Week 80, 18 July - 22 July 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 was briefed on the situation in Yemen. The Council adopted a compromise resolution renewing cross-border humanitarian operations in Syria’s North-West. Brazil hosted a high-level open debate on the role of Strategic Communications in UN Peacekeeping and Ireland hosted an Arria-formula meeting on Colombia’s Peace Process and Transitional Justice.

(L-R) Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason, EU Special Envoy for the Peace Process in Colombia, Eamon Gilmore, and Vice-President of Colombia, Marta Lucía Ramírez at the Arria-formula meeting.

On 11 July 2022, the Security Council was briefed on the situation in Yemen. The Special Envoy, Hans Grundberg, expressed concern that the current truce, which represents the best opportunity for peace in Yemen in years, will expire in three weeks and said that he will push to extend it. He also highlighted that in Taïz, many roads remain closed for the seventh year in a row, emphasising that opening roads is not only essential to ease humanitarian suffering but also to normalize the conditions of everyday life for Yemeni people. Ireland stated that while the truce has led to significantly decreased levels of violence, the security situation remains concerning and underlined that against the backdrop of a critically underfunded humanitarian response plan, the additional cuts to food aid announced recently by the World Food Programme are deeply troubling, as this will impact millions of Yemenis. 

On 12 July 2022, following days of protracted negotiations, the Council adopted a compromise resolution extending the use of the Bab al-Hawa border crossing for the delivery of humanitarian aid into Syria’s north-west for six months. Ireland acknowledged that the negotiation process was difficult but underlined that what is most important is that the Council keeps the crossing open and operating, and that aid reaches those in dire need.

Brazil, as Council President, hosted a high-level open debate on the role of Strategic Communications in UN Peacekeeping on 12 July 2022. UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, opened the debate and highlighted that strategic communication is a top priority within the Action for Peacekeeping+ initiative. He outlined that amid global geopolitical tensions and complex conflicts peacekeepers are facing terrorists, criminals and armed groups who use misinformation, disinformation and hate speech as weapons of war. Ireland emphasised that when peacekeeping operations are deployed, it is critical to clearly explain to populations on the ground why peacekeepers are there. Irish troops serving in peacekeeping missions have always placed a strong emphasis on outreach operations to ensure effective communications with the local authorities and populations.

The Security Council, on 13 July 2022, extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA) until 14 July 2023. Ireland acknowledged that UNMHA’s role is critical at this delicate moment for Yemen but stressed that Council resolutions should remain grounded in evidence-based reporting, noting that specific language in this resolution was based on assessments to which not all Council members have access. Ireland would have preferred the text remain fully aligned with the original Hudaydah Agreement, on which the Mission’s capacity and focus remains.

The Security Council unanimously extended the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) on 15 July 2022. During the meeting the Council called on Member States to prohibit the transfer of small arms, light weapons and ammunition to non-State actors engaged in or supporting gang violence, criminal activities or human rights abuses in Haiti.

On 14 July 2022, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, the Head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, presented the Secretary-General’s report to the Council. He said the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace, signed in 2016, has made a significant contribution to widening and deepening Colombian democracy. However, he emphasised that serious obstacles still exist, including persisting violence against communities, leaders and former combatants in several departments. Francisco José De Roux Rengifo, President of the Truth Commission outlined that over the last four years, the Commission has heard from more than 30,000 individuals and bodies and reviewed over 1,000 reports from victimized communities. Ireland stressed that violence remains an everyday reality for communities across Colombia — particularly those of indigenous and Afro-Colombian origin — and those who stand up in support of peace, human rights and dignity continue to be targeted.  Ireland called for accountability for these crimes and for the peace agreement’s gender provisions to be fully implemented.

Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Francisco José De Roux Rengifo

On 14 July 2022, Ireland hosted an Arria-formula meeting, co-sponsored by Colombia and Norway, on "A Milestone Year for a Peaceful Future: Transitional Justice in Colombia". Briefers included Father Francisco de Roux, President of the Truth Commission, Eamon Gilmore, EU Special Envoy for the Peace Process in Colombia, and Marta Lucía Ramírez, Vice-President of Colombia. Eamon Gilmore outlined that in some parts of Colombia people are still struggling to emerge from the conflict but underlined that the Truth Commission report is a new hope. He further called for continued support from the international community for the Colombian peace process, both politically and financially.

The Week Ahead (18 July – 22 July 2022)

This week, the Council will hold briefings on Yemen, Syria and Colombia. A high-level open debate on the role of Strategic Communications in UN peacekeeping will be hosted by Brazil. Ireland will host an Arria-formula meeting focused on the transitional justice system in Colombia and Albania will organise an Arria-formula meeting that is expected to focus on the destruction of cultural heritage in Ukraine.

This week, the Council will hold closed consultations on the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, and on Lebanon. Brazil will host the annual Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict. International Criminal Court Prosecutor, Karim Khan, will give his semi-annual briefing on the ICC investigation in Darfur.

Monday – 18 July 2022

The Council will hold a closed consultations on the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), with a briefing from Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Colin Stewart.

Tuesday – 19 July 2022

Brazil will host the annual Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict. The Brazilian Deputy Foreign Minister will chair, and briefers are expected to include Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Virginia Gamba, and UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell.

Wednesday – 20 July 2022

The Council will hold a briefing and consultations on Syria (chemical weapons). Thomas Markram, Deputy High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, will brief the Council

Thursday – 21 July 2022

Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka, and Under-Secretary-General, Jean-Pierre Lacroix are expected to brief the Council in closed consultations on the 1701 Report on Lebanon after the Informal Expert Group on Women, Peace and Security, co-chaired by Ireland, visited Lebanon at the end of June. 

Friday – 22 July 2022

International Criminal Court Prosecutor, Karim Khan, will give his semi-annual briefing on the ICC investigation in Darfur.