Week 64, 28 March – 1 April 2022

Ireland and the UN Security Council – This Week

This bulletin will provide a brief analysis of last week’s meetings at the UN Security Council (UNSC), and an overview of the upcoming meetings this week.

Last week, the Security Council failed to adopt a resolution tabled by the Russian Federation calling for civilian protection in Ukraine. Several members, including Ireland rejected the text as an attempt by Russia to justify its aggression against Ukraine. Ireland and Norway delivered a joint statement as co-penholders for the Syria humanitarian file, emphasising the need for cross-border aid. Ireland condemned the Taliban’s ban on girls’ secondary education in a Council meeting. Meetings were also held on Palestine, and on cooperation with the League of Arab States (LAS). To conclude a busy week, the Security Council unanimously extended the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the committee in overseeing its sanctions against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

• UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, briefed the Security Council on 22 March 2022, denouncing Israel’s continued settlement activities. Ireland expressed concern over continued reports of excessive force by Israeli security forces and called on Israel to halt all settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
• The Security Council adopted a Presidential Statement on cooperation with the League of Arab States, on 23 March 2022, emphasising the urgent need for funding to address ongoing crises in the Middle East and North Africa. Ireland cited the link between climate change and security as one area for potential increased cooperation, and voiced concern that countries in the region are seeing an increasingly bleak humanitarian picture as the Russian Federation’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has driven up food and commodity prices for millions.
• The Security Council failed to adopt a draft resolution, tabled by the Russian Federation, that would have demanded civilian protection in Ukraine and called for unhindered access for humanitarian assistance on 23 March 2022, 2 votes in favour (China, Russian Federation), 13 abstentions. Ireland joined several fellow members in rejecting the text as an attempt by the Russian Federation to justify its aggression against its neighbour, describing the draft as a “cynical abuse of the multilateral system”.
• Special Envoy for Syria, Geir O. Pedersen, briefed the Security Council on 24 March 2022, as the war in Syria enters its 11^th year, pressing the Council to maintain its consensus on the upcoming renewal of the cross-border aid delivery authorization which allows assistance to flow into Syria from across the Turkish border. Ireland and Norway delivered a joint statement as humanitarian co-penholders. Ireland paid special tribute to the women of Syria, who have shown incredible resilience and leadership, and called for an end to all violations of fundamental human rights and humanitarian law.
• The Security Council issued a Press Statement on 24 March 2022, condemning in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks that took place in the Aden Adde International Airport area in Mogadishu, and Beledweyne, Hirshabelle on 23 March 2022.
• In an Arria-formula meeting convened by Mexico on 25 March 2022 on mental health, Ireland focused its intervention on promoting the role that psychosocial support plays in survivor centred responses. Ireland also highlighted climate anxiety, the mental health of peacekeepers, and the vulnerability of those with pre-existing mental health issues.
• The Security Council, on 25 March 2022, unanimously adopted resolution 2627 (2022), extending the mandate of the expert panel assisting the committee overseeing its sanctions against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) until 30 April 2023. Ireland condemned the intercontinental ballistic missile launch, and reiterated calls for the Government to respond to international offers of assistance in light of the dire humanitarian situation in the DPRK.
• The Security Council held a meeting on the Taliban’s ban on girls’ secondary education in Afghanistan on 25 March 2022. Ireland condemned the denial of the right to learn imposed on over 1 million girls.

The Week Ahead (28 March- 1 April 2022)

This week, the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Joyce Msuya, will brief the Security Council on the on-going humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and the growing threat to future global food security. There will also be meetings on Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia.

Monday – 28 March 2022

• The Council will receive a briefing from the Permanent Representative of Ghana, as Chair of the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee.
• The Council will hold briefing and consultations on the situation in Sudan and the activities of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS). SRSG Volker Perthes will brief the Council.

Tuesday – 29 March 2022

• The Council will hold a briefing and consultations on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The SRSG and Head of the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), Bintou Keita, and a civil society representative will brief.
• Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Joyce Msuya, will brief the Security Council on the on-going humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and the threat to future global food security.

Wednesday – 30 March 2022

• The mandate for a new AU transition mission in Somalia should be adopted by the end of March.
• The Council will hold consultations on UNDOF (Golan Heights). USG Lacroix will brief on the latest 90-day report of the Secretary-General (expected on 18 March).

Thursday – 31 March 2022

• The Security Council will hold a meeting on the situation in Somalia.

Friday – 1 April 2022

• No official meetings. The United Kingdom assumes the Presidency of the UNSC for the month of April.