Week 46, 15-19 November 2021

Recent developments at the UNSC

• The Security Council met to discuss the situation in Ethiopia on 8 November 2021. Ireland called on all parties to the conflict to facilitate humanitarian aid, to immediately end the fighting, and to embrace negotiations towards a lasting peace.
• In a Security Council meeting on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory on 8 November 2021, Ireland expressed its concern at Israel’s decision to designate 6 Palestinian NGOs as terrorist entities.
• In a Security Council open debate on ‘Exclusion, Inequality and Conflict’ on 9 November 2021, Ireland stressed the importance of addressing root causes and drivers of conflict. A Presidential Statement was adopted as an outcome of the meeting.
• At the annual briefing by the heads of UN Peacekeeping Police Components at the Security Council on 10 November 2021, Ireland emphasised the need to recognise the indispensable role of women in Peacekeeping & special political missions, especially in transition contexts.
• The Security Council agreed a Press Statement on Myanmar on 10 November 2021.
• The Security Council held closed consultations on Yemen and Sudan on 11 November 2021. Ireland called for an end to the Houthi offensive on Marib, a nationwide ceasefire, and inclusive political dialogue in Yemen and condemned the coup in Sudan.
• Along with France and Estonia, Ireland called for a Security Council meeting on Belarus under AOB on 11 November 2021.
• A Security Council resolution extending the mandate of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) was adopted on 12 November 2021.

Monday – 15^th November

• Closed consultations on the political and humanitarian situations in Syria. Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths are expected to brief.
• The Security Council is expected to vote on two draft resolutions: one renewing the mandate of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), and another renewing several elements of the 751 Somalia sanctions regime. These votes were originally scheduled for 12 November but were postponed to allow for further deliberations on the draft texts.

Tuesday – 16^th November 

• Mexico will convene an open debate on “Peace and security through preventive diplomacy: A common agenda to all UN principal organs”, under the agenda item “Maintenance of international peace and security”. The expected briefers are Secretary-General António Guterres; Abdulla Shahid, President of the General Assembly; Collen Vixen Kelapile, President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC); and Joan E. Donoghue, President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). A Presidential Statement is a possible outcome.

Wednesday – 17^th November  

• Open briefing, followed by closed consultations, on Somalia. Special Representative for Somalia and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) James Swan and AU Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission (SRCC) for Somalia and head of the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Francisco Madeira will brief. A civil society representative is also expected to brief.
• Briefing, followed by consultations, on Afghanistan. Special Representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Deborah Lyons and a civil society representative are the anticipated briefers.

Thursday – 18^th November

• The 15 current Security Council members and the incoming five (Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, and the United Arab Emirates) will participate in the annual “Hitting the Ground Running” workshop organised by Finland.

Friday – 19^th November

• The 15 current Security Council members and the incoming five (Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, and the United Arab Emirates) will participate in the annual “Hitting the Ground Running” workshop organised by Finland.