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» France and Canada Endorse Safe Schools!
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THE WEEK IN RIGHTS | FEBRUARY 23, 2016 |
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Photo © 2012 Reuters James Akena | This week, France and Canada became the 58th and 59th countries to endorse the Safe Schools Declaration. Their support for the Declaration is a welcome addition to the growing community of countries demanding that schools be safe places for children, even during war.
By joining the declaration, countries pledge to restore access to education when schools are bombed, burned, and destroyed during armed conflict. They agree to deter violence by promising to investigate and prosecute war crimes involving schools, and to minimize the use of schools for military purposes so they do not become targets for attack.
France and Canada have a strong tradition of advocating for the protection of children during armed conflict. It’s time more countries followed suit. |
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| | | Fighters from the Islamic State are arbitrarily detaining, ill-treating, torturing, and forcibly marrying Sunni Arab women and girls in areas under their control in Iraq. |
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| | | It’s an important ruling for international justice both in South Africa and beyond. |
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| | | As of March 1, Finland is set to allow same-sex couples to marry, bringing to thirteen the number of European countries with marriage equality laws. Congratulations Finland! |
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| | | Did you know 14-year-olds can legally marry in New York State? In fact, from 2001 to 2010, nearly 4,000 teenagers under 18 married in New York. Help us end this practice now. |
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