Overview
In August, Panama will hold the presidency of the Security Council.
Panama plans to organise one signature event, a high-level open debate titled “Maritime Security: Prevention, Innovation, and International Cooperation to Address Emerging Challenges” under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item. President José Raúl Mulino of Panama is expected to chair the meeting. The anticipated briefers are Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Arsenio Domínguez, Secretary–General of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) Valdecy Urquiza, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Ricaurte Vásquez Morales.
In August, the Security Council will hold its annual open debate on conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) under the title “Identifying innovative strategies to ensure access to life-saving services and protection for survivors of sexual violence in conflict zones”. Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten and a woman civil society representative are the anticipated briefers.
Additionally, the Council will receive a briefing on the Secretary-General’s biannual strategic-level report on the threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) to international peace and security.
Middle Eastern issues on the programme of work in August are:
- Syria, meeting on the political and humanitarian tracks;
- Yemen, monthly meeting on developments;
- “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”, the monthly meeting, with the possibility of additional meetings depending on developments in Gaza and Israel; and
- Lebanon, consultations on the work of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and renewal of the mission’s mandate.
African issues on the programme of work this month are:
- Libya, briefing and consultations on the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the work of the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee;
- South Sudan, briefing and consultations on the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS); and
- West Africa and the Sahel, briefing and consultations on the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS).
The only Asian issue scheduled for this month is consultations on the work of the 1718 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Sanctions Committee.
In terms of thematic issues, the chair of the 1540 Committee, Ambassador Eloy Alfaro de Alba (Panama), is scheduled to brief the Council in August on the work of the committee, which supports and monitors the implementation of resolution 1540. Adopted in 2004, the resolution aims to prevent non-state actors from obtaining access to weapons of mass destruction.
As in previous months, the Council may hold one or more meetings on Ukraine in August. Council members are also likely to hold a meeting under “any other business” to mark the 17th anniversary of the 2008 Russia-Georgia war.
Other issues could be raised during the month depending on developments.
