Comoros

February 2017: GCPEA issued a letter to the Foreign Minister of the Comoros, calling for endorsement.

2017: We met with the Ambassador. Turns out, he used to be a teacher, and then later a trainer of teachers. So the issue resonated with him. He said that he was willing to raise the issue with a vice-President and the minister of education directly. Noted though that Comoros is a member of many regional organizations, and thus attendance at meetings is very difficult—i.e. would need sponsorship.

October 2019: GCPEA met with the Deputy Permanent Representative who responded positively about the value of the Declaration and the need for schools to be safe spaces. He welcomed the argument that attacks on education can have a detrimental impact on women and girls, and that the Declaration is a tool for preventing sexual violence in conflict. We briefly spoke about GCPEA mission to Somalia supporting the government to implement the Declaration and the fact that AMISOM handed educational facilities back to the authorities. He seemed personally impressed by our work and promised to make a positive recommendation back to capital. He mentioned that they work closely with Norway on environmental issues and would welcome an approach by them. Follow-up: Letter for Foreign Minister, gender recommendations, the factsheet on the implementation of the Declaration, and key points on why they should endorse. He responded to my email that he had transmitted all the information to capital, and he would attend the WPS open debate.

October 2021: Comoros co-sponsored UNSC resolution 2601 (2021), the first thematic resolution on the protection of education in armed conflict and to mention the SSD (preamble).

November 2021: GCPEA met with the Deputy Permanent Representative in New York. GCPEA provided an overview of the Abuja Conference’s outcomes and commended the Comoros for its co-sponsorship to the UNSC resolution 2601 (2021). GCPEA presented recent positive developments at the AU level. The DPR reiterated that there were no obstacles to endorsement. GCPEA followed up by email sharing key information. The DPR promised to make a recommendation to capital.

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.

November 2022: Update on the champion states’ joint demarche with the 14 countries that co-sponsored UNSC resolution 2601 but have not yet endorsed the SSD: Joint démarche by the champions was done in capitals in Australia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Lithuania, and Lesotho, as well as through the Missions in New York with Comoros, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, and Tuvalu.