Actions taken:
Austria has supported the Guidelines for protecting schools and universities from military use during armed conflict from the outset and has actively participated in the Buenos Aires Conference. Together with other states, Austria regularly addresses the subject in discussions in multilateral fora such as open debates of the UN-Security Council or the humanitarian segment of the UN Economic and Social Council. In addition, the topic’s visibility and significance is fostered on the bilateral level.
Efforts for implementation are supported through programmes implemented by UNICEF aiming inter alia to provide education for children and teenagers who are suffering from the armed conflict in Syria, or by supporting the EU Trust Fund for Syria and the EU Refugee Facility for Turkey, which both include education projects.
The ongoing evaluation of Austria’s strategy on security and development is focussing inter alia on measures to strengthen education programmes in conflict regions for sustainable conflict prevention.