alone will not be enough. The fundamental freedoms  of women, girls, and minority and ethnic groups must be respected and protected by  all parties, including their freedoms of movement, opinion, expression, and identity. 

Protecting the right to education of Afghanistan’s population will require a significant  increase in coordinated international support. 

Supportive of the effort by Italy, acting as G20 president, to develop a common  international strategy in response to the crisis in Afghanistan, we urge G20 member  states to ensure the strategy includes a plan for education and lifelong learning for  all. 

That plan should be based on five commitments: 

  • Ensuring the right to education and lifelong learning for all, based on the  standards set by international human rights law. 
  • Increasing humanitarian and development assistance, provided to the UN,  international agencies, national organizations and communities, to ensure  formal schools, community-based education programs, colleges, and universities with students of all genders, abilities, and backgrounds continue  to operate and provide quality, inclusive education. 
  • Providing support to host countries for the education of both existing and  newly arriving refugee children and youth. 
  • Increasing funding for tertiary study overseas, especially for women and  people with disabilities. Ensuring that a fundamental condition of any working relationship with the  regime is that it upholds the right to education. 

We urge the governments of the G20 to commission the relevant UN agencies to  develop, fund, and implement a plan to protect and promote education for Afghan  children, especially girls and people with disabilities, both in Afghanistan and those  who have fled their country seeking protection. It is critical to ensure full participation  and consultation of teachers, education support professionals, parents, and learners  themselves in developing a comprehensive education plan.

Full List of Endorsing Organizations 

  1. International Parliamentary Network for Education (IPNEd)  
  2. Finn Church Aid 
  3. Global Campaign for Education 
  4. Global Citizen 
  5. International Rescue Committee 
  6. Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies 
  7. Jesuit Refugee Service 
  8. Malala Fund 
  9. Oxfam 
  10. Plan International 
  11. Save the Children 
  12. Theirworld 
  13. World Vision International 
  14. CIFA Onlus 
  15. Movimento per l'Autosviluppo, l'Interscambio e la Solidarietà (M.A.I.S)
  16. RE.TE ONG 
  17. Send My Friend to School 
  18. Campagna Globale per l'Educazione (Global Campaign for Education Italy)
  19. Coalition Éducation (Global Campaign for Education France)
  20. Globale Bildungskampagne (Global Campaign for Education Germany)
  21. Global Camapign for Education - The Netherlands 
  22. Global Campaign For Education – US (GCE-US) 
  23. Educate the Children-Nepal 
  24. Linda Norgrove Foundation 
  25. HealthProm 
  26. National Education Union 
  27. NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union 
  28. RESULTS Canada 
  29. RESULTS UK 
  30. Centre for Afghanistan Policy Studies (CAPS) 
  31. 100 Million 
  32.  All Africa Students' Union 
  33. AWA Initiative (A Well Informed Adolescent Initiative), Nigeria
  34. Commonwealth Children & Youth Disability Network 
  35. Commonwealth Students' Association 
  36. European Students' Union 
  37. Global Student Forum 
  38. Empowered African Child Initiative, Nigeria. 
  39. Future Resilience and Development Foundation, Nigeria (FRAD)
  40. HELP Foundation for Students, Nigeria 
  41. Hope for Nigeria Education Fund 
  42. I CAN South Sudan, Uganda and South Sudan 
  43. iFix Initiative, South Sudan 
  44. Include Me TOO, UK 
  45. Kosovar Youth Council 
  46. No Box Initiative, Nigeria 
  47. Rescue Health Initiative Nigeria, 
  48. Teach for Somalia 
  49. Teach MUDA – Street2School Initiative, Nigeria 
  50. Youth and Women for Opportunities, Uganda 
  51. Youth Institution for Education, Côte d'Ivoire