Latest Publications

• 21 June 2021

  The UN Security Council and Climate Change

  Research Report

  While climate mitigation and adaptation measures are within the purview of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and contributions to such measures are outlined in the Paris Agreement, many Security Council members view climate change as a security threat worthy of the Council’s attention. Other members do not. One of the difficulties in considering whether or not the Council should play a role (and a theme of this report) is that there are different interpretations of what is appropriate for the Security Council to do in discharging its Charter-given mandate to maintain international peace and security.

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• 2 June 2021

  Security Council Elections 2021

  Research Report

  On 11 June, the 75th session of the UN General Assembly is scheduled to hold elections for the Security Council.

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• 19 June 2020

  Women, Peace and Security: The Agenda at 20

  Research Report

  This is the sixth research report by Security Council Report (SCR) dedicated to the women, peace and security agenda.

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• 28 May 2020

  Security Council Elections 2020

  Research Report

  On 17 June, the 74th session of the UN General Assembly is scheduled to hold elections for the Security Council.

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• 4 February 2020

  Prioritisation and Sequencing of Council Mandates: Walking the Walk?

  Research Report

  The Security Council, the UN Secretariat and external assessments have emphasised how better prioritisation and sequencing of Council mandates could contribute to the effectiveness of peace operations. Building on examples from several peace operations—including peacekeeping and special political missions—this report identifies the obstacles that the Council and the Secretariat face in applying these concepts. While acknowledging the structural challenges, the report makes recommendations that would pave the way for incremental changes in how the Council, the Secretariat and field missions approach the mandating process.

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• 23 December 2019

  The Rule of Law: Retreat from Accountability

  Research Report

  This is Security Council Report’s fifth research report on the rule of law. In it, we continue to explore the Security Council’s work in upholding individual criminal accountability as an aspect of its rule of law agenda in the context of its primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. Through an examination of four situations the Council deals with regularly—Myanmar, Syria, Ukraine, and Yemen—the research report takes stock of and assesses the Council’s current attitude and actions in respect of accountability.

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