Week 100, 5 - 9 December 2022

This bulletin will provide a brief analysis of last week’s meetings at the UN Security Council (UNSC), and an overview of the upcoming meetings this week.

Last week, India took over the Security Council Presidency for the month of December. The Council was briefed on the Middle East Peace Process and developments in Syria. Finally, Ireland and Mexico held their final meeting as co-chairs of the Informal Expert Group on Women, Peace and Security.

•  On 28 November 2022, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, warned that current trends could worsen the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and destabilize the region. Briefing the Security Council, he called on all parties to rein in violence and incitement and, together with the international community, take urgent steps towards achieving the two-State solution. Ireland strongly condemned the pervasive culture of impunity in response to excessive use of force by Israeli security forces and on-going incidents of settler violence. Ireland also welcomed the approval by the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly of a draft resolution, which includes a request for an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on developments in the conflict.

Tor Wennesland

• The Special Envoy for Syria, Geir O. Pedersen, briefed the Council on 29 November 2022, and detailed worrying and dangerous developments in Syria which he said could risk triggering a military escalation that would threaten nearly three years of relative calm. He called on all parties to de-escalate immediately and to focus on the stalled political process instead. Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, also informed the Council that 12 years on since the conflict began, 80 per cent of Syria’s population now depend on humanitarian assistance. Ireland reiterated serious concern about continuing hostilities on the ground in Syria and condemned the series of strikes which hit camps for internally displaced persons, killing and injuring civilians and damaging health care facilities, conducted by pro-government forces earlier this month in Idlib and its environs. Ireland reiterated the urgent need for a nationwide ceasefire in line with resolution 2254 (2015), calling on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and maintain previously agreed ceasefires. 
• On  29 November 2022, Ireland and Brazil hosted current and incoming UN Security Council members for a discussion on acute food security in conflict affected countries.
• On 29 November 2022, Ireland and Mexico held their final meeting as co-chairs of the Informal Expert Group on Women, Peace and Security. The group met to discuss the situation of women and girls in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• On 30 November 2022, the Security Council unanimously extended the mandate of its subsidiary 1540 Committee, for a period of ten years until 30 November 2032. The Committee monitors the implementation of Council resolution 1540 (2004) that aims to prevent non-State actors from developing, acquiring, manufacturing, possessing, transporting, transferring, or using nuclear, biological and chemical weapons and their means of delivery.
• On 1 December 2022, Ambassador Fergal Mythen, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations supported the global campaign to mark 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.

 

Ambassador Fergal Mythen

 

• On 1 December 2022, a press conference was held by the incoming President of the Security Council for the month of December, India. Ruchira Kamboj, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, outlined the Council’s programme for December, which will feature an open debate on a new orientation for reformed multilateralism, as well as a briefing on the principles and way forward for a global counter-terrorism approach.

Ruchira Kamboj

 

The Week Ahead (5 - 9 December 2022)

This week, the UNSC will be briefed by the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ISIL. The Council will also hold meetings on Syria, Ukraine and Sudan.

Monday – 5 December 2022

• The Council will hold a regular meeting on the work of the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD) in Iraq, and the Special Adviser and Head of UNITAD, Christian Ristcher, will brief.
• The Council will hold its monthly consultations on Syria Chemical Weapons, with a briefing from Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu. 

Tuesday – 6 December 2022

• The Council will discuss the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, with a particular focus on children, at the request of France and Mexico.  The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and UNICEF will brief. The likely focus of the meeting are issues such as child casualties, the impact of displacement on children, access to education, health care, and winterisation.

Wednesday – 7 December 2022

• The Council will receive a briefing from the Chair of the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee and hold briefing and consultations on the situation in Sudan. Volker Perthes, SRSG and Head of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), will brief the Council.

Thursday – 8 December 2022

• The Council will hold closed consultations on UNDOF (Golan Heights), ahead of the expected mandate renewal on 21 December 2022. Assistant Secretary General, Khaled Khiari from the UN Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations is likely to brief on the latest Secretary General’s report.
• The Council will hold a briefing and consultations on the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA). The Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of UNOCA, Abdou Abarry, and a civil society representative will brief the Council.

Friday – 9 December 2022

• The Council will hold a briefing and consultations on the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of MONUSCO (The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo), Bintou Keita, and a civil society representative will brief the Council. The 1533 (DRC) Sanctions Committee Chair (Gabon) will also provide an update.