Mayar and Hala Badr, members of the Children’s Advisory Group at the Universal Education Foundation, participated in the Global Summit on Protecting Children Affected by Armed Conflict, held in Geneva under the theme “Access to Justice and Effective Remedies.” They took part through a video message in English addressed to the summit’s participants.
Held over one day, the summit brought together children and adolescents, survivors, representatives of governments and the United Nations, civil society organizations, experts, educators and artists to discuss a range of interconnected issues focused on protecting the rights of children affected by armed conflict. Key themes included access to justice and legal protection, legal identity through birth registration, nationality and family reunification, and education in emergencies as a means of protection, recovery and prevention, The summit also highlighted the importance of peacebuilding and violence prevention in protecting children, supporting their recovery and building a safer future.
In their message, Mayar and Hala addressed safeguarding the right to education, emphasizing that education is not only about books, classrooms and exams; it is also about safety, dignity and a space where children can discover themselves. They noted that, for many Palestinian children, carrying a schoolbag has become an act of courage, and that interruptions to education deprive children of their sense of security and their belief in the future.
The two sisters called on the world not to see Palestinian children only through images of conflict, but to see in them future doctors, teachers, engineers and peacemakers. “We are not asking for sympathy; we are asking for protection, opportunity, and the chance to learn in safety and dignity,” they said.
They concluded by affirming that education is a right, not a privilege, for every child, everywhere and under any circumstances. They urged participants to ensure that children’s voices do not fade when the summit ends, stressing that “protecting a child’s education means protecting their hope, dignity, and our shared future.”
