Week 56, 31 January - 4 February 2022

Last week, the Security Council addressed the situation in Libya, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, and Myanmar. Norway held its final high-level event as President of the Council for January 2022 on theme of Protection of Civilians. At a meeting on the humanitarian situation in Syria, Ireland and Norway welcomed progress made in cross-line aid deliveries, which will be crucial in ensuring essential UN cross-border aid deliveries can continue into the near future. A round up of the week’s key meetings and developments can be found below.

• In a Security Council meeting on Libya on 24 January 2022, Ireland reiterated its full support for the work of the UN Mission in the country.
• In a Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians on 25 January 2022, Ireland stressed that parties to conflict in urban settings must respect International Humanitarian Law.
• The Security Council adopted a Press Statement on the Recent Terrorist Attack in Iraq on 25 January 2022, expressing sympathy to the families of the victims.
• The Security Council was briefed on the situation in Afghanistan by Special Representative Deborah Lyons on 26 January 2022. Ireland called for an end to the targeting of women and girls by the Taliban.
• Ireland called a meeting of the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Ethiopia on 27 January 2022.
• Ireland and Norway welcomed progress made in cross-line aid delivery in a Security Council meeting on the humanitarian situation in Syria on 27 January 2022.
• The Security Council adopted a Press Statement reiterating support for the peace process in Colombia on 28 January 2022.
• The Security Council discussed the situation in Myanmar on 28 January 2022. Ireland expressed its concern for escalating violence, a deepening humanitarian crisis, and the plight of the Rohingya.

The Week Ahead

This week, Russia assumes the Presidency of the Security Council for the month of February. In light of the growing tensions on the Ukraine-Russia border, pressure will continue to mount on Security Council members to push for a diplomatic solution. Security Council members will closely follow the situation in Burkina Faso, after the 24 January military takeover that ousted President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré. They may choose to convene a meeting on this or other issues depending on developments.

Monday – 31 January 2022 

• Security Council members are scheduled to vote on a draft resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
• Meeting on the situation in Ukraine. A procedural vote is expected to take place ahead of the meeting.

Tuesday – 1 February 2022 

• Russia assumes the Presidency of the Security Council. Security Council members also expect to adopt the provisional programme of work for February.
• Meeting of the informal expert group of members of the Security Council on climate and security

Wednesday – 2 February 2022

• No official meetings.

Thursday – 3 February 2022

• At the subsidiary body level, the 1540 Committee – which aims to prevent non-state actors from obtaining access to weapons of mass destruction - is scheduled to meet to consider two internal working papers: one on transparency and another on outreach to member states and civil society.

Friday – 4 February 2022  

• No official meetings.