Hey Soldier, Leave Those Kids Alone

Hey Soldier, Leave Those Kids Alone PR Newswire NEW YORK, September 20, 2012 NEW YORK, September 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Legal protection for education in conflict zones must be stepped up Victims of the devastating impact of violations of the right to education in times of conflict must be given a stronger voice as they seek justice and the chance to rebuild their lives, a leading authority on the legal protection of education in combat zones said on Thursday. In a groundbreaking new toolkit for prosecutors, judges and lawyers, Education Above All (EAA) highlights the plight of a forgotten generation of children growing up in conflict zones and shows how international law can and must be used to respond. Some 61 million children of primary school age are thought to be without formal education around the world, of [1]whom 28 million are in conflict zones. Sheikha Moza bint Nasser of Qatar, who chairs EAA, said: "Depriving children of the right to education is not only a human tragedy, it is an obstacle to recovery and building a better future. As countries recover from conflict, education is a vital building block for improvements in health, peace-building and economic growth. The indifference we have seen to this issue is almost as bad as the problem itself." Available data makes chilling reading.