UN deputy chief calls for 2024 to be education’s turning point
Amina Mohammed, UN deputy chief, emphasized the dire situation in Gaza, where children have been deprived of education for over six months due to attacks on 212 schools. She stressed the crucial role of education as a beacon of hope and the key to the future.
In response to global education challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, she highlighted upcoming meetings, including the Summit of the Future in September 2024. At this summit, world leaders will aim to reach a consensus on urgent education reforms.
Mohammed outlined two critical outcomes needed from the summit: a clear recognition of the necessity to transform and invest in education globally, and breakthroughs on issues like financial reform, digital cooperation, and peace agendas.
She underscored that education is a fundamental human right and the most significant investment for a sustainable future, emphasizing its crucial role in achieving gender equality.
Despite progress, challenges persist, including access, equity, relevance, and digital disparities, threatening to exclude billions from educational opportunities. Mohammed expressed optimism about making 2024 a turning point for education.
During her visit to Brussels, Mohammed chaired the Governing Body meeting of the Spotlight Initiative, a UN-EU partnership aimed at ending violence against women and girls worldwide. The initiative targets various forms of violence, including domestic abuse, sexual violence, and femicide, as well as human trafficking.
Since its inception, the initiative has facilitated access to gender-based violence services for over 2.5 million women and girls and educated two million men and boys on positive masculinity.
In conclusion, Mohammed’s call to action emphasizes the urgent need for global cooperation to address the education crisis and end violence against women and girls. Through collective efforts and commitment, 2024 can mark a significant step forward in ensuring education as a universal right and a pathway to a more equitable and peaceful world.
Repurposed article originally published in UN news
