EU Statement – UN Security Council Arria-formula meeting: Safeguarding Education in Sudan

Excellencies, Colleagues,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

Thank you to the A3 for convening this important meeting. We thank the briefers and commend UNICEF and the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack for their tireless work in Sudan, alongside the courage of Sudanese teachers, students and civil society who continue to keep education alive under extraordinarily difficult circumstances.

Sudan's education system lies in ruins. 8 million children no longer have access to education and in total 17 million have had their access to learning _severely disrupted. Nearly half of Sudan's school buildings can no longer function as classrooms and attacks on schools and protected personnel rose by 57 per cent between 2024 and 2025.

Denying safe and continuous access to education deepens children's vulnerability to recruitment, exploitation and other grave violations and risks leaving an entire generation without the skills needed to eventually rebuild their country. Education is not a peripheral concern: it is a child protection issue, a recovery issue and a peace and security issue.

Schools, students and teachers must not be attacked and should be respected and protected in all circumstances, in accordance with international humanitarian law, the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and Security Council resolution 1998. We call on all parties to uphold the commitments of the Safe Schools Declaration, endorsed by the vast majority of EU Member States.

The EU is also gravely concerned by the military use of schools, which puts civilians, including students and teachers, at risk. We strongly call on the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to immediately cease all attacks on educational facilities and personnel, halt their military use, and grant safe, sustained and unhindered access for education and protection actors.

Violations against children and against education must be documented, investigated, and lead to accountability, including through cooperation with relevant UN mechanisms.

Education in emergencies is a priority for Europe's humanitarian action. As one of Sudan's largest humanitarian and development donors, the EU and its Member States support continuity of learning through UN agencies, NGOs and local actors, including Emergency Response Rooms. In 2026, the EU allocated EUR 276.3 million in its humanitarian response in Sudan and neighbouring countries. On education, the EU allocated EUR 93.85 million targeted at safe, inclusive primary education amid the ongoing conflict. We attach particular importance to preserving the integrity of Sudan's nationally recognised education system, including examinations and certification, under the Transitional Education Plan 2025-2027, so that displaced and refugee children are not further disadvantaged.

Colleagues,

As a follow-up to the Ministerial conference on Sudan in Berlin last April which sent a clear signal about the international community's commitment to put to an end to the atrocities in Sudan, the EU reiterates four core asks: a genuine and lasting ceasefire; rapid, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access and the protection of civilians; a return to inclusive civilian governance; and justice, accountability and respect for the rule of law. The EU rejects any partition of Sudan and continues to apply targeted restrictive measures against those obstructing peace.

Coordination with all partners and stakeholders is paramount and we stand ready to contribute to any effort gearing toward peace. Since November 2025, the EU has worked within the framework of the Quintet to facilitate an inclusive, Sudanese-owned and civilian-led political transition and since July 2026 the EU has joined the Coalition for Atrocity Prevention and Justice for Sudan. The EU will continue to work with international accountability mechanisms to bring perpetrators to justice. The EU has also been working on a technical de-escalation track dedicated to the protection of critical civilian infrastructure. Discussions on this initiative with both SAF and RSF continue. Together with the UN, the EU is also engaging in the early preparations for a ceasefire verification and monitoring mechanism.

Our objective is clear: to generate small confidence-building levers that support broader political efforts and ultimately improve the situation for all Sudanese people. The dramatic impact of the conflict on children and education is tremendous and serves as a stark reminder of the imperious need for the international community, in particular the Security Council, to respond to the situation with the urgency it demands.

Thank you.