Antigua and Barbuda

October 2019: Nevena met with the Counsellor who showed interest in how his country could contribute to the Safe Schools Declaration. This was our first meeting with Antigua and Barbuda. We discussed that even countries not affected by the issue are encouraged to endorse the Declaration to show solidarity and to recognise the importance of the topic. I highlighted how as a country with some experience of extreme weather and vulnerabilities to natural disasters, Antigua and Barbuda has concrete examples of good practice to share in improving the protection of educational facilities for disaster preparedness and response, which can also be applied in conflict settings.He was also happy to hear that endorsement could give credibility to countries which are aiming at serving on the Human Rights Council as an elected member, which Antigua and Barbuda is hoping for. I mentioned that the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights have welcomed the endorsement of the Safe Schools Declaration by several countries. Follow-up: Letter for Foreign Minister, gender recommendations, the factsheet on the implementation of the Declaration, and key points on why they should endorse. After the meeting, I received a positive reply that Antigua and Barbuda would be happy to join the Safe Schools Declaration. They requested more information about the endorsement procedure.

October 2021: cosponsored UNSRC2601.