Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

July 2018: Co-sponsored resolution 2427 (2018).

October 2018: UN WPS advocacy in New York: GCPEA first meeting with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Gisela had a brief meeting with the Ambassador. She is currently the ECOSOC chair. She responded well to advocacy points on the community of states and the gender dimension. She asked for a synopsis to be sent to her Mission, which she would task her legal team to review. Follow-up: Letter for Foreign Minister and gender recommendations sent by email.

December 2018: Gisela contacted the New York Ambassador informing her that GCPEA is interested in travelling to Kingstown and sharing meeting requests to for the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Education to discuss endorsement of the Safe Schools Declaration.

May 2019: Participated in the Third International Conference in Palma.

June 2019: Human Rights Watch followed up with the representative, who had attended the Third International Conference in Palma, on endorsement of the Safe Schools Declaration.

February 2020: Nevena encouraged Dominican Republic to approach Saint Vincent, fellow Security Council member and Caribbean country, and to encourage them to announce endorsement at the UNSC debate on Youth, Peace, and Security or sexual violence in conflict.

June 2020: Zama and I just had a call with the DPR of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (New York Mission). It was a very positive meeting. She has shared our request with capital but couldn’t make any promises if they would be able to announce endorsement at the CAAC debate (due to the slow bureaucratic process in the Ministry). Main points: The DPR asked whether there would be any requirement for reporting if they join the SSD. We explained that there are no reporting obligations. Saint Vincent has a special historical relationship with the African countries. She will discuss the endorsement and consideration with African Members of the Security Council (A3) namely Niger, South Africa, and Tunisia (who hasn’t endorsed). She encouraged us to reach out to CARICOM Secretariat and the Chair. She advised that it would be helpful if CARICOM could convene a meeting on this initiative and if Members could jointly endorse. Zama emphasized their key role on the Council and that they could show leadership by endorsing and encouraging more CARICOM members to join.

October 2021: cosponsored UNSRC2601.

December 2021: Positive statement at the Arria formula meeting on the protection of education during armed conflict citing the SSD. Commitment to continuity of education during armed conflict. “As captured by GCPEA, the military use of schools and universities has occurred in at least 30 countries across the globe”; “We call on the principles enshrined on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, its optional protocols on children and armed conflict, the African charter on the rights of the child, UNSCR 2601, all other UNSC relevant resolutions, and the Safe Schools Declaration”. Calling on parties to armed conflict to end attacks against schools

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.