The State of Kuwait reaffirmed before the United Nations that education is not merely a legal right but a source of life and hope — the cornerstone upon which peace and development are built.
Speaking before the Third Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, Diplomatic Attaché of Kuwait’s Permanent Mission to the UN, Maryam Mansouri, emphasized the country’s deep commitment to promoting and protecting human rights, with education at the forefront, reports Al-Rai daily.
Mansouri expressed Kuwait’s appreciation for the efforts of UN experts and special rapporteurs who work to safeguard education, especially amid rising violence and instability affecting children worldwide. She underscored that education represents “the light that dispels the darkness of ignorance and fear,” noting that UN resolutions affirm the right to education even during armed conflict.
Quoting UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Mansouri said education is “a path to a better future for every human being and to a more peaceful world,” reflecting Kuwait’s conviction that human development begins with learning.
She highlighted that millions of children are deprived of this right as schools are destroyed and teachers displaced in conflict zones. Citing the Safe Schools Declaration, she stressed the moral and humanitarian duty to protect educational institutions from military use and attacks.
Kuwait, she said, has made education a key pillar of its humanitarian and development assistance, funding school rehabilitation and educational programs in Palestine, Yemen, and Syria in partnership with UNICEF, UNESCO, and UNRWA.
“Education in crises is not a luxury, but a necessity for saving lives and preserving human dignity,” Mansouri affirmed, calling on the international community to increase funding for education in humanitarian contexts, integrate its protection into peacekeeping and reconstruction efforts, and ensure accountability for violations targeting schools and educators.
She concluded, “Every child deserves to sit at a school desk, to hold a book instead of fear, and to find hope instead of pain. Let us ensure that education remains a beacon of light, even in the darkest times of war.”
