Week 62, 14 - 18 March 2022

Ireland and the UN Security Council – This Week

Last week, Russia held a Security Council meeting to advance unsubstantiated claims on the alleged development of chemical and biological weapons in Ukraine. UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, confirmed that the UN was not aware of any biological weapons programmes in Ukraine. The WHO condemned attacks on healthcare facilities in Ukraine following the reported bombing of a maternity hospital in Mariupol last week. Meetings were also held on South Sudan, Women, Peace, and Security and Syria.

• The Security Council held a meeting on South Sudan on 7 March 2022. Ireland expressed concern at the humanitarian crisis and urged action by all parties to deliver peace for South Sudan's people.
• In a Security Council meeting on Ukraine on 7 March 2022, Ireland called for unrestricted safe passage for civilians out of areas of military operations.
• Minister Coveney delivered Ireland’s national statement at the Security Council open debate on Women, Peace, and Security on International Women’s Day on 8 March 2022. In his speech, he condemned the Russian Federation's further invasion of Ukraine & violation of the UN Charter.
• In an Arria-formula meeting on climate finance for sustaining peace and security on 9 March 2022, Ireland highlighted its €225 million public climate finance contribution per year by 2025.
• In a Security Council meeting on the Syria chemical weapons file on 10 March 2022, Ireland underlined the importance of the OPCW and its work in Syria and urged Syria to ensure its chemical weapons stocks are declared & verifiably destroyed.
• Russia held a Security Council meeting on 11 March 2022 on the alleged development of chemical and biological weapons in Ukraine. Ireland rejected these claims and urged Russia not to use the Security Council to spread disinformation.

The Week Ahead

• This week, the Security Council will continue to closely follow the situation in Ukraine and may convene a meeting, depending on developments. Security Council members are also expected to continue negotiating a draft resolution on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine proposed by France and Mexico. There will also be meetings on Yemen, Libya, and Afghanistan.

Monday – 14 March 2022

• The Security Council will receive the annual briefing on the activities of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Poland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office (CiO), and Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo are the anticipated briefers.

Tuesday – 15 March 2022

• Security Council members are expected to vote on a draft resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)
• There will be a briefing, followed by consultations, on Yemen. UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths will brief. The head of the UN Mission to support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA), Major General Michael Beary, will brief in consultations.

Wednesday – 16 March 2022       

• The Security Council will convene for a briefing and consultations on the situation in Libya and the work of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo is expected to brief. The chair of the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee, Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti (India), is also scheduled to brief on the committee’s activities.

Thursday – 17 March 2022

• Security Council members are expected to vote on a draft resolution on the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

Friday – 18 March 2022

1. No official meetings.