International Day to Protect Education from Attack
A/RES/74/275
A/RES/74/275
This authority record treats the observance as a fixed annual date. The same month and day can be reused unless a stronger source changes the rule. Public-holiday or government status is never inferred from the observance name alone.
Overview
The International Day to Protect Education from Attack is observed on 9 September to draw attention to attacks on students, educators and educational institutions and to the need for safe access to education during conflict and humanitarian emergencies.
The observance connects the right to education with protection under international law and with the long-term consequences of losing safe places to learn.
Why it matters
Attacks on education can interrupt learning, displace communities, expose children and educators to harm and undermine recovery long after an immediate crisis.
Public awareness should prioritize survivor dignity and safeguarding. It should not encourage civilians to investigate attacks, enter unsafe areas or take actions that belong to competent humanitarian, legal or security professionals.
History
On 28 May 2020, the UN General Assembly adopted A/RES/74/275 proclaiming 9 September as the International Day to Protect Education from Attack. UN records state that the resolution was presented by Qatar.
The first observance took place on 9 September 2020. The Secretary-General thanked Qatar, UNESCO, UNICEF and the Education Above All Foundation for organizing the inaugural high-level event.
How the observance developed
This timeline is assembled only from verified provenance fields. Missing stages are omitted rather than inferred.
State of Qatar
UN General Assembly coverage states that the resolution was presented by Qatar.
United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/74/275
First documented observance
The UN Secretary-General and UN in Nigeria explicitly described 9 September 2020 as the first observance.
What the evidence establishes
Verified institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Fields that the reviewed sources do not establish remain fail-closed and are available below without competing with the confirmed record.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
Ways to observe
Learn about the right to education in emergencies from UN, UNESCO or UNICEF resources.
Support reputable organizations that provide safe learning opportunities and psychosocial or material support in conflict-affected settings.
Use survivor-centred language and avoid sharing graphic imagery or identifying vulnerable children without appropriate consent and safeguarding.
For current crises, rely on qualified humanitarian and official sources rather than social-media claims when sharing information.
Useful facts
The day is observed on 9 September.
The UN General Assembly proclaimed it through A/RES/74/275.
The resolution was adopted on 28 May 2020.
Qatar presented the resolution to the General Assembly.
The first observance was held on 9 September 2020.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Repeated links from the authority record, institutional provenance and editorial guide research are consolidated here. Badges show how each source is used; a contextual source is never treated as proof of establishment on its own.
UN Secretary-General — first observance remarks (opens in a new tab)
un.org — authoritative source (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Digital Library — A/RES/74/275 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Meetings Coverage — adoption of the resolution (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then use reviewed distinctions and related authority records to understand where this observance fits.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Day to Protect Education from Attack?
9 September The stored recurrence guidance is: 9 September.
Does International Day to Protect Education from Attack fall on the same date every year?
The authority record classifies it as fixed annual, so its month and day are reusable unless stronger evidence changes the rule.
Is International Day to Protect Education from Attack an official public holiday?
The authority record verifies it within this scope: United Nations international observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when the supporting authority record explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes International Day to Protect Education from Attack?
The reviewed provenance layer identifies United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as State of Qatar.
Is International Day to Protect Education from Attack international or country-specific?
The record has international or global institutional scope: United Nations international observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual layer is source-backed and keeps its date rule, scope, provenance and editorial guardrails attached to the authority record. This record was checked on 2026-09-05.
When did the International Day to Protect Education from Attack begin?
The UN General Assembly proclaimed the day in May 2020, and the first observance took place on 9 September 2020.
Who proposed the observance?
UN General Assembly records state that Qatar presented the resolution that became A/RES/74/275.
Is this page advice for people in an active conflict?
No. It is an educational observance guide. People facing immediate danger should follow competent local, humanitarian and official safety guidance.
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