Overview
Italy will have the presidency in November. It is planning to hold a ministerial-level briefing on the root causes of the security challenges in the Mediterranean and to consider initiatives to promote regional stability. It has planned several meetings on the issue of refugees and trafficking of persons. These will include a briefing by High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi on the global refugee crisis and the displacement aspect of various conflicts on the Security Council agenda. There will also to be an open debate on human trafficking and a briefing on the destruction and trafficking of cultural heritage by terrorist groups in situations of armed conflict.
Regarding Libya, there will be the regular briefings on UNSMIL and the work of the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee. ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda will present her semi-annual briefing on Libyan cases.
A briefing is expected on attacks on schools, which follows the Arria-formula meeting in October organised by France, Italy, Sweden and Uruguay.
Two adoptions on Somalia are scheduled. The first is to renew counter-piracy measures in Somalia, and the second is of a resolution on Somalia and Eritrea sanctions that will address the partial lifting of the arms embargo, authorisation for maritime interdiction of illicit arms imports and charcoal exports, and the humanitarian exemption. There will also be the regular briefing by the chair of the 751/1901 Somalia and Eritrea Sanctions Committee.
Other meetings on African issues during the month are expected to include:
- Burundi, an update on developments;
- the CAR, renewal of MINUSCA and an update on developments;
- Darfur, on the activities of UNAMID;
- South Sudan, on the activities of UNMISS; and
- Sudan/South Sudan, the renewal of UNISFA in Abyei.
With regard to Syria, in addition to the monthly briefings on the political and humanitarian situations, Council members are expected to consider the final report of the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the UN on the Khan Shaykhun and Um Housh attacks, as well as the renewal of the JIM, which expires on 17 November. Other issues to be considered include:
- Iraq, on recent developments and the activities of UNAMI;
- Israel/Palestine, the monthly briefing and consultations; and
- Lebanon, on the implementation of resolutions 1559 and 1701.
Regarding European situations, the Council will hold its semi-annual debate on Bosnia and Herzegovina and will adopt a resolution renewing the authorisation of the EU-led multinational stabilisation force there. The Council will also have its quarterly briefing on the activities of UNMIK in Kosovo.
Regarding the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the chair of the 1718 DPRK Sanctions Committee will brief in consultations. The Council will be following closely any developments regarding the DPRK.
The fourth annual briefing with heads of police components of peacekeeping operations will be held in early November, with a resolution as a possible outcome.
Also on the programme of work is the election of five judges of the ICJ by the Security Council and General Assembly.
The 15 current Council members and the incoming six (Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Netherlands, Kuwait, Peru and Poland) will participate in the annual “Hitting the Ground Running” workshop outside of New York City, organised by Finland.
