By Naureen Hossain
UNITED NATIONS, Oct 3 2024 – Reem Alsalem, the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls, calls prostitution a “system of violence” that does not benefit society at all, especially the women and girls forced into this system.

Alsalem spoke at the Roosevelt Public Policy House in New York on Wednesday, October 2, to discuss her special report in which she posits that prostitution is a form of violence against women and girls. The report was first made public in June 2024, where it was presented to the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Over 60 member states endorsed the report and its findings, including but not limited to Ghana, South Africa, Egypt, Norway, Sweden, Colombia, France, Bangladesh, India, and Nigeria.

Alsalem received over 300 submissions for the report from multiple stakeholders, including civil society groups, academia, experts, policymakers, and, importantly, women from around the world with lived experience.

Across the world, the exploitation of women and girls through prostitution and sex trafficking is a pervasive issue that threatens their safety and rights. Alsalem remarked that many systems of prostitution are built on patriarchal norms that position the abuse of power at the hands of mostly men, who are largely the ‘buyers’ or the profiteers in the sex trade. Deeper economic inequalities and the complexities of emergency humanitarian situations have only further displaced women and girls from systems that would have protected and empowered them.

Alsalem remarked that efforts to normalize or recognize prostitution as a form of labor, such as referring to it as “sex work,” do more harm by gaslighting the women who have experienced it, and it fails to consider the serious human rights violations that can occur within the system, such as the physical and psychological harm they experience under this umbrella of “labor.”

Pornography should also be classified as a form of prostitution and violence against women at large, according to Alsalem. She noted that its proliferation has only normalized acts of violence and harmful attitudes towards women and girls. Alsalem told IPS that the online platforms that host pornographic material only further incentivize and promote these acts and other forms of coercive and nonconsensual sexual acts.

Regardless of the platform, how it is branded or how one enters the trade, the system of prostitution is based on the commodification of the body to undergo physical activity and under that there cannot be consent, Alsalem argues.

“Trying to pretend that there is somehow consent in prostitution, that women want to do this, is actually meaningless in context like prostitution because the concept of consent is actually not relevant when there are systems of exploitation and violence,” she said. “And when the term of consent is being weaponized while we fully know that whatever notions of agreement that women may have—or at least some of them—is extorted through physical coercion, manipulation, and violence.”

When it comes to the legal frameworks around prostitution, this also reveals the contradictions within countries on the letter of the law versus its regulation in practice. The report indicates that under certain approaches, little is actually done to de-incentivize “buyers” or “organizers” in engaging in prostitution systems.

Criminalizing prostitution is more likely to punish the prostituted persons through persecution and incarceration, social ostracization, and even further abuse at the hands of law enforcement. In fact, under this approach, it is rare that the ‘buyers’ are punished or that the third parties are held accountable. Under the regulation approach, legal prostitution ensures control to the state through commercial establishments and federal or national laws, including tax laws that they profit from, often at the expense of the sex workers. Decriminalizing prostitution allows for all parties to operate without the fear of persecution; however, this has also resulted in an increased demand, and it does not stop exploitative parties from profiting off vulnerable women and girls and leading them into the sex trade.

The report speaks in favor of the abolition approach, otherwise known as the “Equality model” or the “Nordic model.” Under this model, third parties (the ‘organizers’) and the buyers are criminalized for engaging in the buying and promotion of sex, while the sex workers do not face criminal persecution. Instead, more investments are made in exit pathways for sex workers to ensure alternative work, economic stability, housing, and support to address trauma and even substance abuse where needed. In the report, Alsalem notes that the Nordic model maintains the international standard on sexual exploitation and trafficking in persons by criminalizing third parties, and that it recognizes the majority of prostitutes are women and girls.

This approach could have its limitations, however, as one report from the London School of Economics (LSE) notes that sex trade legislation still varies across the different countries that implement this model, the safety of sex workers remains uncertain and they still face the risk of policing. For migrant sex workers, their status prevents them from accessing social protections, and under immigration laws, prostitution can be grounds for deportation.

