More than 25,000 children of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) have been deprived of the opportunity to exercise their right to education, that is, attend school as a result of the large-scale hostilities that Azerbaijan unleashed along the entire length of the Artsakh-Azerbaijan line of contact with the support of Turkey in the early hours of September 27, 2020.

As reported the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Armenia, despite the international commitments that it has assume, Azerbaijan continues to shell with arms that are prohibited under the norms of international law, and it even shells educational institutions. The military aggression has left over 10 schools, as well as several kindergartens and auxiliary structures damaged. As a result of the aggression, thousands of children are also deprived of the opportunity to go to kindergarten, and young people aren’t going to universities.

Responding to the letters of Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Armenia Arayik Harutyunyan, the UNESCO expressed deep concern over the ongoing escalation of violence in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone which is leading to the increase in the number of civilian victims and causing damage to civilian infrastructures, including schools, cultural and religious sites. The UNESCO had also urged to refrain from attacking or damaging children, teachers, personnel or schools.