Geneva: Her Excellency Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri, Minister of Education, participated in a high-level event on girls' right to education, organized by the Permanent Missions of the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom in Geneva, on the sidelines of the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council.

The event was held on the occasion of the twelfth anniversary of the adoption of the Human Rights Council resolution on the right of girls to education, with the participation of the Permanent Missions of the Dominican Republic and the Republic of the Gambia, under the theme "Renewing the Global Commitment to Leave No Girl Behind".

Her Excellency Sarah Al Amiri delivered an opening remarks, alongside Ms. Awa Dabo, Deputy United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Her Excellency Kumar Iyer, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom in Geneva.

In her speech, Her Excellency called for continued collective efforts to ensure that every girl has access to quality education, saying: "Our ambition must remain clear: that every girl should receive and complete at least twelve years of safe, inclusive, equitable and quality education. Education should give them more than just a qualification; it should give them knowledge, skills and the ability to make decisions about their future."

"As the UAE seeks to become a member of the Human Rights Council for the period 2028-2030, we reaffirm our commitment to continue to contribute to this work, as we see our candidacy as an opportunity to build on that engagement and work alongside our international partners to promote and protect human rights."

Representatives from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), UN Women and the International Bureau of Education (UNESCO) presented insights on education in emergencies, gender equality and inclusive education.

The discussion was moderated by H.E. Dr. David Boyana, Ambassador and Permanent Observer of the University for Peace to the United Nations, with the participation of a young speaker from Malawi and Emirati inventor Mariam Al Ghaferi.

The event brought together representatives of the United Nations, its Member States and education experts, where discussions reviewed the progress made since the adoption of the resolution in 2014, and the challenges that continue to affect girls' access to education, including conflict and humanitarian crises, gender inequality, and the digital divide.

Participants stressed the importance of translating international commitments into concrete action, and ensuring that education systems equip girls with the skills and opportunities they need to shape their future and contribute to their communities.