Schools and Armed Conflict: A global survey of domestic laws and state practice protecting schools from attack and military use

This 160-page report by Human Rights Watch highlights the negative impact on education due to attacks on schools by armed groups. Based on a survey in 56 countries, the report examines policies and legislations to protect schools from militancy. Between December 2008 and June 2011, schools were attacked in 16 armed conflicts in Afghanistan, Burma, the Central African Republic, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Iraq, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Libya, Pakistan, the Philippines, Somalia, Sudan, Thailand, and Yemen.The report calls on governments to make explicit in their criminal and military laws that intentional attacks on school buildings not being used for military purposes during an armed conflict are war crimes. Governments should also enact legislation or institute policies that either prohibit or regulate armed forces’ use of schools to better protect the safety of children and teachers, and to ensure children’s right to education.