UNESCO to Host High-Level Geneva Summit

UNESCO to Host High-Level Geneva Summit: Commemorating International Day to Protect Education from Attack 2025

In September 2025, UNESCO will host a landmark high-level summit in Geneva to mark the International Day to Protect Education from Attack (IDPEA), an initiative established by the United Nations to spotlight the growing crisis of violence against education worldwide. The event will gather governments, civil society, international organizations, education experts, and affected communities to bolster collective action aimed at safeguarding the fundamental human right to education, even amidst conflict and instability.

Background: The Rising Need to Protect Education in Conflict Zones

Education systems globally face unprecedented threats as conflicts, terrorism, and social unrest increasingly target schools, students, teachers, and educational infrastructure. UNESCO estimates hundreds of millions of children are affected annually due to attacks on education, ranging from direct assaults on schools to harassment and intimidation of educators, forcibly closing classrooms and jeopardizing futures.

IDPEA was established by the UN in 2020 to raise awareness, advocate for protective measures, and mobilize international solidarity toward ending violence against education. This day serves as a critical platform to reaffirm the worldwide commitment that education must remain a safe haven, a pillar of peace and development.

Objectives and Themes of the 2025 Geneva Summit

The upcoming Geneva summit represents a pivotal opportunity to raise awareness, share innovative solutions, drive political will, and review progress across multiple dimensions:

• Highlight ongoing crises in education due to conflict, displacement, and political turmoil, with real-life case studies from regions such as Afghanistan, Syria, South Sudan, and others
• Strengthen global partnerships by fostering dialogue among governments, UN agencies, NGOs, community leaders, and education stakeholders
• Promote preventive strategies including legal protections, early warning mechanisms, community engagement, and school safety programs
• Accelerate recovery and resilience building in education systems disrupted by violence, ensuring children’s continued access to quality education
• Advocate for increased funding and resource allocation dedicated to protecting education in emergencies and post-conflict recovery

The event will feature keynote addresses from senior UN officials and humanitarian leaders, interactive panel discussions, thematic workshops, and the launch of new commitments and policy frameworks to safeguard education globally.

Impact of Attacks on Education and Urgency for Action

Attacks on education exacerbate cycles of poverty, inequality, and instability by depriving children and youth of knowledge, skills, and psychosocial support. Beyond infrastructure damage, they instill fear, cause displacement, and often perpetuate gender disparities, disproportionately harming girls and vulnerable groups.

The Geneva summit aims to foster a unified response to these challenges by prioritizing the safety of schools as protected spaces under international law, enhancing data collection and monitoring of violations, and empowering communities to safeguard education locally.

UNESCO’s Role as Global Convenor and Advocate

As the UN agency mandated to lead education efforts worldwide, UNESCO plays a critical role in convening stakeholders, coordinating research, developing normative instruments, and facilitating capacity building. The Geneva high-level summit will underscore UNESCO’s continued dedication to protecting education as a fundamental right and transforming commitments into tangible action.

Previous UNESCO-led campaigns and initiatives have helped shape international guidelines and mobilized resources embedded in global frameworks such as the Safe Schools Declaration, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Human Rights Council resolutions.

Looking Ahead: Building a Future Where Education is Always Protected

The International Day to Protect Education from Attack 2025, highlighted by the Geneva summit, is a call to governments, multilateral bodies, donors, and civil society to intensify efforts. Protecting education is vital not only for immediate safety but also for fostering peace, democracy, and sustainable development.

By uniting voices and resources, the summit will pave the way for new strategies, stronger accountability, and inclusive solutions that leave no child behind—regardless of circumstance.