Slovakia

2015: Attended the state consultations on the SSD in Geneva – led by Norway.

Seems to share some of the concerns expressed by Germany and others but insistent that no decision has been made either way. Several contacts with Gva mission in the first half of 2015, but unresponsive to follow up early fall; outreach in NY in June 2015 ahead of CAAC open debate (non-committal). HRW OpEd published in June 2016 using EU presidency as hook. Attempt to renew dialogue in capital (Bede) and in Brussels (Jacqui), Geneva mission still unresponsive. Meetings in capital (Bede July 2016): MFA – They explained that the MFA had a bad experience bringing the Montreaux Document to the Slovak IHL Committee, who needs to consider all such international documents. He mentioned that they got “stuck on a detail” that was not anticipated, and because of that, it couldn’t advance. He mentioned that he’d seen my OpEd in SME, and that it had restarted the process of considering the Declaration within the MFA, especially the point that if Slovakia joined while it had the presidency of the EU, then it would be particularly influential. He also mentioned that his Czech counterparts had raised the issue of the Declaration with them! He pledged to bring the Declaration to the IHL committee after the summer, at the next meeting in September. Parliamentary Human Rights Committee: Erika Jurinova, chair. It’s always a worrying sign when the chair of a parliamentary committee is from an opposition party—usually an indicator that the government doesn’t take the post too seriously. But it was a good meeting. She indicated that she would be willing to forward information from our meeting to other members of the committee, and to see whether, at their next meeting in September, the Committee might make a resolution encouraging the government to endorse the Declaration. She also suggested that we look into whether Slovakia was sending development aid to any countries affected by these problems. Again advised that we contact the MoJ, at least at their expert level, Jana Kviecinska. webpage of the Slovak parliament (trying to find contact information for a parliamentarian I was recommended to), and there was an article on me meeting with the chair of the Slovak Human Rights Committee, on the front page: http://www.nrsr.sk/web/Default.aspx?sid=udalosti/udalost&MasterID=54120

July 2016: Bede met with MP Erika Jurinová, chair of Human Rights Commission, to discuss the possibility of Slovakia joining the Safe Schools Declaration. Sent on improved the translations of the SSD and Guidelines by email afterwards. MP’s assistant Mgr. Dominika Paľová replied: “We were glad to gain a better understanding of the issue and we appreciate your willingness to meet here in Slovakia and inform us about the Safe School Declaration and the possibility of joining the Declaration. Thank you for the improved translations and the information. We will discuss the whole topic at the Human Rights Committee and the translation will be send to the members of the Committee. We will inform you about the process and the result of the negotiation and will stay in contact.” Letter sent in advance of CAAC Open Debate, August 2016.

September 2016: Save BXL contacted Slovakia but no response.

October 2016: Gisela followed up with Geneva Mission. Endorsement letter received by Norway, dated 29 December 2016.

March 2017: Attended Buenos Aires Conference 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 during the Open Debate on children and armed conflict.

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)also joined the statement of Canada on behalf of the GoF which mentioned the Safe Schools Declaration. 4) referred to military use of schools in their statement.

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

October 2021: cosponsored UNSRC2601.

July 2022: At the UNSC CAAC debate :
– Deeply concerned by increasing number of attacks on schools
– Referring to hundreds of schools destroyed in Ukraine
– Safe schools Declaration is key to protect CAAC and call on all states to endorse and implement it

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.