Week 17: 26 - 30 April 2021

Recent developments at the UNSC

• Minister Simon Coveney addressed the Security Council at a high level open debate on enhancing cooperation between the UN and regional organisations on Monday 19 April 2021. The Minister emphasised the role that regional organisations can play in ensuring the participation of women.
• Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason joined civil society leaders and humanitarian workers at the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security Studies for an event on the crisis in Tigray on Wednesday 21 April 2021. Ambassador Geraldine Byrne-Nason said that “Ireland firmly believes that the Council should speak publicly and with one voice on the situation in Ethiopia.”
• In a Security Council meeting on Colombia on Wednesday 21 April 2021, Ireland reiterated its support for the Truth Commission and called for greater accountability.
• Ireland called for free, fair and inclusive elections in the Occupied Palestinian Territory in a meeting on Israel-Palestine on Thursday 22 April 2021 and welcomed the announcement of the resumption of US funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
• The Security Council released a Press Statement on the Situation in Ethiopia on Thursday 22 April 2021, calling for unfettered humanitarian access and increased support for regional and subregional organisations.
• Minister Simon Coveney announced €200,000 in emergency funding for response to the volcanic eruption in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Thursday 22 April 2021.

Monday – 26^th April

• Briefing, followed by consultations, on the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). The expected briefers are Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix and the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Parfait Onanga-Anyanga.

Tuesday – 27^th April

• High-level open debate on the protection of indispensable civilian objects. Vietnam’s Foreign Minister, Bùi Thanh Sơn, will chair the meeting. The expected briefers are Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock; ICRC President Peter Maurer; and Chair of the International Peace Institute (IPI) Board of Directors, Kevin Rudd. A resolution spearheaded by Vietnam is a possible outcome of the meeting.

Wednesday – 28^th April

• Briefing, followed by consultations, on political developments and the humanitarian situation in Syria. Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock are the anticipated briefers.

Thursday – 29^th April

• The Informal Experts Group on Women, Peace and Security, co-chaired by Ireland and Mexico, will meet virtually to discuss Mali.
• Wrap-up session.

Friday – 30^th April

• No official meetings scheduled.