International Day to Protect Education from Attack
September 9
About International Day to Protect Education from Attack
The International Day to Protect Education from Attack takes place every year on 9 September. Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2020, the day draws attention to attacks on students, teachers, schools and universities in conflict zones, and calls on governments and communities to safeguard the right to education during armed conflict.
What is the International Day to Protect Education from Attack?
The International Day to Protect Education from Attack is a United Nations observance dedicated to protecting education in situations of armed conflict and insecurity. It raises awareness of the bombing of schools, the killing and abduction of students and teachers, the military use of educational buildings, and other violations that deny children and young people their right to learn. The annual observance is co-facilitated by UNESCO and UNICEF, working alongside partners such as the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA) and Education Cannot Wait. It is for everyone who believes that a school should be a place of safety rather than a target.
When is the International Day to Protect Education from Attack?
The International Day to Protect Education from Attack falls on Wednesday, 9 September 2026. The date is fixed and does not change from year to year, so the observance is always held on 9 September regardless of the day of the week. In 2026 it marks the seventh annual commemoration since the day was first proclaimed.
Why the International Day to Protect Education from Attack Matters
Attacks on education are rising at an alarming rate. According to GCPEA’s flagship report, Education Under Attack 2024, around 6,000 attacks on education or instances of military use of schools were recorded across 2022 and 2023, a near 20 percent increase on the previous two years and an average of roughly eight attacks every day. More than 10,000 students, teachers and academics were reported harmed, injured or killed. GCPEA documented attacks or military use in 79 countries, with the highest numbers recorded in Palestine, Ukraine and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The picture has not improved. The 2025 UN Secretary-General’s report on children and armed conflict noted a 44 percent increase in attacks against schools in 2024 compared with the previous year. Behind these figures are children who lose years of schooling, teachers who flee or are killed, and communities stripped of one of the few institutions that offers stability and hope. Protecting education is not only a humanitarian concern but an investment in recovery, because schools help children regain a sense of normality and give war-torn societies a foundation to rebuild.
How to Get Involved in the International Day to Protect Education from Attack
There are many ways to mark the day and support the protection of education, whether you act as an individual, an educator or an organisation.
- Learn about the issue – Read GCPEA’s Education Under Attack reports and UN briefings to understand where and how attacks happen, and share what you learn with others.
- Support the Safe Schools Declaration – Encourage your government to endorse and implement this international commitment, which more than 120 states had endorsed by 2025.
- Donate to relevant organisations – Charities such as Education Cannot Wait and UNICEF fund schooling for children caught up in emergencies and conflict.
- Raise awareness online – Use the day’s hashtags to amplify official messages and the voices of affected students and teachers.
- Hold a classroom discussion – Teachers can use the day to talk with pupils about the right to education and what it means when that right is denied.
- Write to your representatives – Ask elected officials to prioritise the protection of education in foreign policy and humanitarian funding.
- Attend or host an event – UNESCO, UNICEF and partners hold commemorations and webinars around 9 September that anyone can follow.
- Volunteer or fundraise – Organise a local fundraiser or offer your skills to groups supporting displaced learners and refugee education.
History of the International Day to Protect Education from Attack
The day was established on 28 May 2020, when the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted Resolution 74/275 proclaiming 9 September as the International Day to Protect Education from Attack. The resolution was presented by the State of Qatar and co-sponsored by 62 countries, reflecting broad international concern about the growing toll of conflict on schools and universities.
In adopting the resolution, the Assembly strongly condemned attacks against educational institutions and the military use of schools in breach of international law. It recognised that access to quality education, even during humanitarian emergencies, supports longer-term development and helps protect children from exploitation and harm. UNESCO and UNICEF were designated as co-facilitators of the annual observance.
The day builds on years of advocacy by the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack, founded in 2010, and on the Safe Schools Declaration, opened for endorsement in Oslo in 2015. Each year the observance adopts a theme to focus attention; the 2025 commemoration, the sixth, was held under the theme “Challenging narratives, reshaping action”, urging the world to reject any framing that normalises or excuses attacks on learning.
Noteworthy Facts About the International Day to Protect Education from Attack
- The day was proclaimed through UN General Assembly Resolution 74/275, adopted on 28 May 2020.
- Qatar led the resolution, which was co-sponsored by 62 member states.
- UNESCO and UNICEF jointly facilitate the annual observance.
- Explosive weapons were involved in around one-third of all reported attacks on education in 2022 and 2023.
- Reports of military use of schools and universities rose by 112 percent across 2022 and 2023 compared with the previous period.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the International Day to Protect Education from Attack?
It is a United Nations observance held each year on 9 September to raise awareness of attacks on schools, students and teachers in conflict zones and to mobilise action to protect the right to education during armed conflict.
When is the International Day to Protect Education from Attack in 2026?
It falls on Wednesday, 9 September 2026. The date is fixed, so it is observed on 9 September every year.
Who leads the International Day to Protect Education from Attack?
UNESCO and UNICEF are the official co-facilitators of the observance, working with partners including the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack and Education Cannot Wait. The day complements wider efforts such as the Safe Schools Declaration. Educational campaigners like those behind Malala Day have long championed the same cause of education for children affected by conflict.
Spread the Word
Help raise awareness by sharing the International Day to Protect Education from Attack with your friends, family, and followers. Use the hashtags #ProtectEducationFromAttack and #9September on social media. The more people who know that schools should never be targets, the greater the pressure on governments to keep them safe.
Related Awareness Days
- Malala Day – Honours the campaigner shot for defending girls’ education and celebrates the right of every child to learn.
- International Day of the African Child – Highlights the rights and welfare of children across Africa, including their access to safe education.
- World Refugee Day – Recognises people forced to flee conflict, many of them children whose schooling is disrupted by war.
Links
- Visit the official United Nations page for the International Day to Protect Education from Attack
- Explore more awareness days at AwarenessDays.com
2026 Awareness Days Wall Planner
Every key awareness day at a glance. Perfect for offices, staff rooms, and team planning.
View Calendar →
