Greece

2015: Attended the state consultations on the SSD in Geneva – led by Norway + 2015: Present at the First International Conference on the SSD in Oslo.

May 2015: Meeting in capital Bede+Filipa . Quickly supportive.

August 2016: CAAC Open Debate: “Greece was among the first endorsing States of the Oslo Safe Schools Declaration of May 2015, which calls upon parties to armed conflict to avoid using educational buildings for military purposes or making them targets of attack. We believe that the Safe Schools Declaration provides a concrete way for countries to commit to protecting children’s education even during armed conflict”

December 2016: wrote to FM asking to do outreach to Cyprus. Asked GVA mission to do the same.

March 2017: Attended Buenos Aires Conference on Safe Schools.

April 2017: Attended post-conference briefing for missions in New York.

September 2017 UNSC: GCPEA sent a letter to the ambassador in New York asking to raise the issue on attacks and military use, draw attention to the Declaration and the Guidelines during the Open Debate on children and armed conflict.

July 2018: Joined Argentina’s joint statement to the UN SC during the open debate on children and armed conflict.
Co-sponsored resolution 2427 (2018).Mentioned and welcomed the Safe Schools Declaration during the statement to the SC.

October 2018: Brussels Briefing to EU COHAFA/COHOM. Greece voiced their support and pledged to do more to promote the Declaration. She raised their concern about the misnaming of Macedonia on the map of endorsing states, a standing instruction for them wherever they see Macedonia written without the FYRO prefix.

March 2019: attended GCPEA side-event on “Better Protecting Women and Girls from Attacks on Education” in Geneva. Furthermore, Clustered Interactive Dialogue with the SRSG CAAC Virginia Gamba, HRC Geneva: joined Norway’s joint statement on the Safe Schools Declaration.

February 2021: GCPEA (Yatasha and Marika) met with the Human Rights Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Greece to the UN in Geneva on 4 February. The aim of the meeting was to share information on endorsement and implementation of the SSD, the implementation network, International Conference and EuA. Greece was informed about the remaining EU countries who are yet to endorse and peer advocacy was encouraged. As a follow-up Greece was invited to the Geneva core group meeting on Safe Schools convened by Norway, and a briefing with the EU delegation on the Safe Schools Declaration and better protecting education from attack will be explored.

October 2021: cosponsored UNSRC2601.

December 2021: positive statement at arria formula meeting on protection of education during armed conflict citing SSD. Stressed need to ensure access to safe quality education for children in armed conflict and condemn attacks on, and military use of, schools, stressing long-term impact and urging for states to advocate on this cause. “Greece stresses the importance of implementing the Safe Schools Declaration, an intergovernmental political commitment currently endorsed by 112 states to protect students, teachers, schools and universities from the worst effects of armed conflict”. Stressed the need to develop conflict-sensitive approaches to education and the continuity of education during armed conflict.

November 2022: Endorsed the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA) on 18 November during an International Conference hosted by Ireland, the leader and penholder behind the Declaration.

March 2023: ID SRSG CAAC (52 HRC) national statement: – Concerned about the military use of schools
– Having endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration