August 2025 Monthly Forecast

• Overview    

  In August, Panama will hold the presidency of the Security Council.     Read more

• In Hindsight: A Council in Waiting

  Facing difficult issues, a divided Council will need to find ways to build trust and cooperate to maximise its effectiveness in difficult fiscal circumstances and a fluid international peace and security environment. If it does not, there is a danger that the Council will become increasingly sidelined, and some issues related to the maintenance of international peace and security will move outside of the Council. Read more

• Status Update since our July Forecast

  This is the Status Update since our July Forecast. Read more

• Women, Peace and Security

  In August, the Security Council will hold its annual open debate on conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), which will be titled: “Identifying innovative strategies to ensure access to life-saving services and protection for survivors of sexual violence in conflict zones”. Amid escalating armed conflicts in which critical healthcare infrastructure is often destroyed or deliberately targeted by warring parties, it appears that Panama, the Council president in August, intends to focus the open debate on the need to ensure non-discriminatory access to quality multi-sectoral services for CRSV survivors. The open debate will also emphasise the importance of sustaining efforts to prevent, monitor and respond to CRSV in the aftermath of transitions and drawdowns of UN peace operations, including through support to community-based organisations and women human rights defenders. Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten and a woman civil society representative are the anticipated briefers. No formal product is expected. Read more

• Non-Proliferation (1540 Committee)

  In August, the chair of the 1540 Committee, Ambassador Eloy Alfaro de Alba (Panama), is scheduled to brief the Council on the work of the Committee. Read more

• West Africa and the Sahel

  In August, the Security Council will hold a briefing, followed by closed consultations, on West Africa and the Sahel. It appears that Panama, the Council’s president for August, will encourage a focus on women, peace and security (WPS) issues at the meeting. The Special Representative and Head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Leonardo Santos Simão, and the UN Women Executive Director, Sima Sami Bahous, are expected to brief. Read more

• Maritime Security

  In August, the Security Council will hold 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. This will be the signature event of Panama’s presidency. President José Raúl Mulino of Panama is expected to chair the meeting. The anticipated briefers are the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Domínguez; the Secretary-General of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), Valdecy Urquiza; and the Chief Executive Officer of the Panama Canal Authority, Ricaurte Vásquez. A concept note has been circulated by Panama to inform the discussion at the high-level debate. No formal outcome is expected from the meeting. Read more

• Yemen

  In August, the Security Council will hold its monthly briefing, followed by closed consultations, on Yemen. UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg and an official from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) are expected to brief on political, security, and humanitarian developments in the country.  Read more

• South Sudan

  In August, the Security Council will hold a briefing, followed by consultations, on the situation in South Sudan. Special Representative and Head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Nicholas Haysom will brief on the Secretary-General’s 90-day report on South Sudan and developments in the country. The mandate of UNMISS expires on 30 April 2026. Read more

• Lebanon

  In August, the Security Council is scheduled to vote on a draft resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) ahead of its 31 August expiry. Additionally, on 18 August, Council members are expected to hold closed consultations on UNIFIL. Mohamed Khaled Khiari, the Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, is the anticipated briefer. Read more

• Syria

  In August, the Security Council is expected to hold a meeting on political and humanitarian developments in Syria. UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen and a representative from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) are expected to brief. Read more

• Libya

  In August, the Security Council will hold its bimonthly briefing on the situation in Libya. Special Representative and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Hanna Serwaa Tetteh will brief the Council on recent political, security, and humanitarian developments in the country and the Secretary-General’s latest report on UNSMIL. Additionally, the chair of the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee will brief on the committee’s activities. Read more

• DPRK (North Korea)

  In August, the Chair of the 1718 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris (Greece), is scheduled to brief Council members in closed consultations on the 90-day report regarding the Committee’s work. Read more