Excellency Prime Cabinet Secretary Musala Mudavadi, Cabinet Secretary, Excellencies, Government Officials, ladies and gentlemen, 

Very grateful to the Kenyan government for hosting us in Nairobi.

I would like to thank especially the youth representatives, the young people here, to see so many young people here is something we should appreciate.

Eleven years ago, Save the Children approached the Norwegian government about the terrible situation children in armed conflict were facing.

The military use of schools and attacks on educational institutions were a growing concern. Children and youth were put at great risk, and they were often denied their right to education.

Few things are more important for children and youth – and for society – than safe access to education. Something needed to change. It was necessary for states to engage.

Norway reached out to a few key states to champion the issue.

On May 28, 2015, the Safe Schools Declaration was launched in Oslo. 37 states immediately endorsed it.

Today, ten years later, we are gathered here in Nairobi for the Fifth International Conference on the Safe Schools Declaration. We are grateful for again hosting this important event, and Norway is proud to be co-host.

The conference brings together governments, UN agencies, civil society, academia, and youth advocates to reflect on progress and share experiences.

The declaration has grown from 37 to 122 endorsing states. It has become an internationally accepted standard, encouraging states to prevent attacks on education and limit the military use of schools and universities.

The cooperation between states, civil society, and multilateral organizations – including the Global Coalition for the Protection of Education from Attack – has laid the groundwork for our achievements. I am happy to see so many representatives from these groups here today.

At the heart of the Declaration are the Guidelines for Protecting Schools and Universities from Military Use during Armed Conflict. These guidelines clearly articulate that educational facilities should not be used to support military operations, and the rights to education must be upheld also during armed conflict.

It is encouraging to see how endorsing states have integrated these principles into military policy and practice, including in the recent update of the Norwegian military manual.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are living in a time of significant global instability. Conflicts rage in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Despite the progress we have made, attacks on educational facilities continue. Schools are bombed, burned, and occupied. Students and teachers are killed, injured, abducted, or arbitrarily detained.

Should we be discouraged? Absolutely not. We must never ignore the fundamental need children express to have safe access to education.

What gives me hope is that we know – and it is well documented – that where the Declaration is implemented, educational facilities and people connected to them are better protected. The continuation of education is better ensured.

This underscores why the Safe Schools Declaration remains indispensable. It gives us a standard that all parties to conflict are measured against and provides clear guidance on how to do better.

The voices of civil society, the media, and communities continue to call out attacks on education. These attacks are not accepted. They are seen as crossing a line. Accountability is demanded.

Together, we must continue to call out those who cross that line. We must continue our work to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. And we must continue to uphold the dignity of children and students, and respect their fundamental rights.

By doing so, we protect not only their future – but our shared humanity.

Thank you.