Protection of Civilians

  • At Switzerland’s invitation, members of the Security Council visited Geneva on 25 and 26 August to mark the 75th anniversary of the 1949 Geneva Conventions. (For background information, see our 25 August What’s in Blue story.) On the afternoon of the informal visit’s...

  • At Switzerland’s invitation, members of the Security Council visited Geneva on 25 and 26 August to mark the 75th anniversary of the 1949 Geneva Conventions. (For background information, see our 25 August What’s in Blue story.) On the second day of the informal...

  • At Switzerland’s invitation, members of the Security Council visited Geneva on 25 and 26 August to mark the 75th anniversary of the 1949 Geneva Conventions. (For background information, see our 25 August What’s in Blue story.) The informal visit of...

  • At Switzerland’s invitation, members of the Security Council are visiting Geneva today and tomorrow (25 and 26 August) to mark the 75th anniversary of the 1949 Geneva Conventions. According to a concept note prepared by Switzerland, the objective of this...

  • On 12 August, the Geneva Conventions turn 75. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has described these foundational treaties in international humanitarian law (IHL) as “one of humanity’s most important accomplishments of the last century.” In recent years, blatant disregard for IHL has been a feature of conflicts around the world, including several on the Council’s agenda. For the Security Council, the anniversary offers a time for sombre and sober reflection.

  • Tomorrow morning (28 June), the Security Council is scheduled to adopt a presidential statement on missing persons in armed conflict. The text was put forward by the Council’s “A3 plus one” grouping (which comprises Algeria, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and Guyana) to...

  • Tomorrow afternoon (12 June), there will be an Arria-formula meeting of Security Council members titled “Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict: prevent and respond to persons going missing across the globe”. Switzerland is convening the meeting together with The Global...

  • Tomorrow afternoon (30 May), the Security Council will convene for a briefing by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi under the agenda item “Briefing by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees”. Grandi is expected to provide an overview...

  • Tomorrow morning (24 May), the Security Council is expected to vote on a draft resolution prepared by Switzerland on the protection of humanitarian and UN personnel. The draft text is open for co-sponsorship by the wider UN membership. Background Over...

  • Tomorrow (21 May), the Security Council will hold its annual open debate on the protection of civilians (PoC) in armed conflict. Mozambique, the Council president for May, is convening the meeting as one of its signature events. The expected briefers are Assistant...

  • May 2024

    Protection of Civilians

    Monthly Forecast

    In May, the Security Council will receive the Secretary-General’s annual report on the protection of civilians (PoC) in armed conflict and hold its annual open debate on the topic. The expected briefers for the debate are Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths and ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger. Mozambique, the Council president in May, is also expected to invite a civil society representative.  

  • 19 March 2024

    Briefing on Food Security Risks in Sudan

    What's in Blue

    Tomorrow morning (20 March), the Security Council will hold a briefing on food insecurity in Sudan under the “Protection of civilians in armed conflict” agenda item. Briefings are expected from OCHA Director of Operations and Advocacy Edem Wosornu, Food and...

  • 27 February 2024

    Briefing on Food Security Risks in Gaza

    What's in Blue

    This afternoon (27 February), the Security Council will hold a briefing on food insecurity in Gaza under the “Protection of civilians in armed conflict” agenda item. Briefings are expected from OCHA Head in Geneva and Director of the Coordination Division...

  • Tomorrow (13 February), the Security Council will convene for a high-level open debate on “The impact of climate change and food insecurity on the maintenance of international peace and security”, the signature event of Guyana’s presidency. President Mohamed Irfaan Ali...

  • October 2023

    UN High Commissioner for Refugees

    Monthly Forecast

    In October, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, will brief the Council. The briefing will focus on the situation of refugees in several countries on the Council’s agenda. No outcome is expected.