Hajar Ahmed Al-Dhahli, Secretary-General of the Council for Education, Human Development and Society, affirmed that the United Arab Emirates prioritizes education as a fundamental right guaranteed by the constitution and a right for every child. Education forms the foundation for building individuals, empowering communities, and achieving sustainable development.

This statement was made during the meeting of the open-ended international governmental working group exploring the possibility of preparing an optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, held at the United Nations European Headquarters in Geneva from September 1 to 3.

She pointed out that the UAE provides free and compulsory education up to secondary level for all citizens and offers free higher education to support their academic journey. Additionally, the UAE ensures equal educational opportunities for residents of various nationalities, taking into account the needs of people of determination, and strives to enable children from low-income families to access high-quality education.

Internationally, the UAE continues to support global efforts to guarantee education for all, driven by its humanitarian mission. Education is a key pillar of the UAE’s foreign aid, especially in crisis-affected areas.

The country announced at the “Renewing Donor Commitments to the Global Partnership for Education” summit in July 2021 a contribution of $100 million to support educational programs in developing countries.

In concluding her statement at the meeting chaired by the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, Hajar Al-Dhahli emphasized that this meeting represents an initial step towards exchanging visions and exploring ways to strengthen the right to education at all stages, including early childhood. She expressed hope that these discussions will help establish common ground to advance the interests of all children worldwide and bolster collective efforts to achieve the fourth Sustainable Development Goal, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all.