Lessons in War Military Use of Schools and Other Education Institutions during Conflict Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack GCPEA Lessons in War Military Use of Schools and Other Education Institutions during Conflict November 2012 Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack The Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA) was established in 2010 by organizations from the fields of education in emergencies and conflict-affected fragile states, higher education, protection, international human rights, and international humanitarian law who were concerned about ongoing attacks on educational institutions, their students, and staff in countries affected by conflict and insecurity. GCPEA is governed by a Steering Committee made up of the following international organizations: The Council for Assisting Refugee Academics, Education Above All, Human Rights Watch, the Institute of International Education, Save the Children International, UNESCO, UNHCR, and UNICEF. GCPEA is a project of the Tides Center, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. This report is the result of an independent external study commissioned by GCPEA. It is independent of the individual member organizations of the Steering Committee of GCPEA and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Steering Committee member organizations. Vision We seek to establish a world in which all who wish to learn, teach and research, at all levels and in all forms of education, and all those who support them, can do so in conditions of safety, security, dignity and equality, free from fear, consistent with the principles of mutual understanding, peace, tolerance, and academic freedom. Mission To catalyze enhanced prevention of attacks on education, effective response to attacks, improved knowledge and understanding, better monitoring and reporting, stronger international norms and standards, and increased accountability. CONTENTS Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................6 i) The Study ............................................................................................................................8 ii) Key Findings.......................................................................................................................12 iii) Recommendations..............................................................................................................13 1. Methodology and Definitions..................................................................................................19 Methodology ............................................................................................................................19 Definitions ...............................................................................................................................20 2. Background: Education during Times of Conflict.......................................................................21 Ongoing Access to Education is Life-Saving and Life-Sustaining..................................................21 3. The Nature of the Use of Education Institutions by Armed Forces and Armed Groups .................22 How Education Institutions are Used by Armed Forces and Armed Groups ..................................22 Partial Use versus Full Occupation.............................................................................................22 Military Presence to Protect Education Institutions, Students, Teachers, or Election Polling ........26 Reasons Education Institutions are Used by Armed Forces and Armed Groups ............................27 Historical Perspective ...............................................................................................................28 4. Prevalence and Scale of Armed Forces and Armed Groups Using Education Institutions..............29 Parties that Use Education Institutions......................................................................................30 Scale of Use of Education Institutions .......................................................................................30 5. Consequences of Military Use of Education Institutions: Endangering Students’ and Teachers’ Safety............................................................................31 Students, Teachers, and Scholars under Fire ..............................................................................31 Exposure to Physical and Sexual Violence..................................................................................33 Forced Labor.............................................................................................................................34 6. Consequences of Military Use of Education Institutions: Endangering Students’ Education ...........................................................................................35 Students Drop-Out or Experience Interruptions to Studies..........................................................35 Destruction of Infrastructure .....................................................................................................36 Loss of Educational Material .....................................................................................................37 Increased Psychosocial Concerns ..............................................................................................37 Overcrowding ...........................................................................................................................37 Lower Rates of Enrollment and Transition to Higher Grades ........................................................38 Inferior Education Quality at Alternative Sites............................................................................38 Interference with Educational Content.......................................................................................38 Inappropriate Educational Environments...................................................................................39 Specific Impact on Girls ............................................................................................................39 Heightened Negative Consequences for Poor Students ..............................................................40 Negative Effects for Teachers ....................................................................................................40 Use of Abandoned Schools........................................................................................................41 7. Positive Initiatives to Address Armed Forces’ and Armed Groups’ Use of Education Institutions........................................................................................................42 The United Nations-led Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism on Children and Armed Conflict ...42 Committee on the Rights of the Child’s Concluding Observations ...............................................43 Voluntary Commitments by Non-State Armed Groups .................................................................44 Data Collection, Negotiation, and Advocacy...............................................................................44 National Legislation Banning or Restricting Armed Forces’ Use of Education Institutions .............45 National Court Decisions Banning or Restricting Armed Forces’ Use of Education Institutions......45 Military Policies Banning or Restricting Armed Forces’ Use of Education Institutions ...................47 International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.................................................................48 Information Campaigns ............................................................................................................48 Provision of Alternative Temporary Learning Spaces...................................................................49 Community Initiatives...............................................................................................................49 Lack of Civilian Control over Forces............................................................................................50 8. Laws Restricting Use of Education Institutions by Armed Forces and Armed Groups....................51 International Humanitarian Law.................................................................................................51 Attacks on Education Institutions Used by Armed Forces or Armed Groups..................................52 International and Regional Human Rights Law ...........................................................................53 Domestic Law ...........................................................................................................................54 9. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................55 Appendix 1: Analysis of Use of Education Institutions 2005 –2012 ..................................................56 Appendix 2: Incident Sources, by Country ......................................................................................60 Researchers .................................................................................................................................66 Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................................66 “I had nothing against the soldiers when they were outside the school… But when