Week 86, 29 August 2022 – 2 September 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 remained focused on the war in Ukraine as a meeting was held on “Maintenance of International Peace and Security:  Promoting Common Security through Dialogue and Cooperation”. The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, gave his semi-annual briefing to the Council on the ICC investigation regarding Darfur and a meeting was held on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question.

• On 22 August 2022, the Security Council held a meeting on “Maintenance of International Peace and Security:  Promoting Common Security through Dialogue and Cooperation”. During the meeting the UN Secretary-General urged Security Council members to update the diplomatic toolkit in order to meet the deteriorating global peace and security environment and move towards a world free of nuclear weapons.  He informed the Council that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was ready to send a mission from Kyiv to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, and Gustavo Zlauvinen, President of the Tenth Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, warned Security Council members that the norm against the use of such arms, one of the most important achievements of the post-Second World War era, is increasingly threatened. Ireland underscored the collective responsibility to bring urgency and action to nuclear disarmament, address proliferation challenges, and honour and implement existing commitments. Ireland also urged the Council to move away from a default position of responding after a crisis has happened and be more proactive on prevention.
• The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, gave his semi-annual briefing to the Council on the ICC investigation regarding Darfur on 23 August 2022. He acknowledged the progress made by the Court, marked by the beginning of the first war-crimes trial of a former Janjaweed commander in April 2022 but noted that recent months have marked a backwards step regarding cooperation from Sudan. Ireland voiced grave concern over large-scale violence in west Darfur resulting in the deaths of 200 people in April and expressed its support for the Prosecutor’s request for unimpeded access to evidence, to Sudanese territory, and to all material witnesses.

  

                Karim Khan                              

• UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, briefed the Council, in a meeting requested by the Russian Federation, on 23 August 2022. Ms DiCarlo expressed grave concern for the situation at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine and warned that a nuclear incident would have catastrophic consequences not only for the immediate vicinity but for the region and beyond. Ireland voiced support for an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) mission to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, stressing that the mission must have full access with no restrictions. Ireland stated that if the Russian Federation is genuine in its concern regarding nuclear safety at Zaporizhzhia, it must assume its responsibilities and end its illegal occupation of the site and further called on the Russian Federation to end its brutal war against the Ukrainian people and to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbours.
• On 24 August 2022, the UN Secretary-General made a statement to the UN Security Council, marking six months since the Russian Federation first invaded Ukraine. The Secretary-General emphasised the impacts of the war, including the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Ukraine and the deepening global food crisis. Ireland emphasised that parties to the conflict must comply with international humanitarian law.  This includes the obligation to distinguish between civilians and combatants and not to attack civilian objects. Ireland once again reiterated its call to the Russian Federation to end its illegal occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
• On 25 August 2022, Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, briefed the Council that the ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad remains in effect and that “a fragile calm has been restored in Gaza”. He detailed however, that the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains troubling, and the humanitarian response across the Occupied Palestinian Territory continues to face chronic funding gaps. Ireland welcomed the holding ceasefire but expressed concern over the alarming increase in Palestinian civilian fatalities in the West Bank resulting from the use of live ammunition by Israeli forces. Ireland called on Israel to refrain from using excessive force and for those responsible for violations to be held accountable.
• On 26 August 2022, the Informal Expert Group on Women, Peace and Security, which Ireland co-chairs with Mexico, met to discuss the situation of women and girls in the Central African Republic. Lizbeth Cullity, Deputy Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), briefed the group on the gravity of the situation.

 

Lisbeth Cullity

• On 26 August 2022, Ambassador Fergal Mythen, presented his credentials to the UN Secretary-General as he assumed the role of Ireland’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, taking over from Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason, who served in the role from 2017 – 2022.

 

Amb Fergal Mythen & UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres 

Amb Geraldine Byrne Nason

The Week Ahead (29 August – 2 September 2022)

This week marks the final week of China’s August Presidency of the Council. The Council will hold a briefing and consultations on Syria. The Council is expected to renew the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Mali sanctions regime. Meetings will also take place regarding the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Central African Republic.

Monday – 29 August 2022

• The Council will hold a briefing and consultations on Syria. The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, is expected to brief. The humanitarian statement will be delivered by Ireland this month. The UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pederson, will also brief the Council.  

Tuesday – 30 August 2022

• The Council is expected to adopt a Resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
• The Council is expected to renew the mandate of the Mali sanctions regime.
• There will be closed consultations on Syria (Chemical Weapons).
• The Council will receive the sixth 90-day report by the Chair of the 1718 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Sanctions Committee.  

Wednesday – 31 August 2022

• The Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2127 (2013) will have informal consultations concerning the Central African Republic.

Thursday – 1 September 2022

• France will assume the Presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of September.

Friday – 2 September 2022

• No official meetings.