NEW YORK, Oct 25: The State of Kuwait on Friday called education not merely a legal right, but a source of life, hope, and the foundation for peace and development, emphasizing its protection amid global conflicts.

Speaking before the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Diplomatic Attaché Maryam Mansouri highlighted the critical role of education in human rights. Her address focused on the agenda item “Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.”

Mansouri praised the work of UN special rapporteurs and experts in safeguarding the right to education, particularly as children in conflict zones face increasing suffering. She said, “Education is the light that dispels the darkness of ignorance and fear and the foundation upon which peace and development are built.”

She cited UN resolutions, including those of the Commission on Human Rights, noting that the right to education remains inviolable even during armed conflict. Mansouri recalled UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ statement that education is not only a human right but a path to a better future and a more peaceful world, underscoring Kuwait’s belief that education is central to human development and nation-building.

Highlighting the crisis facing millions of children worldwide, she noted schools destroyed, teachers displaced, and classrooms darkened by war. Mansouri referenced the Safe Schools Declaration, urging protection of educational institutions from military use and attacks due to their long-term impact on children’s lives and futures.

Kuwait has prioritized education in its humanitarian and development aid, supporting programs in conflict-affected countries such as Palestine, Yemen, and Syria in collaboration with UNICEF, UNESCO, and UNRWA. Mansouri said, “We believe that investing in education is an investment in peace and in a more stable and humane future.”

She urged the international community to boost funding for education in humanitarian crises, integrate its protection into peacekeeping and reconstruction efforts, and strengthen accountability for violations against educational institutions and personnel.

Concluding her speech, Mansouri said, “Every child, wherever they may be, deserves to sit in their school desk and hold a book instead of fear and hope instead of pain. Let us together ensure that education remains a beacon illuminating the paths of generations, even in the most difficult times of war.”