Week 58, 14 - 18 February 2022

Ireland and the UN Security Council – This Week

Last week, the Security Council held thematic meetings on the humanitarian impact of sanctions and ISIL terrorism. There was also a meeting on the situation in Burkina Faso, which resulted in the adoption of a Security Council Press Statement condemning the recent military coup. Last week also marked the beginning of the 2022 session of intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform. Ireland called for a more accountable, coherent, and transparent Security Council reform process. A round up of the week’s key meetings and developments can be found below.

• In a Security Council meeting on sanctions on 7 February 2022, Ireland highlighted that targeted sanctions should minimise the impact on the lifesaving work of humanitarian actors in places like Afghanistan, the DRC and Mali.
• In a closed Security Council meeting on Burkina Faso on 8 February 2022, Ireland called for the constitutional order to be restored and for the release of detainees, following the recent coup. Council members adopted a Press Statement expressing concern at the situation.
• In a Security Council meeting on ISIL terrorism on 9 February 2022, Ireland called for accountability for ISIL crimes and enhanced international co-operation in countering the financing of terrorism.
• Ireland echoed the calls of the UN Secretary-General for the release and the safe return home of ‘disappeared’ women activists in Afghanistan on 10 February 2022.

The Week Ahead

This week, Russia will hold a high-level debate on the cooperation between the UN and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). There will also be briefing on the situation in Ukraine, with contributions from officials from the UN, the OSCE, and the Trilateral Contact Group. It remains to be seen whether this will lead to de-escalation on the Ukraine-Russia border, with recent US intelligence suggesting the strong possibility of an imminent invasion. Finally, Irish Major General Michael Beary is expected to provide his first briefing to Council members on the UN Mission to support the Hodeidah Agreement (Yemen) since assuming his duties last month.

Monday – 14 February 2022 

• No official meetings.

Tuesday – 15 February 2022 

• The Security Council will hold an open briefing, followed by closed consultations, on Somalia. James Swan, the Special Representative for Somalia and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), and Francisco Madeira, head of the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), will brief. An EU representative is also expected to brief.
• The Security Council will hold its monthly briefing and consultations on Yemen with UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths. During the consultations, the head of the UN Mission to support the Hodeidah Agreement (Yemen), Major General Michael Beary, is expected to provide his first briefing to Council members since assuming his duties last month.

Wednesday – 16 February 2022

• Russia will organise a debate on the cooperation between the UN and regional and subregional organisations, with a focus on the partnership with the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). UN Secretary-General António Guterres and CSTO Secretary-General Stanislav Zas are the anticipated briefers.

Thursday – 17 February 2022

• There will be a briefing on the situation in Ukraine to mark the seventh anniversary of the “Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements”, also known as the Minsk II agreement. The expected briefers are Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, Special Representative of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group Mikko Kinnunen and Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine Halit Çevik.

Friday – 18 February 2022  

• The Security Council will convene for an open briefing, followed by closed consultations, on Haiti. Special Representative and head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) Helen La Lime is the anticipated briefer.