Overview
Poland holds the presidency of the Security Council in August. It is planning a high-level briefing on the promotion and strengthening of the rule of law with a focus on international humanitarian law, which will most likely be chaired by Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz. The anticipated briefers are Under-Secretary-General Miguel de Serpa Soares, ICRC President Peter Maurer, and Annyssa Bellal, Senior Research Fellow and Strategic Adviser on International Humanitarian Law at the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights.
In addition, Poland will host a debate on challenges in the Middle East, including human rights and humanitarian issues in the region.
The Council will hold an open debate on the annual report of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict early in the month. Foreign Minister Czaputowicz is expected to chair.
There will also be a briefing on the Secretary-General’s strategic-level report on the threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or Da’esh).
The Council is due to renew the Mali sanctions regime, as well as the mandate of its Panel of Experts. Other African issues that will be considered this month are:
- Eritrea and Djibouti, consultations on relations between the two countries under the “peace and security in Africa” agenda item;
- Central Africa, consultations on the strategic review of the UN Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA);
- Somalia, a briefing and consultations on UNSOM and AMISOM;
- Sudan (Darfur), a briefing on UNAMID; and
- Burundi, a briefing and consultations on recent developments.
Council members are expected to meet with troop- and police-contributing countries and to hold consultations on UNIFIL, ahead of the mission’s mandate renewal at the end of the month. Several other Middle East issues will be discussed in August, including:
- Yemen, the monthly briefing on implementation of resolutions 2451 and 2452;
- Syria, the monthly briefings on the humanitarian situation, the political process and the use of chemical weapons;
- Iraq, a briefing and consultations on the UNAMI report; and
- Middle East (Israel/Palestine), the regular briefing and consultations.
The quarterly briefing by the chair of the 1718 DPRK Sanctions Committee is also anticipated in August.
The Council will also follow developments in Iran and Myanmar, among other country situations, during the month.