The issues present in the current legal models for prostitution reflect some of the institutional structures that maintain the status quo where sex workers are exploited and left unprotected. At the same time, they also reflect a wider cultural issue on how prostitution, and more broadly, sex, is discussed and perceived.

“In addition to being a human rights violation that needs legal solutions, what is mentioned very clearly in the report is that we are dealing with a cultural issue,” said Taina Bien-Aimé, Executive Director of Coalition Against Trafficking in Women. She added that other acts of violence against women, such as intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and harassment, are now recognized as forms of abuse.

“But for some reason, because money is exchanged in prostitution, somehow it is seen outside of the context of male violence and discrimination, particularly against women and girls.”

In her report, Alsalem offers recommendations to governments on how they can reshape their legislation and policies on prostitution towards a direction that is more conscionable of human rights and that centers the experiences of the women and girls who are forced to participate. Governments also need to take measures to address the root causes behind prostitution and the factors that leave women and girls at a higher risk of it.

“The importance of this report is in its recommendations as well, where the Special Rapporteur is asking jurisdictions and member states around the world to find legislative and policy solutions to this egregious human rights violation,” said Bien-Aimé.

When asked to elaborate on the steps that need to be taken by international actors like the United Nations, Alsalem referred to the recommendation that UN agencies should also adopt a rights-based approach to prostitution. Alsalem commented that she had reached out to several UN agencies. In particular, she is having “continuous conversations” with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), on her recommendation for these agencies to conduct studies into the wider impacts of prostitution on survivors within their focus of health and labor.

Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) such as the Frontline Women’s Fund, and local civil society groups play an important role in spotlighting the issue. Alsalem told IPS that they need to come together to listen to the survivors of prostitution, as well as engage with all actors working on the matter.

“We see that in decision-making places, including governments, parliaments, whenever the issue is discussed, the law is being prepared or the policy is being revised, some have privileged access to these decision-making places, and that can be those that are advocating for full legalization of all aspects. Whereas those that are advocating for the abolition model… cannot get the same access, and that includes survivors.”

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By Oritro Karim
UNITED NATIONS, Oct 3 2024 – On September 23, Israel began launching a barrage of airstrikes on Lebanon, targeting the Iran-backed militant group, Hezbollah. According to statements from the Israeli Defense Force (IDP), approximately 3,600 sites have been struck, making this the deadliest aerial campaign on Lebanon in the last 20 years.

Reports from the Lebanese government indicate that the recent attacks have killed at least 1,400 people, including high ranking Hezbollah officials Hasan Nasrallah and Nabil Kaouk. In response, Hezbollah launched a series of rockets and drones into Israeli bases, with most being intercepted. As recently as October 2, the group launched a missile strike on an Israeli military base near Tel Aviv.

The death toll is projected to rise as bombings continue with no indication of a ceasefire. Yesterday on October 2, Israel launched a ground invasion on southern Lebanon’s borders, deploying around 10,000 troops to move north.

Hilal Khashan, a professor of political science at the American University of Beirut, adds that Israel’s attacks on Lebanon are in an attempt to weaken Hezbollah responses for a ground invasion with little opposition.

“Once they [IDF] feel that they have softened Hezbollah’s resistance sufficiently enough, they will wage their ground offensive. They are focusing on Hezbollah’s strategic assets,” he said.

Entire residential blocks in Beirut have been decimated, forcing thousands out of their homes. The United Nations reports that approximately 900,000 people have been displaced, with 260,000 internal displacements and 100,000 displacements to Syria. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated that mass displacements are expected to rise in the coming days as the IDF has issued evacuation orders in 30 villages in south Lebanon between yesterday and today.

Additionally, medical facilities in Lebanon struggle to assist on the frontlines. The World Health Organization (WHO) indicated that over 30 primary healthcare centers in highly affected areas have been closed due to damage and insecurity.

