Overview
Peru will have the presidency in April. It has chosen to hold a high-level briefing on peacebuilding and sustaining peace which is planned to coincide with the 24-25 April General Assembly high-level event on this issue. Secretary-General António Guterres and the Chair of the PBC, Ambassador Ion Jinga (Romania), are expected to brief.
There will be three open debates this month. The open debate on women, peace and security will be on the Secretary-General’s annual report on conflict-related sexual violence, focusing in particular on preventing sexual violence in conflict through empowerment, gender equality and justice. Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten will brief. The second open debate will be on youth, peace and security and focuses on a recently completed progress study on the topic. The quarterly debate on the Middle East is expected to focus as usual on Israel/Palestine.
The mandates of the UN missions in Haiti (MINUJUSTH) and in Western Sahara (MINURSO) will be renewed in April. Ahead of the renewal of MINUJUSTH, the Council is expected to hold a debate. There will be a TCC meeting and consultations ahead of the renewal of MINURSO at the end of the month.
Regarding the Middle East, the Council will continue to follow developments in Syria closely and are expecting to receive the monthly briefings on political and humanitarian developments and on the use of chemical weapons, with additional meetings possible depending on developments. On Yemen, the Council expects briefings by Special Envoy Martin Griffiths and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock.
There will be several Sudan/South Sudan meetings. The Council will discuss developments in relation to UNMISS in South Sudan, UNISFA in Abyei and Sudan/South Sudan relations. The Council is also expected to decide whether to extend UNISFA’s support to the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism and may receive the Secretary-General’s report on the independent review of UNISFA. Other African issues the Council will consider include:
- Great Lakes Region, a briefing on the implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework Agreement for the DRC and the region;
- Liberia, a briefing on the final report of the mission and from the chair of the country configuration on Liberia of the PBC; and
- Mali, the activities of MINUSMA.
Other issues on the programme of work include:
- Colombia, an update on the UN Verification Mission in Colombia; and
- Non-proliferation, a briefing by the chair of the 1540 Committee.
Arria-formula meetings are anticipated on counter-terrorism and organised crime, on the rule of law and peacekeeping, and on the role of religious leaders in promoting peace and security.
Additionally, Council members will attend a retreat with the Secretary-General in Sweden.
