Quote:Attacks on education are rising, with a devastating and disproportionate impact on women and girls. Today, more
than 600 million women and girls live within 50 kilometers of armed conflict, a figure that has surged over the
past decade. The deliberate targeting of their access to and participation in education, through attacks on
schools and universities, military use of educational facilities, and threats along routes to and from classrooms, is
eroding hard-won progress and deepening global inequality. The consequences are immediate and generational:
over half of girls in crisis-affected regions are now out of school, and adolescent girls in conflict zones are 90
percent more likely to be out of school than peers in peaceful countries, with risks compounded by
displacement, disability, and sexual violence.

When girls are denied education, entire societies are set back. The loss extends beyond the classroom, fueling
child marriage, early pregnancy, economic exclusion, and intergenerational poverty, while communities lose
future teachers, doctors, and leaders. Conversely, when girls can learn safely, education becomes a force
multiplier for health, stability, and peace. Protecting that right requires not only gender-responsive laws and
policies, but also robust systems for monitoring, reporting, and accountability to expose violations, support
survivors, and deter future attacks. Accurate monitoring and reporting are the foundation for accountability.
Without reliable data, attacks remain invisible and perpetrators unpunished.