UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, speaking at the meeting, expressed concern that one in five children on the planet, which amounts to 473 million, lives in conflict conditions or is forced to leave their homes due to war.
She also noted that the world is witnessing a record number of armed conflicts since World War II. According to UN data, the number of serious violations of children's rights increased by 25% from 2023 to 2024.
DiCarlo emphasized that in recent days, schools in Israel, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman have been closed and switched to remote learning due to military actions in these countries. There were also reports of tragic incidents resulting from a strike on an elementary school in the Iranian city of Minab, where dozens of children may have died.
Education as Salvation
In conditions of violence, schools often become the only safe places. Education protects children from recruitment, trafficking, and exploitation, and provides access to hygiene, psychosocial, and other basic services.In 2024, the UN recorded 2,374 attacks on educational institutions and medical facilities, with the highest number of attacks occurring in Ukraine, Israel, the occupied Palestinian territories, and Haiti.
The Deputy Secretary-General reminded of Security Council Resolution 2601 (2021), which calls on parties to conflicts to cease attacks on schools, children, and teachers, and to respect the right to education in accordance with international humanitarian law.
She also highlighted the contributions of the First Lady of the United States in raising awareness of the issues facing children in conflict situations and "especially her personal role in reuniting Ukrainian children with their families."
Technology as a Tool for Access to Education
In conditions of destroyed infrastructure and a lack of teachers, which conflict zones suffer from (where there is a shortage of 44 million teachers), digital technologies can become a key tool for ensuring continuous learning.DiCarlo provided examples of initiatives by the UN and its partners, such as the "Student Passport," created by UNICEF in collaboration with Microsoft, which provides 10 million children in 47 countries access to a mobile educational platform.
Another project, implemented by the Vodafone Foundation in partnership with the UN Refugee Agency, provides access to digital educational content for displaced persons and teachers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan. In Afghanistan, UNESCO is using digital technologies to organize home and community learning in conditions where 2.2 million girls cannot attend school.
Risks in the Digital Environment
However, DiCarlo also noted that technologies can pose risks. Children in conflict situations are particularly vulnerable to online threats such as exploitation, trafficking, radicalization, recruitment into armed groups, and cyberbullying.She called for strengthening legal and political mechanisms that protect children's rights in the digital space in accordance with international law, and emphasized the special responsibility of technology companies for user safety, especially for children and youth.
Preventing Conflicts - The Main Protection
Additional concern is raised by the reduction in education funding: the amount allocated for education in emergencies has decreased by 24%, despite growing needs. DiCarlo pointed out that the most effective way to protect children is to prevent and end wars.Building peace is the foundation of the work of the United Nations. We must collectively strive for this goal.
Melania Trump Called for Promoting Ideas of Peace Through Education and Technology
Speaking at the UN Security Council meeting, Melania Trump urged world leaders to prioritize education and access to technology as the foundations of sustainable peace and global security.Beginning her speech with condolences to families who have lost loved ones due to conflicts around the world, she expressed solidarity with the affected and emphasized support for children suffering from wars.
The United States supports all children around the world.She emphasized that sustainable peace depends on knowledge and mutual understanding, warning that societies that restrict access to education risk facing instability and conflicts. Melania Trump called education a fundamental human right, adding that society pays a high price when children are deprived of the opportunity to learn.
She also noted the transformative role of artificial intelligence and digital access in democratizing knowledge and urged countries to bridge the technological gap.
In conclusion, she stated: "The path to peace lies in empowering our children through education and technology."
Photo on the main page: UN / M. Elias (Melania Trump at the UN Security Council meeting).
