The Human Rights Watch has called on all national armed forces and groups to stop using schools for military purposes in armed conflicts. On the occasion of Universal Children’s Day, the rights body today made public a video in Berlin, showcasing impacts of school seizure by armed forces on children.

According to HRW, in most countries fighting insurgencies, armed forces or groups have used schools for military purposes with devastating consequences on children and their right to education.

“Forces have converted schools into barracks, detention facilities, military training camps, weapons depots, and bases for military operations. Often, forces take over only part of a school, putting students attempting to continue their studies at grave risks,” it added.

“Schools should be filled with students, not soldiers,” said Bede Sheppard, deputy children’s rights director at HRW, adding, “When armed forces take over schools, they put children and their education in the line of fire.”

The HRW states that the presence of armed troops in schools particularly puts girls’ education in jeopardy.

Between 2005 and 2012, armed forces and groups have used schools during conflicts in at least 24 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and South America.

“Students and educators, who wish to add their voice to support the end of military use of schools, can contribute photos and slogans to the website,” he said. HRW is working with the inter-agency Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack, expert partners and governments to develop new international guidelines to boost protection for schools and universities from military use.

It states that all countries should support the process of developing the guidelines, and endorse them once they are finalised in mid-2014. “Countries around the world are also encouraged to enact laws and endorse policies to protect schools and to incorporate the guidelines into their military doctrine, manuals, and training,” HRW added. “By next year’s Universal Children’s Day, countries should be stepping forward as champions to protect children’s education by barring the use of schools by their own armed forces,” Sheppard said. “It’s high time armies gave schools back to students.”

source: the himalayan times,20 Nov 2013