Pakistan Urges UN Security Council to Protect Children’s Education in Conflict Zones
Pakistan has called on the United Nations Security Council to prioritize the resolution of long-standing conflicts as the most effective way to safeguard children and protect their right to education, drawing attention to worsening humanitarian conditions in Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir.
The remarks were delivered during a high-level Security Council debate titled “Children, Technology and Education in Conflict,” convened under the U.S. presidency for the month of March.
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, told the 15-member body that children living in war-affected regions and situations of foreign occupation are being deprived of stability, safety, and access to quality education.
“Across conflict zones around the world, including situations of foreign occupation, notably Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir, millions of children are growing up amid rubble and chaos rather than classrooms and calm,” he said.
The Pakistani envoy highlighted the destruction and militarization of schools, displacement of teachers, and disruption of digital infrastructure in conflict-hit regions. He warned that already fragile education systems are nearing collapse, exposing children to long-term consequences that extend beyond immediate violence.
Ambassador Ahmad stressed that while the international community continues efforts toward conflict resolution in line with the UN Charter and Security Council resolutions, urgent measures must also be taken to prevent permanent damage to children’s futures.
He further urged the integration of child protection measures into digital education initiatives and called for stronger partnerships among UN member states, civil society, and the private sector.
“In complex conflict environments, the transformative use of technology can serve as both a shield and a bridge,” he noted, adding that digital solutions can help children access education, safety, and development while promoting resilience and sustainable peace.
