Thank you, Chair.

We thank Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia for convening this important meeting and the briefers for their valuable contributions today.

The humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan continues to have devastating implications for civilians, especially for children. Across the country, schools have been attacked, millions of children have been deprived of their right to education. This is a direct threat to the future of Sudan.

Chair,

Education is a fundamental prerequisite for peace. When schools are safe, they offer protective environments that shield children from exploitation, recruitment and abuse. Preventing recruitment begins with safeguarding access to quality education. Also, children who have already been recruited or exploited must be re-integrated into the education system: this is essential for sustainable recovery and long-term peace.

Germany remains committed to supporting efforts to protect education in conflict. We continue to support the important work of UNICEF and other partners in this regard.

Like some previous speakers, including from the European Union, the Netherlands and Canada, I would also like to recall the Third International Sudan Conference in Berlin on 15 April 2026. In light of the deteriorating humanitarian situation, the “Berlin Principles for Sudan” have become more relevant than ever: they clearly state that civilian infrastructure must never be a legitimate target, and they strongly condemn attacks on educational facilities. War crimes and crimes against humanity must be investigated and prosecuted. Survivors must be supported. These calls to protect schools, hospitals and humanitarian compounds must be translated into action.

Mr Chair,
We call on all parties to the conflict to return to negotiations for a lasting ceasefire, to ensure rapid, safe, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access, to support a Sudanese-led civilian political process leading to the restoration of civilian governance, and to restore and to uphold accountability and respect for international law. We call on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and to protect schools, teachers and students, and facilitate safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, as enshrined in the Safe Schools Declaration. There can be no sustainable peace without education.

Thank you.