Week 41, 11-15 October 2021

Recent developments at the UNSC

• The Security Council held a briefing on the situation in Haiti on 4 October 2021. Ireland urged all actors to guarantee the inclusion of Haitian women in talks for a political solution.
• In a Security Council meeting on the Syria chemical weapons track on 4 October 2021, Ireland urged Syria to act immediately to meet all its obligations and to co-operate fully with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
• The Security Council issued a Press Statement on the attack against a MINUSMA convoy on 4 October 2021, which resulted in the death of one peacekeeper from Egypt and the injury of four others.
• The Security Council discussed the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on 5 October 2021. Ireland commended MONUSCO for its work and called for protection of civilians, accountability, and inclusion of civil society in the transition.
• Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean Pierre Lacroix, briefed the Security Council on UNDOF on 5 October 2021.
• In a Security Council meeting on the threat of illicit small arms and light weapons (SALW) in peace operations on 6 October 2021, Ireland underlined the need to scrutinise illicit SALW as a driver of conflict.
• In an open meeting of the Security Council on the situation in northern Ethiopia on 6 October 2021, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an end to the crisis and Ireland expressed its regret at the expulsion of 7 UN officials from the country.
• Journalists Maria Ressa of the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov of Russia were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on 8 October 2021 for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.
• The Security Council agreed a Press Statement condemning the terrorist attack on a Shia mosque in Kunduz, Afghanistan on 9 October 2021.

Monday –  11^th October

• Meeting with troop-contributing countries of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). Special Representative for Western Sahara and head of MINURSO Alexander Ivanko is expected to brief.

Tuesday – 12^th October  

• Kenya will convene a high-level open debate titled “Diversity, statebuilding and the search for peace”, under the “Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace” agenda item. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta will chair the meeting. Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to brief. A civil society representative may also brief.

Wednesday – 13^th October   

• Council members will receive a briefing in consultations on MINURSO. Special Representative for Western Sahara and head of MINURSO Alexander Ivanko and Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO) Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee are the anticipated briefers.

Thursday – 14^th October

• Council members are expected to vote on a draft resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH).
• Monthly briefing, followed by consultations, on Yemen. Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths expected to brief. A civil society representative may also brief the Council.
• Quarterly Council meeting on Colombia. Special Representative and head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia Carlos Ruiz Massieu will brief on recent developments and the Secretary-General’s latest 90-day report on the mission, which was issued on 24 September 2021. A civil society representative may also brief.

Friday – 15^th October

• Briefing on the situation in Kosovo. Special Representative and head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) Zahir Tanin will brief on recent developments and the Secretary-General’s latest report.
• Virtual Arria-formula meeting on Haiti at the initiative of the “A3 plus one” (Kenya, Niger, Tunisia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines).