[hr-education] UNICEF alarmed as attacks on Afghan schools rise

UNICEF fears progress in education will be reversed

KABUL/GENEVA, 4 August 2006 -- UNICEF warned today that schools in
Afghanistan are the targets of increasingly dramatic attacks, noting that
reported incidents have spread from the south and southeastern region to
all of the provinces and include 11 explosions, 50 school burnings and 37
threats against schools and communities.

As of July 2006, the UNICEF School Incident Database -- a UNICEF-run
monitoring system -- totaled 99 cases, especially alarming because this is
more than six times the number of incidents from the same period in 2005.
Six children have died as the result of the violence.

While UNICEF and the Afghan government are taking steps to protect
children and schools, the latest school-security related incidents are
becoming increasingly worrisome. The education structure is still shaky
following years of political turmoil, including denial of education for
girls, under Taliban rule and subsequent ongoing conflict.

"With all that the children of Afghanistan have gone through, to expose
them to this kind of terrible violence is appalling," said Bernt Aasen,
the UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan. "The children of Afghanistan
have a right to education. Threats, intimidations and violent attacks on
students in schools undermine the very fabric of the future of Afghan
society."

UNICEF called on all parties to cease targeting children, education
workers and schools.

In March 2002, Afghanistan schoolchildren sparked hope for out-of-school
children everywhere, as 1.5 million children returned to the classroom. By
December 2006 this figure has soared to 5.1 million children. Most
impressively, 1.5 million girls who had been discriminated against under
Taliban rule, returned to formal learning, despite numerous challenges.

Today, schools are closing, students are staying home and the hard-won
progress is at risk. In four southern provinces it is estimated that more
than 100,000 children are shut out of school because the school closures.
Children and teachers are under increasing threat and being denied their
right to a safe teaching and learning environment.

In four southern provinces it is estimated that more than 100,000 children
are shut out of school because of school closures. Children and teachers
are under increasing threat and being denied their right to a safe
teaching and learning environment.

In response, UNICEF, Ministry of Education and other partners have set up
a special task force to devise solutions that is strengthening protection
of students, teachers, school officials and schools themselves and
providing a rapid response when incidents arise, including:

* Establishing a 24-hour a day communications system with provinces
and twice a day call-ins to stay abreast of situations in the field.
* Appointing 34 provincial Protection Advisors to monitor and analyse
security data from the field and to work with local task forces,
Provincial Reconstruction Team officials and traditional leaders to
ensure security. Placing Mobile Protection Teams with two child
protection officers per province - with more officers in the
bigger provinces. The Child Protection Officers will devise
strategies with Government and local communities towards greater
protection of children, particularly girls and female teachers, from
any kind of abuse. They will also monitor that health and safety
guidelines including mine awareness, health and hygiene training and
first-aid facilities are in place. 
* Promoting community mobilization and public awareness through
religious leaders and political leaders who will act as grass roots
mobilizers to encourage communities to reopen schools and to send
their children to schools and to be vigilant against attacks. These
leaders will receive special training to help them to convince
parents to also send their girl children to schools.

When incidents do occur, UNICEF, if security allows, is on-site within 72
hours providing support within five days with the provision of classroom
tents, teaching-learning stationary materials, blackboard, chalks, floor
mats so as to restore normal functioning of schools and having teachers
and children return as soon as possible.

In cases where major repair or construction is needed, UNICEF is taking
further action in consultation with the respective Provincial Education
Department and the Ministry of Education.

UNICEF has already allocated some emergency rehabilitation funds to each
of its zone offices for repair of burnt or damaged schools, with
rehabilitation support coming from within the communities. A very close
working relationship has been developed in the field with all agency
stakeholders involved in education and in direct support of the Directors
of Provincial and District Education offices so as to ensure the earliest
possible return to school.

"We must not allow the progress that was made in establishing access to
quality education to 5.2 million children be destroyed because we did not
try hard enough to protect children’s right to be taught in a safe
learning environment." said Aasen.

UNICEF praised the work of the government and its partners in making
Afghan schools a place of learning and not of fear. "If we want our
children to grow up non-violent, we must do everything we can to ensure
that their schools are as safe as they possibly can be," said Aasen.

UNICEF Press release




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