Fatshimétrie, 24 September 2024: At a time when school safety has become a major concern across the world, a major workshop was held in Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo, to discuss measures to ensure a safe environment for students and education staff.
The main objective of this workshop, organized by the humanitarian organization Save the Children, was to examine ways to implement the Safe Schools Declaration in the South Kivu region. Elias Mcito, Media and Communications Manager at Save the Children, stressed the importance of this approach to prevent attacks on schools and identify those responsible.
It is essential to recall that the Safe Schools Declaration was signed at a global agreement in Oslo, Norway, in 2015, and the Democratic Republic of Congo ratified it in 2016. Currently, 186 countries have adhered to this declaration, thus underlining the international commitment to safe schools.
The workshop, which brought together representatives of the provincial government, civil society actors and national and international partners, aims to develop a clear roadmap for the effective implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration in the South Kivu region. This multidisciplinary and collaborative approach underlines the importance of involving all stakeholders to ensure safe schools and foster a healthy and protective learning environment for children.
In conclusion, this workshop demonstrates the commitment of the various stakeholders to act in a concerted manner to ensure safety in schools in South Kivu. He also stressed the importance of putting in place concrete and effective measures to prevent attacks and protect the educational community. Safety in schools is a crucial issue to ensure a better future for children and young people in the region, and this initiative is an important step towards this common goal.