Urgent Appeal: Protecting the Rights of Children Living in Conflict Zones

As the Thailand-Cambodia border conflict continues to escalate, its toll on children and their right to education has become impossible to ignore. On July 27, 2025, the Cambodian Ministry of Education confirmed that 600 schools across five provinces were forced to close, affecting over 15,000 students and 6,000 teachers. These closures represent more than just a break in learning—they symbolize a deeper loss of safety, stability, and hope for thousands of children.

1 in 6 Children Now Lives in a Conflict Zone

According to Aide et Action Cambodia and its partners, a staggering 473 million children worldwide—1 in every 6—are currently living in active conflict zones. These children are not just statistics; they are living in daily fear of violence, displacement, and malnutrition, with their most basic rights under constant threat.

Despite international agreements such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted 35 years ago, the promises made to protect children in crisis are being routinely violated. Education, healthcare, and safety are no longer guaranteed in many war-torn areas.

Education Interrupted: A National and Global Crisis

In Cambodia, the disruption of school systems due to armed conflict affects not only the cognitive development of children but also their emotional well-being. Education is often the only source of normalcy and structure during times of chaos. When schools close:

  • Children lose access to structured learning and academic progress

  • Families are burdened with care responsibilities during emergencies

  • The risk of child labor, early marriage, and recruitment into armed groups increases

These are not just consequences—they are violations of child rights.

Action Education’s Global Campaign

Through its international network and as part of Groupe Enfance, Aide et Action is amplifying a powerful appeal to governments, humanitarian agencies, and civil society:
Step up. Speak out. Protect children in crisis.

This initiative includes:

  • Emergency response advocacy for displaced children

  • Reports on education and child rights violations in conflict zones

  • Media campaigns to raise awareness across Asia and the global Francophone community

  • Partnerships with ministries and education officials to restore learning in disrupted regions

A Call to the International Community

Aide et Action Cambodia is urging diplomatic and operational intervention. The organization asks world leaders and institutions to:

  • Prioritize protection of children’s rights in conflict zones

  • Ensure safe access to education, healthcare, and food

  • Reaffirm commitment to the Convention on the Rights of the Child with real action

The 473 million children living in war-affected regions deserve more than sympathy—they deserve protection, justice, and opportunity.

Join the Movement

Read the official statement and help amplify this call for urgent action by sharing it with your network. The time to act is now. No child should suffer because the world chooses to look away.

Source: Action Education – Read the statement

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