Credit: UNICEF/ Dar al Mussawir – Ramzi Haidar

Mohamed Arkadan, an emergency responder in Lebanon, stated, “About a dozen apartments had collapsed onto the hillside [we] once overlooked, burying more than 100 people”. Arkadan and his team pulled over 40 bodies from the rubble, which included those of children.

The attacks took a significant psychological toll on Lebanon, particularly on frontline with emergency personnel. Dr. Basil Abdallah, the medical director of Rayak Hospital in Rayak, Lebanon, explained: “Seeing children bombed, seeing elderly patients and women bombed, it’s difficult. Most of the nurses and the doctors are depressed. We have emotions. We are human”.

Karim Bitar, a professor of international relations at Saint Joseph University in Beirut, described Israel’s offensive tactics as a “psychological war”.

Humanitarian organizations fear that the increasingly indiscriminate attacks signal the wake of war.

“The way Israel wages war is markedly different from that of its allies in terms of frequency and intensity of strikes,” said Emily Tripp, director of Airwars, a British non-profit organization that tracks civilian casualties from international conflicts. “The United States dropped 500 munitions in one day during the peak of its 2017 campaign against the Islamic State in Raqqa. Israel far exceeded this firepower, reporting strikes on 1,600 targets on Sept. 23 alone.”

Earlier this morning, UN Secretary-General António Guterres spoke with Lebanon Prime Minister Najib Mikati, assuring that the UN is fully mobilized to provide direct humanitarian aid to affected areas. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has provided essential supplies to over 200 shelters. WHO is providing medical workers in Lebanon with financial and technical support. The World Food Programme (WFP) has provided hot meals and emergency cash to 10,000 households. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) will maintain their position and adjust their activities in accordance to their mandate.

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By Tanka Dhakal
KATHMANDU, Oct 3 2024 – Nepal is trying to recover from recent flash floods and landslides caused by heavy rainfall over the last weekend of September, which claimed at least 226 lives. The mid- and eastern parts of the country, including the capital, Kathmandu, experienced the heaviest monsoon rains in two decades from September 26-28, leaving many parts of Kathmandu underwater. Experts say this is one of the deadliest and worst flash floods that impacted thousands of people in decades.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA)—facing intense backlash for its inability to act effectively to minimize losses—reported by Tuesday (October 1) that at least 25 people were still stranded or missing, while more than 150 were injured.

On September 28, the country’s 25 weather stations in 14 districts recorded new precipitation records within 24-hours. Kathmandu airport stations recorded 239.7 millimeters of rain. Before that, on July 23, 2002, it had recorded 177 mm of rainfall. Flash floods caused by extreme rainfall within a short period washed away entire neighborhoods, roads, and bridges in Kathmandu and surrounding areas.

The heavy rains caused rivers in Kathmandu, including the Bagmati, which runs through the city, to swell more than 2 meters above the safe level. Senior journalist Yubaraj Ghimire—whose house was also submerged—wrote, “The disastrous hours of terror further confirmed the state’s incompetence in times of need.”

Outside of Kathmandu villages like Roshi in Kavre district are impacted by flood and landslides. Photo: Barsha Shah/IPS

Early warnings were there, but lives were lost!

Frustration is growing, not only because of its failure in conducting effective rescue operations but also for not acting on the information that was available beforehand about the forthcoming disaster.

The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) issued a special weather bulletin at least five days prior, alerting the public to impending heavy rainfall that could result in flooding and landslides.

In the bulletin, the DHM labeled districts with red, orange, yellow, and green, urging “Take Action,” “Be Prepared,” “Be Updated,” and “No Warning,” respectively.

Again, on September 25, the DHM issued another “special weather bulletin,” this time labeling most parts of the country in red, or the “Take Action” category.

As predicted, heavy rain started pouring—rivers began flowing with water levels higher than the safe limit.

“The information was there, but it doesn’t seem like it was taken seriously to be prepared,” Dr. Ngamindra Dahal, who works on climate change-induced disaster risk reduction, said. “To minimize consequences, we need to take action according to the information we have, but that was not the case in most parts.”

Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli acknowledged that the government was not prepared for a disaster of this scale. In a press conference on Tuesday, Oli said, “Our preparedness was not for this kind of circumstance. We were not expecting this scale of rains, landslides, and human and infrastructure losses.”

But the weather agency, DHM, had been warning and urging appropriate action through multiple notices. Government agencies admit they were not able to communicate disaster-related information effectively.

Why was NDRRMA not able to act quickly?

This time, the weather information was accurate in most parts, but avoidable incidents still claimed lives.

“I was traveling, and what I can say is that even though there was information beforehand, it was not transformed into action,” Dahal added. “I do think NDRRMA and other stakeholders could have done better to reduce casualties.”

But the agency responsible for disaster risk reduction and management—NDRRMA—claims that it was due to their collaborative effort with other stakeholders that human casualties were lower.

“That information did help, and it is because of us that things are not worse than this,” Dr. Dijan Bhattrai, spokesperson for NDRRMA, said.

“In the case of Kathmandu, our urban setting is not capable of handling this kind of disaster, and in other parts of the country, it was a combination of intense rain and fragmented geological conditions due to the 2015 earthquake.”

Stakeholders have publicly acknowledged the role of river encroachment and unplanned settlement in Kathmandu, and this problem is well-known. However, for this recent disaster, people are angry because they noticed a clear gap between the information and the preparedness effort.

“It’s true we were not well-equipped to deal with this kind of situation in terms of resources and trained manpower,” Bhattrai claimed. “We did our part, doing what we could within our capacity.”

Is it exacerbated by climate change?

In recent years, scientists have said that climate change is altering the amount and timing of rainfall across Asia. However, the impact of floods has increased due to the built environment, including unplanned construction, especially on floodplains, which leaves insufficient areas for water retention and drainage.

A recent report published in Nature Communications states that Asia’s exposure to extreme rain and flood risk will grow by 2030.

“Definitely, there is much to do in terms of effective disaster communication and actionable preparedness, but it is also a fact that these kinds of events are becoming more frequent because of climate change,” Bhattrai said. “We are planning to lay our case at the upcoming UN climate conference (COP29) to secure more resources to deal with future disasters.”

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By Kester Kenn Klomegah
MOSCOW, Oct 3 2024 – In an interview with Sky News Arabia on September 20, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed scepticism but was straight to the point about the strategic expansion of BRICS, an association comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Under Russia’s BRICS presidency which began in January 2024.

Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates became the second wave of the newest members to join BRICS. South Africa ascended in 2011 under China’s initiative.

Tracking down the history, operations and achievements, Lavrov acknowledged in his interview that the BRICS association is consolidating its positions and cooperating with several countries.

At the same time, this association is facing certain challenges. It is necessary to promote collaboration based on a balance of interests, and most importantly, BRICS functions based on consensus.

The consensus principle primarily aims to find agreements that reflect the mutual accord of all participants. This is not easy. The more partners, the harder it is to search for accord. It takes more time to finalise any consensus-based agreement than a vote-based solution.

According to Lavrov, this provides a solid foundation for developing a strategic partnership within the association. Currently, BRICS comprises 10 countries; their number has doubled compared to last year.

More than 30 countries have already submitted applications for interaction or membership in the association. At the summit to be held in Kazan in October, one of the main items on the agenda will be the consideration of applications from states that wish to interact and partner with BRICS+.

BRICS+ expansion had sparked debates and discussions these several years, long before Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were finally accepted on the condition of “consensus” by BRICS members during the South African summit in August 2023.

Lavrov has already indicated and repeatedly explained the “suspension” of membership into BRICS+. Instead of membership, Lavrov mentioned that potential countries can only be accepted as a “partner group” with simple consideration to support and interact with the BRICS association.

The prescription is very simple – BRICS is an association based on a respectful attitude towards each other and on mutual consideration to promote collaboration based on a balance of interests and strictly adhere to the principle of the sovereign equality of states and non-interference in each other’s domestic affairs.

