Week 39, 27 September - 1 October 2021

Recent developments at the UNSC

• UN Secretary-General (UNSG) António Guterres addressed the UN General Assembly at the opening of High-Level week on 21 September 2021. His full speech is available here.
• The Security Council held an informal ministerial meeting with the League of Arab states on 22 September 2021 to discuss closer co-operation between the two bodies.
• The Security Council agreed a statement condemning the forceful attempt to disrupt the transition in Sudan on 23 September 2021.
• Ireland convened a high-level Security Council debate on climate and security on 23 September 2021, which was chaired by Taoiseach Micheál Martin. UNSG António Guterres briefed Council members along with a civil society briefer. The Taoiseach’s speech can be found in full here.
• Taoiseach Micheál Martin delivered Ireland’s National Statement to the UN General Assembly on 24 September 2021. His full speech can be found here.

Monday –   27^th September

• Ireland will convene a high-level briefing on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to mark the 25th anniversary of the opening for signature of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Simon Coveney will chair the meeting. The expected briefers are UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) Robert Floyd, and a civil society representative.

Tuesday – 28^th September

• The Security Council will hold an open briefing, followed by closed consultations, on political developments in Syria. Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen will brief. A civil society representative may also brief.
• The Security Council will hold a briefing on Somalia, which will focus on women, peace and security. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, who visited Somalia on 12 September, will brief. A civil society representative is also expected to brief.

Wednesday – 29^th September

• Council members are expected to vote on a draft resolution renewing the authorisations granted by resolution 2546 of 2 October 2020, allowing member states acting in their national capacity or through regional organisations to intercept vessels off the coast of Libya suspected of migrant smuggling.
• The Council will convene for its monthly meeting on the “Middle East, including the Palestinian Question”. Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland is expected to brief. Civil society representatives may also brief.

Thursday – 30^th September

• Irish Presidency of the Security Council ends.

Friday – 1^st October

• Kenya assumes the Presidency of the Security Council for the month of October 2021.
• Meeting of the 751 Somalia Sanctions Committee. The Panel of Experts on Somalia will present its final report to the committee, which is due to be submitted to the Council by 15 October. In addition, an OCHA representative will present the annual report of the Emergency Relief Coordinator on the delivery of humanitarian assistance in Somalia and any impediments to aid delivery, which is also due by 15 October