The UN has established that more than 50 per cent of the 100 million children in the world today who do not attend school are affected by war and conflict. Today Save the Children is launching a massive international campaign to give these children access to education. The Government is contributing NOK 100 million to Save the Children to enable children affected by conflict to attend school, learn, play, develop their potential and complete their primary education. This is one of the largest allocations made by this Government to a specific campaign being run by a single organisation.

“The Government gives priority to peace and to children. This is an unprecedented global effort to help children affected by war, and it has our full backing,” said Minister of International Development Erik Solheim of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who is behind the allocation. “Lack of knowledge is the greatest challenge in conflict-affected countries. The physical and material destruction is bad enough, but the lack of access to education has a devastating effect on the whole country. This is why this campaign is so important,” said Mr Solheim. Minister of Justice Knut Storberget will represent the Government at the launching of this major international campaign.

The members of the International Save the Children Alliance are joining forces in a campaign to improve the educational situation of 8 million children affected by war and conflict. The alliance will provide for 3 million new school places and improve the quality of education for an additional 5 million children. Save the Children Norway will head these efforts.

The funds allocated by the Government, which will be dispersed over a five-year period, will help to meet the target of increasing the total resources for helping this category of children and young people five-fold. This money is in addition to the considerable support that has already been given to Save the Children and other organisations working to safeguard the rights of children affected by war and conflict.

Press contact for the Minister of International Development: Head of Information Roy Freddy Andersen, mobile phone: 90 61 05 30

Press contact for the Minister of Justice: Head of Information Kathrine Kjelland, mobile phone: 91 39 81 78