According to information monitored, more than 30 countries, with growing discontent against Western hegemony, have expressed their readiness to join BRICS. Lavrov has also confirmed this figure in his interview with Sky News Arabia, and even earlier explained that “the modalities of ascension have to be collectively discussed” at subsequent summits in future.

In practical terms, Russia has suspended BRICS+ expansion, in other words, the BRICS+ flagship policy of boosting its numerical strength, with unique reports indicating that there were more than 30 countries worldwide – Latin America, Asia and Africa.

At South Africa’s 15th Summit held under President Cyril Ramaphosa, several countries had expressed interest in ascending the BRICS association, but only five (5) finally joined. The official documents, as stipulated by the guidelines, set no concrete criteria or rules for admission except using the flexible term “consensus” – a general agreement at the summit which was utilized in the selection process.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian President Vladimir Putin have described (designated) this circle of BRICS+ friends into … what is now referred popularly to as “partner members” which starkly reflected in official documents.

At the Primakov Readings held in June 2024, the extraordinary key point was an announcement by Sergey Lavrov over ‘suspension’ of BRICS new membership. In mid-June 2024, Lavrov hosted the BRICS Foreign Ministers Council in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod. The BRICS Foreign Ministers decided to suspend admission of new members and this step reflected in the final documents.

Local and foreign media reported Lavrov’s statement: “By the overwhelming majority, the ten members decided to ‘take a pause’ with new members, to ‘take in’ the new members who have doubled the association. At the same time, we are working of categories of partner countries as stages ahead of a full-fledged membership.”

Lavrov said BRICS would use the pause to draw up a list of categories for BRICS partner countries that would serve as stepping stones toward full membership. Understandably, BRICS+ has decided to “take a pause’ in terms of admitting new members. The partner-country model in line with paragraph 92 of the Johannesburg II Declaration.

In a media release after June 10-11, BRICS foreign ministers meeting, noted prospects for promoting strategic partnership within BRICS, including the establishment of a new category of “partner countries” and suspension of new members from the Global South and Global East.

As per the agreements reached at the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg in 2023, the ministers reviewed the efforts to coordinate the modalities of the new category, BRICS partner countries.

Within the stipulated guidelines, Russia took over the BRICS one-year-long presidency on January 1, 2024. The initial four BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) met in New York City in September 2006 at the margins of the UN Assembly, but held its first full-scale meeting in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on 16 June 2009. BRICS has experienced two phases of expansion.

In 2011, South Africa joined the association, which included Brazil, Russia, India, and China. On January 1, 2024, five new members officially entered BRICS association namely Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Kester Kenn Klomegah focuses on current geopolitical changes, foreign relations and economic development-related questions in Africa with external countries. Most of his well-resourced articles are reprinted in several reputable foreign media.

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By External Source
Oct 3 2024 (IPS-Partners)

 
Jeremy Hopkins is half Kenyan and half British and graduated with a MA in Arabic and Social Anthropology (Edinburgh) and a MSc in Development Studies (SOAS – University of London). He started his career with WFP in Somalia and then moved to UNICEF also in Somalia as a Child Protection specialist but with an overview on Youth, HIV and C4D portfolios. He worked again as a child protection specialist in Mozambique after which he was a Deputy Representative in Central African Republic, Yemen and Somalia (again!). He has been acting Representative in South Sudan for a short while, Representative in Burundi and is currently Representative in Egypt. Outside the professional realm Jeremy enjoys music, travelling, surfing and photography.

ECW: With more and more families crossing the border in Egypt to flee the brutal conflict in Sudan, the number of refugees and asylum seekers in Egypt is rapidly increasing. A majority are women and children. Why is it important to ensure these crisis-impacted girls and boys can continue their education?

Jeremy Hopkins: With over 725,000 registered refugees and asylum seekers—more than double from a year ago—there are now 246,000 school-aged refugee children in Egypt.

From my experience meeting some of these children, hearing their stories, their journeys, and their hopes for the future, I know that their dreams are just like any other child’s. They long for opportunities to learn, grow, build a better future, and contribute to their families and communities.

