Ireland and the UN Security Council - This Week: Week 13

Week 13: 29 March - 2 April 2021

At a briefing on Libya on Wednesday 24 March, Ambassador Byrne Nason emphasised the importance of women’s participation in the political process, expressed support for the UN Fact Finding Mission and called on the UNSC to condemn attacks on women leaders and human rights defenders.
A humanitarian aid worker for GOAL was killed in the Benishangui-Gumuz region of Ethiopia on Wednesday 24 March. Minister Colm Brophy offered his condolences to the victim’s family and all Irish humanitarian aid workers at GOAL.
At a briefing on the Middle East including the Palestinian question on Thursday 25 March, Ireland expressed concern at the increased rate of demolitions and seizures in the West Bank and called on Israel to ensure equitable access of vaccines for the Palestinian population.
Ambassador Byrne Nason spoke at an Arria formula meeting on protecting peacekeepers on Friday 26 March and underlined that more must be done to ensure peacekeeper safety.
Minister Coveney delivered a statement on the situation in Myanmar on Saturday 27 March and called on the Myanmar military to step back from actions designed to consolidate power through fear and brutal violence following the killing of over 100 people in the bloodiest day of violence since the military coup.

Monday – 29^th March

Briefing, followed by consultations, on the humanitarian situation in Syria with Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock and UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore.

Tuesday – 30^th March

Briefing, followed by consultations, on the work of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
Briefing on the work of the 1540 Committee, which deals with the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, chaired by Ambassador Juan Ramón de la Fuente Ramírez (Mexico).

Wednesday – 31^st March

Wrap up session for the month.
Closed meeting of the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict. Ireland is an informal focal point on this file.

Thursday – 1^st April

Vietnam assumes the monthly Presidency of the Security Council for April 2021.
Ireland co-chairs a meeting of the Informal Expert Group on Women, Peace and Security on the topic of Libya.

Friday – 2^nd April