Week 101, 12 - 16 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, the Security Council adopted a landmark resolution, co-drafted by Ireland and the United States, establishing a standing humanitarian exemption to the asset freeze measures imposed by the United Nations. The resolution has been hailed as an important step to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid across the globe and has been welcomed by the international community. The Security Council also held meetings on Ukraine, Sudan and Central Africa.  

•  On 5 December 2022, Christian Ritscher, Special Adviser and Head of the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD), briefed the Council. He said that UNITAD has continued its investigations into international crimes committed by ISIL/Da’esh against all communities of Iraq, emphasising that this investigative work would not be possible without close cooperation with Iraq’s national authorities. Ireland welcomed the fact that UNITAD placed cooperation with victims, survivors and civil society at the heart of all its investigative work. Noting that the key to holding ISIL/Da’esh perpetrators to account is the adoption of national legislation enabling the domestic prosecution of war crimes, Ireland expressed regret about the delay in enacting such legislation.

Christian Ritscher

• On 6 December 2022, while briefing the Council, Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said that more than 14 million people remain forcibly displaced from their homes in Ukraine, including 6.5 million internally displaced and more than 7.8 million across Europe. He emphasised that objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population must be protected, and constant care must be taken to spare civilians and civilian objects throughout all military operations. Ireland echoed that that international humanitarian law must be respected and renewed Ireland’s call for the Russian Federation to cease hostilities, withdraw its forces and commit to resolving outstanding issues peacefully and in line with the Charter of the United Nations.
• Volker Perthes, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sudan and Head of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), briefed the Council on 7 December 2022. He reported that while Sudan has been facing a multidimensional political, economic and security crisis since the military takeover of 25 October 2021, the dynamic of recent weeks is cause for optimism, suggesting that it may enter a transitional phase, thanks to a new political framework agreement. Ireland called on the Sudanese military to hand over power to a civilian-led government and create a conducive environment for the next stage of progress by stopping the use of force against protestors, halting unlawful detention and ensuring the right of peaceful assembly and association. 
• On 8 December 2022, Abdou Abarry, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Central Africa and Head of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), briefed the Council for the first time since his appointment on 28 July 2022. He noted that recent elections held in Angola, Congo, São Tomé and Príncipe and Equatorial Guinea showed significant progress towards democracy and rule of law, as well as a greater participation of women. He underscored however, that strengthened international and regional cooperation was needed to build and sustain peace and democratic strides in Central Africa in the face of persistent security challenges. Ireland called on the Council to investigate and address the impacts of climate change on peace and security. Citing ongoing instability in several Central African countries that are creating a dire humanitarian situation, Ireland also underlined the impact on women and girls who are facing higher rates of sexual and gender-based violence. 

Abdou Abarry

• On 9 December 2022, the Security Council adopted resolution 2664 (2022) by a vote of 14 in favour to none against, with 1 abstention (India). The landmark resolution will provide a “humanitarian carve-out” — a standing humanitarian exemption — from the asset freeze measures imposed by United Nations sanctions regimes. Ireland and the United States presented the resolution together. Ireland said that the resolution safeguards humanitarian action to assist people in contexts where the Council has also imposed sanctions and demonstrates the Council’s ability to respond to those in greatest need. 

 

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Permanent Representative of the United States to the UN and Fergal Mythen, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the UN

The Week Ahead (12 - 16 December 2022)

This week, Ireland will host an Arria Formula meeting to mark the seventh anniversary of the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda. The Council will hold meetings on Yemen, Sudan, Afghanistan and Libya. India will host two signature events, an Open Debate on a ‘New orientation for reformed multilateralism’, and a briefing on “Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts: Global Approach to Counter Terrorism - Challenges and Way Forward”.

Monday – 12 December 2022

• The President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, Graciela Gatti Santana, and the IRMCT Prosecutor, Serge Brammertz, will present the Mechanism’s 21st progress report at the Council’s semi-annual debate on the IRMCT.
• The Council will receive a briefing from the outgoing Chairs of the Council’s Subsidiary Bodies, including Ambassador Fergal Mythen of Ireland, as Chair of the Somalia Sanctions Committee.
• Ireland (with co-sponsors Ecuador and Ghana) will host an Arria Formula meeting to mark the seventh anniversary of the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda.

Tuesday – 13 December 2022

• The Council will hold a briefing and consultations on Yemen, with briefings from Special Envoy Hans Grundberg, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs  Martin Griffiths, and the Head of the UN Mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA), Major General (ret.) Michael Beary.
• The Council will hold a briefing and consultations on the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, will brief, alongside the Permanent Representative of Gabon, as Chair of the 2206 South Sudan Sanctions Committee.

Wednesday – 14 December 2022

• India will convene an Open Debate on a ‘New orientation for reformed multilateralism’, the first signature meeting of their presidency. The debate will be chaired by S. Jaishankar, Minister for External Affairs, and the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, and the President of the General Assembly, Csaba Kőrösi , will brief.

Thursday – 15 December 2022

• The Council will hold a briefing on “Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts: Global Approach to Counter Terrorism - Challenges and Way Forward”, the second signature meeting of the Indian presidency. Minister Jaishankar will chair, with briefings expected from the Head of the UN Office of Counter Terrorism, Vladimir Voronkov, and the Acting Executive Director of the UN Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate, Weixiong Chen.

Friday – 16 December 2022

• The Council is scheduled to adopt a resolution renewing the mandate of the 1988 (Afghanistan) Sanctions Committee.
• The Council will hold a briefing and consultations on Libya. SRSG Abdoulaye Bathily will brief and provide an update on his outreach and engagement with Libyan stakeholders.