Zimbabwe

2015: Present at the First International Conference on the SSD in Oslo.

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

September 2018: Article in newspaper highlighting Cameroon’s endorsment (and Botswana’s) and urging Zimbabwe to follow suit. https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-press+release-byo-145029.html

September 2018: Bede wrote to Zimbabwe teachers’ union If he can provide any information about the process behind the declaration or its content, or anything else we can do to support their advocacy on this topic. Artuz sent the concept of their Safe Schools Campaign. There are three main objectives to this project: To persuade the government of Zimbabwe to endorse the Safe Schools Declaration and Guidelines; To develop a code of conduct for learning institutions that not only implements the Safe Schools Declaration, but includes the wider issues around safety in schools. A suggested (but not exclusive) list of issues would include political violence, but also sexual violence, gender-based violence, harassment, bullying, etc.; To create an independent, self-regulating body to implement the code of conduct, and to monitor and authenticate learning institutions adherence to the code of conduct.

January 2020: Human Rights Watch made a submission to CEDAW regarding Zimbabwe. It notes that in 2016 the CRC told Zimbabwe to deter the military or political use of schools, and encourages CEDAW to recommend that Zimbabwe endorse the Safe Schools Declaration.

November 2022: On 7 December, Nevena and Apolline met virtually with Mr. Kingstone Ziyera, Minister Counsellor at the NY mission. He was not familiar with GCPEA or the SSD, therefore we provided a full briefing, highlighting the fact that attacks on education have been increasing this year according to the SRSG CAAC. We also shared information on the state-led implementation network and the Fifth International Conference on the SSD. The Counsellor seemed supportive of the initiative and explained he would brief his Ambassador to send a positive recommendation to capital. We followed up in writing and shared the template letter for endorsement.