More than 75 million children and young adults are in urgent need of educational support in 35 crisis-affected countries. This is a staggering statistic, particularly since those affected are already among the most vulnerable due to political, economic and social circumstances.
To help these children, and future generations, on 9 September 2020, the Library joins institutions around the world in marking the International Day to Protect Education from Attack. The resolution designating the day was proposed by Qatar—driven by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development—and adopted by acclamation.
The resolution condemns all attacks against schools and the use of schools for military purposes when in breach of international law. It recognizes that access to quality education in humanitarian emergencies can foster long-term development goals and reiterates the need to protect and respect educational facilities, per international law.
At Qatar National Library, one of our fundamental pillars is that everyone, everywhere should have access to information without barriers, and that no child should be denied the fundamental human right of education. We are committed to providing educational support and resources not only here in Qatar, but around the world.
The Library was founded in 2012 by Her Highness Sheikha Moza to promote and support continuing education. We are proud to join with organizations such as Qatar Foundation, Education Above All and the UN to mark this important day that recognizes education as the foundation of society.
In addition to schools, cultural heritage is also increasingly at risk in conflict zones, as smuggling and trafficking of priceless historical artifacts erodes our ability to preserve and learn from the past.
As the IFLA Preservation and Conservation Regional Center for Arab Countries and the Middle East, the Library is leading the fight against threats to these heritage items through the Himaya Project. On 13 September, we’re hosting a lecture, “Illicit Circulation of Documentary Heritage in the Maghreb and Community of Sahelo States,” that highlights just one region under threat.
If you’d like to learn more about threats to education and what you can do to help, here are some suggested resources from our librarians:
- Global Education Policy and International Development: New Agendas, Issues, and Policies, edited by Antoni Verger, Mario Novelli and Hülya K. Altinyelken
- Books, Bullets, and Burqas: Anatomy of a Crisis: Educational Development, Society and the State in Afghanistan, by Craig C. Naumann
- Empire and Education: A History of Greed and Goodwill from the War of 1898 to the War on Terror, by A.J. Angulo
- Higher Education in the Gulf States: Shaping Economies, Politics and Culture
To help your child understand the struggles other children face around the world, check out Razia’s Ray of Hope: One Girl’s Dream of an Education, written by Elizabeth Suneby and illustrated by Suana Verelst.
You can also use the Ask Our Librarians service for help.
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