MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--Bearing witness to access to quality and protective education and child protected services for the most marginalized sector impacted by conflict and displacement, the European Union (EU) firmly underscored that education is a primary right each one is entitled and a key to a future everyone longs for. 

”We, in the European Union, believe that education is a basic human right and that the only way to the future… We know that keeping children in school will give them a brighter future. Every parent and educator knows that,” said EU Head of Delegation to the Philippines Ambassador Luc Véron during his visit to Sagonsongan Temporary Learning School Thursday, November 18.

He detailed that many schools have been affected by armed conflict wherein about 20,000 students have been displaced from the city as a result of the siege four years ago. With this, they believe that having children in school protects the children’s rights from violations arising as consequences of displacement such as early marriage, and child labor, among others.

Véron stressed that such a situation requires special attention, making it their priority to support children affected by conflict by providing access to safe, quality, and protected education in both informal and formal schools. 

He conveyed it is also for this reason that they work for school communities to be safe and protective for children and their family, and respectful of human rights as they strive for protection intervention with the goal to present responsive solutions against sex and gender-based violence.

Véron further noted that they treat this as needing immediate action to enhance the sustainability of providing education system in the Bangsamoro region and island of Mindanao in general. 

The ambassador likewise emphasized that part of his visit to the region is to see the whole picture of the Bangsamoro authority with the intent to help in addressing the needs of the population by capacitating them, helping the persons in authority, and calling on others to partake in the same advocacy.

“We invite all the relevant actors to be involved, informed, capacitated, and create a safe and protective school community for all children. We encourage members of the community to raise awareness to address questions of human rights and rights under International Humanitarian Law,” said Véron.

The delegate marked his visit with his dedication to pursue long-term programs for the region through its partner organizations such as Save the Children - Philippines.

Save the Children - Philippines Head of Cooperation Christoph Wagner affirmed the commitment as he stated they are looking forward to collaborations to carry out their mission. 

“We are preparing a lot of programs for them to support Marawi and the municipalities around in the next three years and it is really about joining forces. It is about working with the LGUs, provincial authorities, and the BARMM government in bringing all these acts to really try making a difference particularly to those people who are really poor who need support urgently,” he said. (CRG/PIA-Lanao del Sur)