Overview
In March, Japan will hold the presidency of the Security Council.
Japan is expected to organise two signature events. One will be an open debate on “Promoting conflict prevention – Empowering all actors including women and youth” under the “Peacebuilding and sustaining peace” agenda item. Representatives of the UN Secretariat, academia, and civil society are expected to brief.
The second signature event will be a high-level briefing on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item. Japanese Foreign Minister Yōko Kamikawa is expected to chair the meeting. Secretary-General António Guterres is the anticipated briefer.
Additionally, Japan will organise an open debate on the Council’s working methods under the agenda item “Implementation of the note by the President of the Security Council (S/2017/507)”, referring to the most recent version of the comprehensive compendium of Council working methods.
In March, the Security Council will also hold its annual meeting on strengthening EU-UN cooperation under the agenda item “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security”. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles is expected to brief.
Several African issues are on the programme of work this month, including:
- South Sudan, meeting on the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and renewal of the mission’s mandate;
- Sudan, renewal of the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee, briefing and consultations on the Secretary-General’s report pursuant to resolution 2715 of 1 December 2023—which terminated the mandate of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS)—and briefing by the chair of the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee; and
- Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), briefing and consultations on the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO).
Middle Eastern issues on the programme include:
- Syria, meetings on the political and humanitarian situations and on the chemical weapons track;
- Yemen, monthly meeting on developments;
- “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”, monthly meeting on developments, with the possibility of additional meetings depending on developments in Gaza and Israel;
- Lebanon, consultations on the implementation of resolution 1701, which was adopted in 2006 and called for a cessation of hostilities between the Shi’a group Hezbollah and Israel; and
- Golan, meeting on the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).
Two Asian issues are expected to be addressed in March. Regarding Afghanistan, the Council will consider the renewal of the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and hold its quarterly meeting on the situation in the country.
The Council is also expected to renew the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 1718 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Sanctions Committee and to receive a briefing from the chair of the 1718 DPRK Sanctions Committee on the committee’s work.
Regarding non-proliferation issues, the chair of the 1540 Committee is expected to brief the Council about the committee’s activities. (Adopted in 2004, resolution 1540 aims to prevent non-state actors from obtaining access to weapons of mass destruction.)
As in past months, there are likely to be one or more meetings on Ukraine in March.
Other issues could be raised during the month, depending on developments.
