A
band of men walked into a school in Pakistan and massacred over 100 kids. 100 CHILDREN! What kind of
person does something like this?
Someone who sees
schools as a primary driver to keep young people from
recruitment into a life of violence. Education isn't just the best antidote
to poverty, it is one of the best anti-terrorism tactics -- it helps kids get
out of hopelessness and into opportunity. Let's meet this tragedy with a
massive global call to get every child in school.
Our governments promised they would get all kids across the world in school by
the end of 2015. Let's make it happen now for Pakistan and other countries --
join
the campaign to honour the memory of the children of Peshawar -- it will be
delivered by Gordon Brown, UN Special Envoy on Education, to the Prime Minister
of Pakistan, and leaders who can make it a reality.
Add your name now:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/honour_peshawar_children/?bBbiodb&v=50237
When 15-year old Malala was shot by the Taliban, nearly 1 million of us
called on the Pakistani government to fulfill her dream of education for all. Gordon
Brown delivered our petition directly to the Pakistani President, who signed it
himself and announced a stipend programme for 3 million children.
But there are still 5.5 million kids out of school in Pakistan today,
and over 58 million around the world. Since 2010 the drive to get kids in
school has stalled, especially in places of conflict like Peshawar. But if
current aid was targeted to primary schools, we'd only need just over $6b to
fund education for every child for the first time in history!
This was a direct attack on the children of Pakistani armed forces. Facing down
the Taliban, rebuilding parents’ trust that schools are safe and ensuring the
government stands firm will be a battle. But if we do nothing the extremists
win, and every child loses.
A massive global push now can help ensure kids
are behind desks not guns -- click below to sign the petition:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/honour_peshawar_children/?bBbiodb&v=50237
From Syria to Sudan, our community has come together time and again to demand
innocent children are protected and not the victims of violence. Now let’s come
together to demand education for all -- the biggest long term solution to
violent extremism -- and give the world’s children a better future.
With hope,
Alice, Emma, Sam, Pascal, Laila, Ricken, and the whole Avaaz team
MORE INFORMATION
Pakistan Taliban: Peshawar school attack leaves 141 dead (BBC)
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-30491435
5.5 million children out of school in Pakistan: UNESCO report (Tribune)
http://tribune.com.pk/story/666285/5-5-million-children-out-of-school-in-pakistan-unesco-report/
Education budget decreased despite promises (Dawn.com)
http://www.dawn.com/news/1110706
Govt announces 700bn defence budget (Tribune)
http://tribune.com.pk/story/716913/budget-2014-defence-budget-increasing-at-diminishing-rate/
Pakistan marks 'Malala Day' with school aid (AlJazeera)
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2012/11/20121110535489628.html
UN initiative tackles inequality of educational opportunity around the world
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/un-initiative-tackles-inequality-of-educational-opportunity/
