Week 10: 8-12 March 2021

Recent developments at the UNSC

• In a message on International Women’s Day, marked annually on 8 March, Secretary-General António Guterres outlined “clear evidence”, such as better social protection programmes, stronger climate policies and enduring peace agreements, when women are in governments, parliaments or peace negotiations.
• To mark International Women’s Day, Ireland is organising an Arria formula meetings on women’s participation in UN-led peace processes and will set a record with 12 UNSC members as co-sponsors. Bronagh Hinds, an advocate for women’s rights from Northern Ireland, is among a number of briefers including USG for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo.
• Ireland addressed the situations in Ethiopia and Myanmar last week and called for the international community to address the worsening humanitarian situations in both countries.
• Ireland also reaffirmed its unwavering support for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in its vital role on the global prohibition of Chemical Weapons in Syria last week. UN High Representative for Disarmament, Izumi Nakamitsu, told UNSC members that “at this stage, the declaration submitted by [Syria] cannot be considered accurate and complete”.

Monday – 8^th March

• Security Council members will convene virtually for an Arria-formula meeting entitled: “Call to Lead by Example: Ensuring the Full, Equal and Meaningful Participation of Women in UN-led Peace Processes”. Ireland will chair the meeting and publish the interventions made in the meeting, as well as statements submitted in writing by NGOs. Expected briefers are: Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo; Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen; Bronagh Hinds, an advocate for women’s rights from Northern Ireland; and a female peacebuilder from Yemen.

Tuesday – 9^th March

• Briefing, followed by VTC consultations, on the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS).

Wednesday – 10^th March

• Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ann Linde, the Chairperson-in-Office (CiO) for the Organization for Security and Co–operation in Europe (OSCE), is expected to brief the Security Council on the organisation’s activities.

Thursday – 11^th March

• High-level open debate via VTC on conflict and food security, the signature event of the US presidency. Secretary-General António Guterres, Executive Director of the World Food Programme David Beasley, and Executive Director of Oxfam International Gabriela Bucher are the anticipated briefers.

Friday – 12^th March

• The Security Council is scheduled to adopt two resolutions:
  • Renewal of the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
  • Reauthorising the mandate of the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
• High-level VTC Arria-formula meeting entitled: “Crimea: 7 years of violations of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”. Security Council members Estonia, France, Ireland, Norway, the UK, and the US are co-sponsoring the meeting, along with several non-Council members. Ilze Brands Kehris, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights and Head of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in New York, is expected to deliver the keynote speech. Briefings are also expected from Phillip Karber, the President of the Potomac Foundation, and Maria Tomak, the Coordinator of Media Initiative for Human Rights.