Sierra Leone

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.

November 2016: Co-hosted Addis workshop. Not responsive during preparations.

January – March 2017: Member of Core Group in Geneva but did not attend meetings.

February 2017: HRW invited capital rep from Addis workshop to participate in the HRW military voices video but this did not happen.

March 2017: Attended Buenos Aires Conference on Safe Schools. Provided a moderator for one panel discussion – the ambassador from Geneva.

May 2017: PLAN held a country-level workshop in Sierra Leone to increase awareness and understanding of the Declaration and the Safe Schools process among state officials. PLAN held a workshop with school children in Sierra Leone to develop key messages on Safe Schools.

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 and also to mention the AU call to endorse during the Open Debate on children and armed conflict.

March 2019: Clustered Interactive Dialogue with the SRSG CAAC Virginia Gamba, HRC Geneva: joined Norway’s joint statement on the Safe Schools Declaration.

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

September 2021: GCPEA met with the Ambassador in New-York as well as the military attaché on 02 September. GCPEA updated the representatives on the Abuja Conference, possibility to participate via video message, the state-led network, and recent good practice on implementation. GCPEA encouraged the mission to include SSD language in national statements at UNSC open debates. Ambassador informed us that education is a top priority to her government and that they are very committed to the SSD commitments. She assured us that Sierra Leone is ready to participate more on SSD work. Military attaché informed us that the military manual includes the protection of school as per IHL laws. He was personally victim to attacks on school as a youth during the civil war therefore he is very committed to this agenda. He is working to include SSD in national law and disaggregate the protection of school from POC to look into schools specifically. He is also advocating for trainings on SSD and exploring ways to support victims in judicial system. GCPEA followed up in writing requesting video message from Minister of Education.

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: During ID with SRSG CAAC, Sierra Leone delivered national statement:
– Aligns itself with the statement on the Safe Schools Declaration delivered by Argentina
– Express grave concerns on the use of educational facilities for military purpose/ strongly condemn this pattern/ and call on states and non state actors to end this phenomenon
– Seek to continue to provide education at all times, as outlined in the Safe Schools Declaration
– What more can be done to hold accountable NSAG that attack and use schools for military purposes?