September 9 is the International Day to Protect Education from Attack, established by the UN General Assembly.
This day is yet another opportunity to raise awareness about the violations of the right to education of thousands of Armenian pupils and students as a result of the wars and forced displacement unleashed by Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as the numerous cases of educational institutions being targeted by Azerbaijani armed forces.
During the 44-day war of 2020 and its aftermath, the right to education of thousands of pupils and students was violated. In particular were breached Articles 13 and 14 of the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as well as Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as the students were unable to continue their studies in their own educational institutions, whether in formal or non-formal settings.
During the military operations unleashed by Azerbaijan, dozens of educational institutions in Nagorno-Karabakh—including schools, kindergartens, art schools, and other educational centers—became military targets. That deprived pupils and students of the opportunity to receive an education, and prevented teachers and lecturers from carrying out their mission. In particular, on October 3, 2020, Tartar Schools No. 1 and No. 5 were targeted; on October 4, Stepanakert Schools No. 10 and No. 12, Kindergarten No. 1, the music school, and the secondary school of Karmir Shuka village were attacked, among others. In this context, it should be emphasized that attacks on educational institutions in conflict zones threaten not only the lives and health of civilians but also the future of entire societies.
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The United Nations reaffirms that the right to education of every individual is absolute and recognizes no distinction based on gender, age, race, or ethnic origin. Despite these affirmations in international humanitarian law regarding the right to education, in 2023 the forced displacement of the Armenian population from Nagorno-Karabakh deprived thousands of pupils and students of their right to receive education in their educational institutions.
📌 Let us recall that UN Resolution 64/290 of 9 July 2010 emphasizes the importance of ensuring the right to education in emergency situations and condemns the targeting of civilians and civilian objects prohibited under international humanitarian law during armed conflicts, as such acts may constitute grave violations of the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute.
📌 The Human Rights Union of Nagorno-Karabakh Refugees joins the purpose and vision of the International Day to Protect Education from Attack, calling on UN member states and the international community to remain consistent in ensuring the undeniable right of tens of thousands of children, pupils, and students forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh to receive an education in their homeland, within their native historical landscape, and in an environment of interaction with their community.
