Equatorial Guinea

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

August 2018: Sent an email to the mission in Geneva requesting for a meeting. No response.

October 2018: GCPEA first meeting with Equatorial Guinea. Gisela met with the Third Deputy Permanent Representative and a First Secretary in advance of the UN WPS open debate. They were both convinced of the value of the Declaration and the need for schools to be safe spaces. Although Equatorial Guinea is peaceful, the global and regional situation is unpredictable and they should take steps now to improve protection of schools. The Third DPR promised to brief her Ambassador. She recommended providing a letter for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, copied to the Ministers of Education and Social Affairs & Gender Equality. She said they would refer to the issue in the draft of the statement for the open debate that they send to capital. Follow-up: Letter for Foreign Minister, cced to Education & Social Affairs, and gender recommendations sent by email.

February 2018: Marikaput us in touch with Susannah from the Permanent Mission of New York after they had had an interesting conversation about the possibility of endorsement. GCPEA sent more information by email and explained the endorsement procedure.

March 2018: Zama met with Susannah and the CAAC person. She understands that this is being presented as a package with the Vancouver the Paris. However, she sees the safe schools declaration as the easiest to endorse and is thinking of trying to just push ahead just with it. Of all the arguments we discussed, she seemed to like the idea of that by being on the security council this would be a leadership endorsement. Zama also briefly met the ambassador who said that he is supportive and hoped that they would sign. They will send a note to capital recommending endorsement and noted that they have an embassy in Spain who could attend the conference.

March 2019: GCPEA provided updates on the Safe Schools Declaration in writing to the Permanent Mission in New York and explained the endorsement procedure.
GCPEA (Zama) met with the Minister Counsellor and the Ambassador at the Mission in New York to encourage their endorsement and participation in the Spain conference. They were supportive and promised to send a note to capital recommending endorsement.

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

June 2019: announced the endorsement of the Safe Schools Declaration immediately following the Third International Conference on Safe Schools