Portugal

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.

August 2016: CAAC Open Debate: “we note with growing concern the prevalence of attacks on and the use of schools and hospitals for military purposes. Governments and all other actors must protect schools and hospitals by upholding the provisions of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.”

June 2017: A Human Rights Council resolution on the right to education, led by Portugal¸ included strong language on attacks on education: “Strongly condemning the recurring attacks on students, teachers, schools and universities, which impair the realization of the right to education and cause severe and long-lasting harm to individuals and societies-Recognizing the negative impact of climate change, natural disasters, conflict and crisis on the full realization of the right to education, that a large proportion of the world’s out-of-school population lives in conflict-affected areas, and that crises, violence and attacks on educational institutions, natural disasters and pandemics continue to disrupt education and development globally, as noted in the Incheon Declaration. 2. Urges all States to give full effect to the right to education by, inter alia, complying with their obligations to respect, protect and fulfil the right to education by all appropriate means, including by taking measures, such as: (c) Contemplating non-formal and informal learning in the context of emergency response plans, in order to ensure that education continues to be delivered; 15. Calls upon States to continue to make efforts to strengthen the protection of preschools, schools and universities against attacks, and encourages efforts to provide safe, inclusive and enabling learning environments and quality education for all within an appropriate time frame, including higher education in humanitarian emergencies and conflict situations;”. September 2017: 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 during the Open Debate on children and armed conflict.

March 2018: During the Annual Day on the Rights of the Child, Portugal highlighted their support for the Declaration in their national statement.

July 2018: UNSC Open Debate on children and armed conflict: 1) Joined Argentina’s joint statement to the UN SC during the open debate on children and armed conflict. 2) Co-sponsored resolution 2427 (2018). 3)Mentioned and welcomed the Safe Schools Declaration during the statement to the SC. 4)also joined the statement of Canada on behalf of the GoF which mentioned the Safe Schools Declaration.

October 2018: Brussels Briefing to EU COHAFA/COHOM: Portugal invited all remaining EU member states to endorse the Declaration. the delegate referred to their co-sponsorship of UNSCR 2427 at the UNSC CAAC debate in July, and that they had highlighted the Declaration in their national statement, and joined the joint statements by Argentina (endorsing states) and Canada (on behalf of the Group of Friends). She called for a focus on prevention when funding education in emergencies, and expressed their readiness to support the Spain conference.

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

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

October 2019: GCPEA issued letters to their Foreign Minister, encouraging them to highlight in their statements to the Council the Safe Schools Declaration as a tool to ensure implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

October 2019: During the WPS open debate, Portugal mentioned the following reference: “Empowering women and girls through education is the best way to guarantee equal rights and full participation in society. Portugal reiterates the importance of the Safe Schools Declaration as a fundamental tool to prevent sexual violence and encourages more Member States to adhere to it.”

April 2021: Yatasha and Apolline met with Portugal colleagues in capital working for COHAFA (Portugal current Presidency), the Working Party on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid. This body discusses the EU’s humanitarian strategies and policies, as well as its response to humanitarian crises. They requested GCPEA to present on the SSD, the Guidelines, endorsement and implementation, and the Nigeria conference at their next meeting with the 27 EU Member States (mostly representatives from the development agencies). Zama subsequently presented on 6 May 2021. The presentation included information on the scope of attacks and SSD. It further highlighted four key recommendations, namely, that the remaining EU countries–Latvia, Lithuania and Hungary announce their endorsement ahead of the fourth International Conference; that EU member states update their own military manuals and defence directives to incorporate the Guidelines; and use the EU child rights strategy, which commits to continuing to allocate 10% of humanitarian aid funding for education in emergencies and protracted crises, and promote the endorsement of the Safe Schools Declarationn. The EU was encouraged to participate and share good practice at the fourth International Conference on Safe Schools.

June 2021: Portugal led efforts for the HRC resolution on the right to education, which mentionned the Guildeines for the first time.

October 2021: cosponsored UNSRC2601.

December 2021: positive statement at arria meeting on the protection of education during armed conflict citing SSD. “Attacks on schools are grave violations of human rights and have long-term effects … and have a disproportionate impact on girls”; “Portugal is a committed supporter of the Safe Schools Declaration and calls on all states to implement it along with the UNSCR 2601 and the Guidelines for Protecting schools and universities from military use during armed conflict”; Speaking about the need to protect education, “this includes higher education”; “Realisation of education for all, including higher education, is a legal obligation and a moral imperative”.

July 2022: At the UNSC CAAC debate : – Other tools, including the Safe Schools Declaration, build on the CAAC mandate. Portugal calls on all states to ratify and fully implement this instrument

September 2022 Transforming Education Summit: Portugal: committed to “promote safe 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.

August 2023: On 24 August, Apolline met with the new First Secretary at the mission in Geneva, Ms. Maria Ejarque Albuquerque. I briefed her on the work of GCPEA, the SSD, the state-led implementation network, and the Core Group on the SSD in Geneva. We also discussed the international day to protect education from attack and ways for Portugal to be involved and support our event.