Week 81, 25 July - 29 July 2022

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 held closed consultation on the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), and Lebanon. The Security Council’s annual debate on Children and Armed Conflict took place and the Council was briefed on the elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons programme. In the General Assembly a debate was held following the Russian Federation’s use of the veto against a resolution which would have extended the provision of cross-border aid into Syria.

• The Council held closed consultations on the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), with a briefing from the Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, Colin Stewart, on 18 July 2022.
• On 19 July 2022, the Security Council’s annual debate on Children and Armed Conflict took place. Briefers included Patrick Kumi, the founder of the Similar Ground organisation, Catherine Russell, Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and Virginia Gamba, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Children and Armed Conflict. The SRSG introduced the Secretary-General’s latest report which details 19,165 instances of grave violations against children. Ireland cited the appalling impact on children by violations of international humanitarian law, including those arising from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and called on all states to support the Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas, which was recently concluded following a process led by Ireland in Geneva.

Virginia Gamba

• On 20 July 2022, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, presented an update on the elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons programme and stated that the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has yet to receive the requested declaration from Syria on all undeclared types and quantities of nerve agent, produced and/or weaponized, at a former chemical weapons production facility in the country. Ireland expressed support for the OPCW but noted that it has been more than a year since any progress has been made and emphasised that Ireland will work, including through its membership on the OPCW Executive Council, to resolve these issues.

Izumi Nakamitsu

• On 21 July 2022, the General Assembly held a debate, after the Russian Federation vetoed a draft Security Council resolution which was proposed by Ireland and Norway, on 8 July 2022. The resolution would have allowed cross-border aid to pass into Syria through Bab al-Hawa for 12 months, unless any Council members decided to review it after the initial six months. The debate was held under the Assembly’s new standing mandate to convene within 10 working days on a situation in which a veto is cast. The Russian Federation defended the use of the veto and described the “6+6” renewal formula as flawed as it does not outline a specific way to end the renewal if Council members deem progress to be insufficient. Ireland described the Russian Federation’s use of the veto as “an unconscionable act” which placed the critical lifeline for 4 million Syrians at risk.
• UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka, and Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, briefed the Council in closed consultations on Lebanon on 21 July 2022.

Joanna Wronecka

• On 22 July 2022, under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General, an agreement was signed by Ukraine, the Russian Federation and Turkey, to facilitate the safe shipping of grain from Ukraine’s ports

The Week Ahead (25 July – 29 July 2022)

This week, the Council will hold a briefing on Libya and the quarterly open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question will take place. Kenya will host an Arria-formula meeting on terrorism in Africa and Ghana will organise an Arria-formula meeting on “Collective security though equitable burden sharing through regional arrangements.”

Monday – 25 July 2022

• The Council will hold a briefing and consultations on UNSMIL (Libya).

Tuesday – 26 July 2022

• The Council will hold its quarterly open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question. UN Special Coordinator, Tor Wennesland, will brief the Council.
• Kenya will host an Arria-formula meeting on terrorism in Africa.

Wednesday – 27 July 2022

• The chair of the UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), the Permanent Representative of Bangladesh, Rabab Fatima, is scheduled to brief the Council on the Commission’s programme of work for 2022.
• Ghana will organise an Arria-formula meeting on “Collective security though equitable burden sharing through regional arrangements.”

Thursday – 28 July 2022

• The Council is expected to renew the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
• The Council is expected to adopt a resolution renewing the mandate of the 2127 Central African Republic sanctions regime.
• The Council is expected to adopt a resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
• The Council will hold its biannual consultations on the UN Regional Centre for Preventative Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA).

Friday – 29 July 2022

• No official meetings.