Overview
Japan will have the presidency of the Council in December. There will be two non-proliferation meetings. The first is expected to be a ministerial-level meeting on the DPRK, focusing on the threat and challenges posed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to international peace and security. The second is on Iran and the implementation of resolution 2231, which endorsed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran’s nuclear programme.
With regard to Syria, there will be the regular briefings on the political and humanitarian situation and on chemical weapons. In addition, Council members are expected to negotiate and put to a vote a draft resolution renewing the authorisation for cross-border and cross-line humanitarian access, which expires on 10 January 2018.
Other Middle East issues that will be considered are:
- Golan Heights, the renewal of UNDOF;
- Israel/Palestine, the regular monthly briefing; and
- Yemen, on the political process and the humanitarian situation.
Council members will continue to follow developments in South Sudan and are expected to renew the mandate of the UN mission and the authorisation of the Regional Protection Force. There will be discussions on several other African issues this month, including:
- Liberia, an update on UNMIL by the Special Representative and on the peacebuilding plan by the Chair of the Liberia configuration of the PBC;
- Sudan, the quarterly briefing by the chair of the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee and the semi-annual briefing on the ICC’s work; and
- UNOCA/LRA, an update on the activities of the UN Office in Central Africa and the regional strategy to combat the Lord’s Resistance Army.
Other Asian issues this month include a briefing followed by consultations on developments in Rakhine state in Myanmar since the adoption of a presidential statement in early November and the quarterly debate on Afghanistan.
Other issues on the December programme of work include:
- Counter-Terrorism, renewal of the mandate of the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate;
- Peace operations, a briefing on the Secretary-General’s report on how to fill gaps in force generation;
- Small arms, a briefing on the Secretary-General’s biennial report; and
- Tribunals, the semi-annual debate on the ad hoc international criminal tribunals.
There will also be the annual briefing by outgoing subsidiary body chairs, reviewing their experience and developments during their term as chairs of committees or working groups.
A meeting on the human rights situation in the DPRK is also possible in December.