These children are incredibly resilient and driven. We must understand that many of these children have endured life-altering experiences – leaving their homes, facing dangerous and uncertain journeys, and now living in a country with language barriers and unfamiliar surroundings. Such displacement often leads to confusion, a loss of identity, and a sense of not belonging. Education becomes the lifeline that gives children a chance to navigate their new world after fleeing unimaginable hardship, helping them understand their circumstances, to develop a sense of self, and envision a hopeful future.

Every child, everywhere, no matter their circumstances, has the right to an education. Providing learning opportunities to refugee children in Egypt is not only about addressing their immediate needs – it’s about giving them the foundation to rebuild their lives. By investing in education for these children, we also help cultivate a more inclusive, harmonious environment for everyone involved including the host community children who can learn to celebrate diversity and difference. By supporting these children’s education, we’re ensuring they have the tools to survive, thrive, and contribute to the society they live in, now and in the future.

ECW: How is UNICEF working with education partners and multi-lateral funds in Egypt to support inclusive equitable quality education for refugees and host community children? What are the key challenges to address?

Jeremy Hopkins: UNICEF is committed to working with partners to build an inclusive, equitable and quality education system that ensures no child – whether refugee or host community – is left behind.

As the lead agency for Education in Emergencies, UNICEF is at the forefront of bridging short-term humanitarian responses with long-term development goals, creating a Humanitarian-Development Nexus.

A key component of our work is advocating with the Government of Egypt to make public education more accessible for refugees and migrants, whilst investing in these same national systems. We engage with policymakers at all levels to promote inclusive policies, ensuring that refugee children can attend public schools and receive the same educational opportunities as their Egyptian peers.

UNICEF also plays a key role in coordinating the education sector by co-chairing the Education Working Group and the Technical Task Team. These platforms allow us to bring together development partners to align efforts and maximize the impact of education initiatives, ensuring a streamlined approach that addresses the diverse needs of both refugee and host community children.

To support children directly, UNICEF has implemented education cash grants, benefiting over thousands of children and their families. We are also enhancing the quality of education in Sudanese Community Learning Centres by offering distance learning and digital resources through the UNICEF Learning Passport, which now has over 55,000 registered users.

Additionally, we have established a sustainable non-formal education model through ‘Learning Spaces’ within host community structures. These spaces provide immediate education responses and programme for integration in public schools for Sudanese, Palestinian, and Egyptian children. So far, more than 14,000 children have benefited from these programmes. We also launched a ‘Teaching Certification Programme’, which not only improves quality education but also creates employment opportunities for 250 refugee teachers.

UNICEF is also working closely with the Egyptian Government to integrate refugees and migrants into the formal public education system. We have mapped public schools that are already serving these students and are implementing a ‘Comprehensive Inclusion Programme’, positioning refugee and migrant children within the broader vulnerable population, alongside girls in rural areas, children at risk of dropping out, and children with disabilities. This inclusive approach has gained strong support from decision-makers because it addresses the needs of all at-risk children, not just refugees. In collaboration with the government and development partners, UNICEF promotes a holistic approach to inclusion, which maximizes impact, enhances cost-effectiveness, and ensures consistent implementation. So far, through these initiatives, we have reached 322,000 children, including 6,200 refugees and migrants, and 2,200 children with disabilities.

Despite significant efforts, several challenges persist in providing education for refugee children in Egypt. Approximately half of the 246,000 school-aged refugee children remain out of school, largely due to the lengthy waiting period for residency permits, which can extend up to 18 months. During this time, children are often unable to enroll in schools, and the additional registration requirements only compound the barriers they face in accessing education.

Strict enforcement of laws governing non-formal learning centres has also led to the closure of many community learning centres, which are crucial for over 150,000 children who rely on them for their education. Without these centres, the education of these children is at serious risk.

