Access to Education for Refugee Children at the UN in Vienna, Austria on April 16

WFWP Int’l will be co-organizing this important conference at the UN in Vienna, Austria, under the theme ‘Access to Education for Refugee Children’, on 14 April 2016. Please see the invitation letter and draft program along with some drawings by refugee children. During this conference, recommendations will be submitted to decision makers, based on experiences and contributions from professionals in the area of education. If you are interested to attend please do get in touch at renate.amesb@ gmail.com:

“Access to education for refugee children internationally cannot be emphasized enough. Today is only a moment in time when we can give attention to one of the largest migration movements, because of war.

This has indeed caused misery, suffering and deaths by the score. WFWPI would cordially like to invite you to this afternoon conference with high level experts from the UN, Vienna Diplomatic Corps, NGOs and Educational experts.

Although the refugee children may only be in Europe for a few years, the need for their education must be underlined.

WFWPI is a women’s group with UN ECOSOC Status and we have been holding conferences in UN Vienna now for 3 years, bi-annually, on Education and Global Citizenship.

The pictures are newly drawn by some refugee children passing through Salzburg last week and given to me as a parting thank you for the Austrian hospitality.

Please find the attached draft for our 6th conference on Education.

Women’s Federation for World Peace, Intl

Elisabeth Riedl

WFWPI European Secretary General, International Affairs. WFWPI UN Office Director Vienna WFWP Austria Vice President

“Education is everyone’s birth right. I, myself, was born poor, after Korea was devastated by the Korean War. I owe everything I have now to education - a good education - and investment by the Government. I owe it to the world, to the United Nations, to do everything possible to give all people the same start. At that t ime, the United Nations was a beacon for many Korean children. Now the United Nations is also a beacon fo r millions and millions of children around the world. We have to hel p them. A family’s poverty should never depr ive any child of a good education. No child should be left out of school because of gender, ethnicity or geography’’, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon Access to education for .. I t’V \ l”f””~~~~~~ : • • ’ refugee children: • •• •

Pictures drawn by Refugee children in the Alte Asfinag Camp Salzburg in February 2016 Policy, Practice and commitment A. new Eduoi1tonal U,nd$Clpe’ . .~.:ii 1 1on~1 p the” 1 “ CCN.Ury

A ground pass is required to enter Vienna International Centre (VIC). If you do not have a permanent pass, please register not later than April 7th . Needed information for Registration are the following: Title: Mr. or Mrs; First Name: Last Name: Type of ID: ID number: Issuing Country: Thursday, 14th April 2016 at 13.00 1 Those who would like to enter the VIC and attend the conference on April 14 h are requested to present this identity document at Gate 1 of the VIC. Registration from 12.00 Renate Amesbauer Tel. 0650 7514073: renate.amesb@gmail.com Vienna Int. Centre, C3 in the C building 7th floor.

o ~~~: a L erk;st a ll …,…p···· @;: Ll Elisabeth Riedl, WFWPI UN Off Director Vienna, 0650 885 1988 wfwpeurope@gmail.com UE r 1220 Vienna, Wagramer Str.S Subway Ul (Kaisermuhlen).

“ Syrian and other refugees need the chance to work and provide for resilience and ensure the continuity of education, the Director-General stressed their families. Today, let us commit to getting all Syrian children into preventing radicalization and ensuring a bright future for young Syrians. OPENING: Doraja Eberle tbc school , within months, not years. Offering hope is the best way to slow Carolyn Handschin , WFWPI UN Director the exodus of educated Syrians and prevent the radicalization of a lost 13.15 SESSION 1: “ Access to education for refugee children: Policy, generation .” United Nations Sec-Gen Ban Ki-moon practice and commitment”

“ Integration - that’s not Just a word - it is humanity put into practice.” Dr. Christian Konrad Refugee coordinator tbc Marcio Barbosa CEO Education Above All Foundation tbc Doraja Eberle, Bauern helfen Bauern UN speaker tbc H.E. Ambassador Andrei Popov- Moldova Embassy tbc “Let us advance together until education is no longer a privilege for Chair: H.E. Ambassador Ayoob Erfani, Afghanistan Embassy

some - but a right for all. When we put education first, a life of 14.15 SESSION 2: Global Quality Education: a Call to action

dignity will follow. Thank you for your commitment.” Mag. Teresa Habjan , Youth Advisory Board Chair to the United Nations Sec-Gen Ban Ki-moon Austrian Commission for UNESCO tbc Mag. Matthias Huber, Uni Vienna Emotion tbc tbc Ahead of the recent Supporting Syria and the Region conference in London, UK tbc International Development Secretary Justine Greening called on world leaders to Chair: tbc seize the chance to change the lives of a generation of children caught up In the conflict. Around half of the 1.4 million Syrian refugee children In the region are not in 15.15 Break school. Within Syria the challenge is even greater with 2.1 million children out of school. Missing out on education prevents children from gaining the skills to compete In the jobs market of tomorrow, increases the risk of families resorting to negative 15.45 SESSION 3: Education and Global Citizenship coping strategies such as early marriage and child labour and leaves young people potentially vulnerable to radicalisation and extremism. Friedrich Forsthuber, President Criminal Court Vienna tbc Marie Therese Kiriaky Chair Arab Women Assoc. Vienna tbc Ms.Gabriele Zoehrer, Family Assistant; Youth and education Alpine Peace Crossing Is also dedicated to all those people who, at this very Counselling:’ moment, find themselves on the run from political, racial or religious persecution, In whichever part of the world this is being inflicted. Ernst Ernst Loeschner Alpine Peace Crossing tbc Loeschner Alpine Peace Crossing Billy Batware RAUN tbc Chair: Mamadou Kone UNESCO Director Irina Bokova advocated for an increased focus on education for Syrian youth , and appeal for longer-term education funding 16.45 SESSION 4: Recommendation proposal and Discussion comm itm ents. Outlining efforts made over the past five years to build Dr. Lan Y. Moon President Global Women’s Peace Network Carolyn Handschin ,