Overview
In October, Switzerland will hold the presidency of the Security Council.
Switzerland plans to organise two signature events. The first is a briefing on “anticipating the impact of scientific developments on international peace and security” under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item. Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis is expected to chair the meeting.
The second signature event is the annual open debate on women, peace and security (WPS), which will be titled: “Women Building Peace in a Changing Environment”. President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd is expected to chair the meeting. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, UN Women Executive Director Sima Sami Bahous, and one or more civil society representatives are the anticipated briefers.
In October, the Security Council is scheduled to hold its annual briefing on cooperation between the UN and regional and sub-regional organisations, focusing on the African Union (AU). The 18th annual joint consultative meeting between the Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) will also be held on 18 October. The annual meeting rotates between New York and Addis Ababa, the home of the AU headquarters. This year, the meeting will be held in New York, and it will be preceded by the ninth informal joint seminar of the Security Council and the AUPSC, which is set to take place in Tarrytown, New York, on 16 and 17 October.
The Security Council is also scheduled to hold its annual private meeting with the President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Judge Nawaf Salam.
African issues on the programme of work in October are:
- Western Sahara, consultations on the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) and the mandate renewal of MINURSO;
- Great Lakes Region, the biannual briefing and consultations;
- Central African Republic (CAR), briefing and consultations on the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA);
- Libya, mandate renewal of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and briefing and consultations on UNSMIL and the work of the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee;
- Sudan, briefing on UN efforts to support Sudan on its path towards peace and stability pursuant to resolution 2715 of 1 December 2023; and
- Somalia, briefing and consultations on the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), mandate renewal of UNSOM, a private meeting to receive updates pursuant to resolution 2748 of 15 August on the overall mission design and financing options for the proposed successor mission to the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), and briefing by the chair of the 2713 Al-Shabaab Sanctions Committee.
Middle Eastern issues on the programme include:
- Yemen, monthly briefing and consultations on developments;
- Golan, consultations on the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF);
- Lebanon, consultations on the Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of resolution 1559;
- Syria, meeting on political and humanitarian developments; and
- “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”, the quarterly open debate.
Regarding European issues, a briefing on the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) is anticipated, and one or more meetings on Ukraine are likely during the month.
Two issues in the Americas will be discussed in October:
- Haiti, renewal of the 2653 Haiti sanctions regime and a briefing, followed by consultations, on developments in the country and the work of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH); and
- Colombia, quarterly meeting on developments in the country and renewal of the mandate of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia.
Other issues could be raised in October depending on developments.
