Amnesty International on Friday raised concern about the ongoing coercion of Ukrainian teachers in Russian-occupied territories to teach the Russian-imposed curriculum to school-going children.

The report portrays the resumption of schooling in the occupied territories as Russia’s attempt to justify its aggression by indoctrinating students with a propagandized curriculum. The Russian curriculum in the occupied territories depicts the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine as an act of self-defense. Anna Wright, Amnesty International researcher for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said that the new history textbook “conceals the truth and misrepresents the facts about serious human rights violations and crimes under international law committed by Russian forces against Ukrainians.”

The group described the Russian curriculum as one that unlawfully indoctrinates children, violating children’s right to appropriate and quality education. Some Ukrainian teachers have refused to teach the Russian curriculum in schools in the occupied territories. The Russian authority in these areas has responded with coercion, threats and blackmail. The report outlined one case of abduction and physical violence against a teacher who refused to cooperate. Teachers are facing a dilemma, having to choose between fleeing their hometowns or cooperating with the Russian authority.

Under international human rights law, states are obligated to prevent acts of torture and inhumane treatment. The occupying power is also responsible under international humanitarian law for ensuring the humane treatment of the local population, the functioning of educational establishments, and providing essential services.

These concerns were voiced on World Teachers’ Day, celebrated this year under the theme “Valuing teacher voices: towards a new social contract for education.” UNESCO states that the theme highlights the need to address the challenges that teachers face and to acknowledge and appreciate their input to the wealth of knowledge.