Week 21: 24 - 28 May 2021

Recent developments at the UNSC

• The UN Security Council finally agreed to issue a press statement on the situation in the Middle East on Saturday 22 May 2021. The UNSC welcomed the ceasefire, mourned for the loss of civilian lives and underlined the need for immediate humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people but fell short of condemning the violence.
• Ireland highlighted the importance of a Libyan owned and led peace process which is fully inclusive of women at a Security Council meeting on Libya on Friday 21 May 2021.
• Ireland expressed concern about the security situation and violence against civilians in many parts of Sudan in a Security Council meeting on Thursday 20 May 2021.
• Ireland’s first female army general, Maureen O’Brien, was appointed as the new deputy military advisor to the UN Secretary General on Wednesday 19 May 2021.
• Minister Coveney addressed the Security Council in a high level debate on addressing the root causes of conflict while promoting post-pandemic recovery in Africa on Wednesday 19 May 2021.
• Ireland reiterated its commitment to international criminal justice in a briefing with ICC Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, on Monday May 17 2021.

Monday – 24^th May

• High level open debate on “United Nations peacekeeping operations: Improving safety and security of peacekeepers”. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support Atul Khare, and Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security Gilles Michaud are the expected briefers. A presidential statement is expected to be adopted at the meeting.

Tuesday – 25^th May

• Briefing, followed by consultations, on the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM). James Swan, Special Representative for Somalia and head of UNSOM, and Francisco Madeira, head of the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) are the expected briefers.
• Annual open debate on the protection of civilians (POC) in armed conflict. The expected briefers are Secretary-General António Guterres, ICRC President Peter Maurer, and Orzala Nemat, Director of the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU).

Wednesday – 26^th May

• Briefing, followed by consultations, on the political and humanitarian situations in Syria. The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock are the expected briefers.

Thursday – 27^th May

• Two resolutions are scheduled to be adopted: one renewing the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and another renewing the South Sudan sanctions regime.
• Briefing on the “Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question”. The Secretary-General’s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland is expected to brief.

Friday – 28^th May

• The 2127 Central African Republic Sanctions Committee will hold a closed meeting to hear a briefing on arms trafficking from the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and from its Panel of Experts.