Overview
In July, the UK will hold the presidency of the Security Council.
The UK plans to organise three signature events. The first signature event is a briefing on “Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities and Risks for International Peace and Security”. The UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs James Cleverly is expected to chair the meeting and Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to brief. The UK intends for the meeting to build on the “AI World Congress” held in London on 28 and 29 June and to shed light on the opportunities and risks posed by artificial intelligence.
The second signature event is an open debate on sexual violence in conflict. The meeting will be chaired by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the UK Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and the UN and Special Representative of the UK Prime Minister on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict. Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten and two civil society representatives are the anticipated briefers.
The third signature event is the annual open debate on children and armed conflict. Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Virginia Gamba, Deputy Executive Director for programmes at UNICEF Omar Abdi, and a civil society representative are expected to brief.
In July, the Security Council will also receive a briefing from force commanders of UN peacekeeping operations.
African issues on the programme of work in July are:
- West Africa, briefing and consultations on the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS);
- Central African Republic (CAR), renewal of the CAR sanctions regime and of the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 2127 CAR Sanctions Committee; and
- Sudan, the semi-annual briefing by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on its Darfur-related activities.
Middle East issues on the programme include:
- Syria, possible reauthorisation of the cross-border aid mechanism and meetings on the political, humanitarian, and chemical weapons tracks;
- Iran, briefing on the implementation of resolution 2231, which endorsed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran’s nuclear programme;
- Yemen, monthly meeting on developments and renewal of the mandate of the UN Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA);
- Lebanon, consultations on the Secretary-General’s 1701 report; and
- “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”, the quarterly open debate.
The Council is expected to meet on two European issues in July. There will be a briefing on Ukraine, which will be chaired by UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly. The Council may hold additional meetings on Ukraine depending on developments. Council members will also hold consultations on Cyprus and the work of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
On the Americas, there will be a briefing and consultations on Colombia. The Council is also expected to hold a meeting on the situation in Haiti and to renew the mandate of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH).
Other issues could be raised in July depending on developments.
