Global March joins hands with international NGOs in creation of Global Humanitarian Fund for Education in Emergencies at the Oslo Education Summit.
With the increasing number of conflicts and disasters across the world, 20 million children have been denied their right to education, with 90% of young girls dropping out of schools in these conflicted areas. Further, out of the 58 million children of who are out of school, 28.5 million live in conflict affected countries. But despite the growing numbers caught up in the tragedy, in 2014 only one per cent of overall humanitarian aid and two per cent of humanitarian appeals was spent on education.
Researches show that there are dire consequences of not investing in education in emergencies. Children out of school are at immediate risk of child labour, recruitment as child soldiers, early marriage and other forms of sexual exploitation, slavery and trafficking. In conflict and emergencies, investment in education can both save lives in the short-term and billions of dollars in opportunity costs in the long-term. For example in Pakistan, between 2009 and 2012, lack of access to education for 5.5 million children due to conflict is estimated to have cost $2.9billion in lost income.
On 7 July, leading education experts, advocates and international donors will come together in Oslo at Oslo Education Summit, to mobilize renewed political commitment for the 58 million children that remain out of school and to improve learning outcomes for those who attend school.
This event will provide a great opportunity to commit to the creation of Global Humanitarian Fund for Education in Emergencies, which hopefully would enable additional predictable funding and better coordinated rapid assistance at the onset of an emergency, and bridge the gaps between development and humanitarian aid in the rebuilding phase.
Always highlighting on the issue of out-of-school children – hardest to reach category of children engaged in hazardous child labour, slavery, affected by conflict and others, Global March Against Child Labour has supported the need for adequate financing for education, calling on governments to commit 6% of their GDP and 15-20% of their public expenditure on education. Global March, Honorary President and Nobel Peace Laureate, Kailash Satyarthi currently participating in the 65th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, is also calling out to fellow Laureates to join hands to mobilize increased support and commitment to ensure education is adequately financed, including in emergencies. Speaking at the event, Mr. Satyarthi said, “We urge the international community to loosen the purse strings for future of our children, to protect them from exploitation and violence, and invest in their education”
Global March joins hands with other leading NGO demanding that world leaders meeting at the Oslo Summit, strongly consider and commit to the creation of a separate global fund to save education and children in emergencies.
With this important development, Elie Jouen, Chairperson of Global March Against Child Labour remarks "Throughout the world, investment in education is weak and it is more so devastating in conflicted areas. Choosing to not invest is to shy away from our mutual responsibility of bringing education to all children, especially the vulnerable conflict ridden. Education is the only way to break the cycle of poverty and the only hope to rebuild their lives and communities. I hope the Oslo Education Summit will come up with an immediate action plan on this with the necessary urgency.”
For more information on joint NGO statement on the call for Global Humanitarian Fund for Education in Emergencies, see here
