Support #GarissaAttack Response

On April 2nd gunmen stormed Garissa University College killing at least 147 people and injuring 79. The European Students’ Union condemns these heinous crimes against students and academics. We urge the international community to support the Kenyan government in finding and bringing those responsible to justice.

Students, teachers and academics have become the targets of violence all across the globe in recent years. They have both become targets when speaking out for democracy and when they have simply gone to class as in the case of the attack on Garissa University College. This is an unacceptable trend that hurt not only students but also the future of our societies at large.

Schools and universities must be protected from these kinds of attacks, which is exactly ESU believes it is paramount to support the Guidelines for Protecting Schools and Universities from Military Use during Armed Conflict (formerly known as the Lucens Guidelines). The Guidelines have been created by an international consortium of renown organisations such as Human Rights Watch, Scholars at Risk and UNESCO, and are guidelines that armed forces around the World are strongly encouraged to include in their trainings. The Guidelines have already received global attention and been endorsed by a large number of governments, but there is still a long way to go if they are to have a true impact and prevent future attacks on education.

We would like to take this opportunity not only condemn this heinous attack but to urge you to donate to the Kenyan Red Cross in support of the victims families. Many of the victims’ families have given all they had to make it possible for their children to have a better future. They will need support as well the victims of the attack who were injured.

For more information on how to support the #GarissaAttack response please visit: http://www.kenyaredcross.org/

For more information on the Guidelines for Protecting Schools and Universities from Military Use during Armed Conflict: http://www.protectingeducation.org/draft-lucens-guidelines-protecting-schools-and-universities-military-use-during-armed-conflict

ESUs resolution in support of the Guidelines: http://esu-online.org/news/article/6001/Resolution-ESU-calls-for-increased-protection-of-schools-and-universities-during-armed-conflict/