Actions taken:
Austria signed the Safe Schools Declaration in May 2015 and became a member of the Geneva Core Group on Safe Schools in 2021. The Core Group is dedicated to supporting the endorsement and implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration. It functions as a platform for the expanding community of endorsing States to exchange information, convene joint events or coordinate on joint statements at the level of experts in Geneva. Austria has been participating actively in the meetings of the group and contributing regularly to its deliberations.
In July 2021, Austria co-sponsored UN Human Rights Council Resolution 47/6 on the Right to Education, which was adopted by consensus. The resolution references the Safe Schools Declaration, urges all States to give full effect to the right to education, and calls upon States to strengthen the protection of preschools, schools and universities against attacks, making them free from all forms of violence, including by taking measures to deter the military use of schools.
From 25 to 27 October 2021, Austria, represented by the Austrian Ambassador to Nigeria, participated in the Fourth International Conference on the Safe Schools Declaration in Abuja, Nigeria. In its statement, Austria highlighted that it was vital to undertake credible and effective investigations into all attacks on schools and universities, as well as to strengthen preventive efforts, e.g. by training military personnel in international humanitarian and human rights law.
In October 2021, Austria co-sponsored UN Security Council Resolution 2601 (2021) on Children and Armed Conflict, tabled by Norway and Niger and supported by 98 co-sponsors. The resolution expressly references the Safe Schools Declaration, condemns attacks against schools, children and teachers, and calls on parties to conflict to safeguard, protect, respect and promote the right to education, including in armed conflict.
In January 2022, representatives of the Austrian Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva took part in a virtual webinar on attacks on education aimed at exchanging good practices, organised by the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA). This was the first activity of the State-led implementation network for the Safe Schools Declaration, which was launched at the Fourth International Conference in 2021.
In March 2022, representatives of the Austrian Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva participated in a workshop jointly organised by the GCPEA, Argentina, Nigeria, Norway, Spain, the Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies and Save the Children, to advance the protection of education in conflict agenda in Geneva.
In July 2023, Austria co-sponsored UN Human Rights Council Resolution 53/7 on the Right to Education, adopted by consensus, which is the first UN resolution calling upon States to consider endorsing the Safe Schools Declaration.
From 2020 to 2023, Austria participated in a Joint Statement on the Safe Schools Declaration every year, which was delivered during the respective Interactive Dialogues with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict at the UN Human Rights Council.
