Overview

Uruguay takes over the presidency of the Security Council in May. Early in the month, a Council visiting mission to Colombia is planned, and there will be a briefing on the visiting mission in mid-May.

There will be two open debates this month: on protection of civilians and women, peace and security. The open debate on protection of civilians will be a ministerial-level meeting with Uruguayan Minister of Foreign Affairs Rodolfo Nin Novoa presiding. Secretary-General António Guterres and a high-level representative of the ICRC are expected to brief, in addition to a possible civil society member. The meeting will focus on the Secretary-General’s report on the protection of civilians and on the implementation of resolution 2286 of 3 May 2016, which focused on the protection of health care in armed conflict. The second open debate will be on the Secretary-General’s annual report on conflict-related sexual violence, focusing particularly on sexual violence in conflict as a tactic of war and terrorism with briefings from the Office of the Special Representative on Sexual Violence and Conflict and a civil society representative.  

Adoptions are planned for the renewals of the mission mandates of UNISFA in Abyei and UNMISS in South Sudan; and the renewal of the authorisation of AMISOM in Somalia. Prior to the AMISOM adoption there will be a briefing on the AMISOM report, including options and recommendations based on the AU-UN joint assessment of the mission.

Another African issue this month will be the semi-annual briefing from the ICC Prosecutor on Libya.

Regarding Middle East issues, members are expecting Syria briefings on the humanitarian and political situations, as well as on chemical weapons.

Other Middle East issues this month include:

• Iraq, on the activities of UNAMI;
• Israel/Palestine, the monthly briefing;
• Lebanon, the implementation of resolution 1559; and
• Yemen, an update on the situation.

Regarding European situations, the Council will hold its regular meetings on UNMIK in Kosovo and on the report of the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina. There will also be an annual meeting with the EU where Federica Mogherini, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, will brief the Council. 

There will be a joint briefing by the Council’s three counter-terrorism committees, as well as the annual meeting with force commanders, this year featuring those of UNDOF, UNMIL and MINUSCA.

The chair of the 1718 DPRK Sanctions Committee will provide the quarterly briefing on the work of the Committee.

Additionally, Council members will attend a retreat with the Secretary-General early in the month.