Another key challenge is the insufficient global support to address the escalating educational and other critical needs of refugees and migrants in Egypt. It is neither reasonable nor realistic to expect the Government of Egypt to shoulder the cost of integrating migrants and refugees into the national school system. Such responsibilities are shared with the international community and it is important for international development actors to step up with the much needed resources that are required for this work, in an environment where many refugees and migrants risk discrimination and an environment that is already under severe economic pressure

In the face of these challenges, UNICEF remains committed to work alongside the Egyptian Government and development partners to ensure that all children – regardless of their background – have access to inclusive, equitable and quality education. We believe that investing in education today is essential for building a more inclusive, resilient future for both refugee and host communities.

ECW: In your career with the United Nations, you have worked in Burundi, Yemen, Central African Republic, Mozambique, Somalia and other countries severely impacted by armed conflict, forced displacement, climate change and other protracted crises. Why should donors step up funding for Africa’s forgotten crises through multilateral funds such as Education Cannot Wait?

Jeremy Hopkins: Unfortunately, children and their families affected by such conflicts are among the most vulnerable in the world. They endure extreme poverty, severe protection vulnerabilities and they often lack access to basic services. These protracted crises are often overshadowed by more prominent global issues, yet the silent emergency of generations of children deprived of their right to education is a crisis in and of itself. Immediate relief and support are not just necessary—they are a humanitarian imperative.

Multilateral funds like Education Cannot Wait are particularly effective because they pool resources from various donors, ensuring that funds are used equitably, efficiently, and effectively. This collaborative approach maximizes impact and reduces duplication of efforts, ensuring that every dollar spent reaches those who need it most.

ECW: Globally, we are off-track to deliver on many of the goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the target for universal education. How can we transform our delivery of humanitarian and development aid to fulfill our global commitments to children and adolescents caught in emergencies and protracted crises?

Jeremy Hopkins: Achieving universal 12 years of education by 2030 is a steep challenge and no more so for children and adolescents in emergencies and protracted crises. To get back on track with the SDG4 goals, we first need to reverse the declining trends of aid funding to education.

When it comes to humanitarian crises, education is often neglected for two principle reasons:

• Immediate Needs Prioritization: In crises, immediate needs like food, water, shelter and medical care take precedence. Education is sometimes seen as a secondary concern.
• Resource Constraints: Limited resources and funding often mean that education programmes are underfunded.

But education provides a platform for critical immediate needs and life-saving services. Schools are places to distribute clean water, provide nutrition and vital health services, and share life-saving messages. And when we listen to crisis-affected populations, education regularly tops the number one need. Why? Because education provides the immediate recovery platform for families and communities to build normalcy, to get children and adolescents focused on their mental health, learning, play and wellbeing, and to allow parents to plan for the next step. The learning environment also provides critical access to children who may be suffering from specific protection violations or vulnerabilities and who may need referral to specialist protection services.

As such, as per UNICEF’s Core Commitment for Children, education needs to be much better woven into the humanitarian response fabric so that the benefits of education can reach children and families from the earliest stages of crisis, and ruptures in learning can be averted, whilst critical mental health and psycho-social support and relief that learning offers can be expanded.

Additionally, innovative models of providing remote education based on the home country curriculum such as the Learning Passport, which is reaching over 60,000 children affected by crisis in Egypt – need to be scaled up.

ECW: We all know that ‘readers are leaders’ and that reading skills are key to every child’s education. What are three books that have most influenced you personally and/or professionally, and why would you recommend them to others?

Jeremy Hopkins: Let me offer three books that I have found personally inspirational, and which are, themselves, written by great leaders. I have to start with ‘The Long Walk to Freedom’ by Nelson Mandela. The incredible journey he travelled and his awesome capacity to forgive and reconcile are a life lesson to all of us. ‘The Dignity of Difference’ by Jonathan Sacks is another inspiring read which celebrates the importance of celebrating diversity in an increasingly globalized world. Finally ‘The Life of Pi’ by Yann Martel provides a heart-rending story of living through immense hardship and living to tell the tale. I have found each of these books a fascinating read and would return to them for reference or a re-read at any time. I hope that others will find them similarly inspiring.

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