Entisaf Organization Documents Targeting of Education, Calls for Accountability for Aggressor States
The Entisaf Organization for Women and Children’s Rights issued a human rights report entitled “Generations Behind the Rubble,” documenting the grave violations suffered by the education sector as a result of the systematic targeting of schools and educational facilities during the years of the US-Saudi-Emirati aggression, and the resulting widespread humanitarian, educational, and psychological impacts.
The organization explained that the report, released to coincide with the start of the new academic year, covers the period from March 26, 2015, to June 2016, and is based on field monitoring, official data, international reports, and firsthand accounts.
The report stated that the targeting of schools and educational facilities was not limited to destroying infrastructure, but extended to depriving millions of children of their right to education and undermining the future of entire generations, in grave violation of international humanitarian law and international conventions that prohibit targeting civilian objects and educational institutions. The report documented the extent of the destruction inflicted on thousands of educational facilities, resulting in widespread school dropout rates, increased rates of educational poverty, and exacerbated psychological and social problems faced by children.
It presented the latest statistics from the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research, reflecting the scale of the disaster that has befallen education. The report stated that 522 educational facilities were completely destroyed, while 2,460 were partially damaged, affecting more than 5.19 million students.
According to the report, the latest UNICEF data indicates that 4.5 million school-aged children are deprived of education and require urgent educational support, while the educational poverty rate has reached 95%. Furthermore, one in five schools is now out of service due to bombing, destruction, or its use as shelters for displaced persons. He pointed out that the crisis was not limited to targeting schools and students, but extended to educational staff. UNICEF data indicates that more than 171,600 teachers have not received their salaries regularly, which threatens the continuation of the educational process and puts millions of children at risk of dropping out of school, as many teachers are forced to seek alternative sources of income to meet their basic needs.
The report reviewed the most prominent violations against schools, students, and educational staff in various governorates, supported by evidence and testimonies from humanitarian sources, in addition to condemnations issued by the United Nations and a number of international organizations, which emphasized the seriousness of targeting education, the necessity of protecting educational institutions, and holding those responsible for these violations accountable.
In conclusion, the Entisaf Organization called upon the international community, the United Nations, and human rights and humanitarian organizations to fulfill their legal and humanitarian responsibilities and to work towards establishing an independent international mechanism to investigate crimes committed against education in Yemen, hold the aggressor states and their partners accountable, ensure the reconstruction of damaged schools, support educational staff, and provide a safe learning environment that guarantees children’s right to education without fear or threat.