Security Council Working Methods

  • Mr President, Thank you for inviting Security Council Report to address this open debate on working methods. SCR extends our appreciation to Japan as Council President and as the Chair of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural...

  • 10 March 2024

    Working Methods Open Debate

    What's in Blue

    Tomorrow (11 March), the Security Council will convene for its annual open debate on its working methods. The meeting will be held under the agenda item “Implementation of the Note by the President of the Security Council (S/2017/507)”, referring to...

  • 1 March 2024

    Programme of Work for March 2024

    What's in Blue

    Japan is the president of the Security Council in March. Council members adopted the provisional programme of work for the month earlier today (1 March). As one of the signature events of its presidency, Japan will organise an open debate...

  • March 2024

    Working Methods  

    Monthly Forecast

    In March, Japan is organising an open debate on the Council’s working methods. Japan, the chair of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions (IWG), is expected to circulate a concept note ahead of the debate. It will be held 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. 

  • 1 February 2024

    Programme of Work for February 2024

    What's in Blue

    Guyana is the president of the Security Council in February. Council members adopted the provisional programme of work for the month earlier today (1 February). In addition to the scheduled meetings in New York, Council members will conduct a visiting...

  • France is the president of the Security Council in January. While France will not be pursuing a signature event in January, the quarterly open debate on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” will be elevated to...

  • January 2024

    In Hindsight: The Security Council in 2023

    Monthly Forecast

    The Security Council has been severely tested by a multilateral environment in turmoil. In 2023, it faced the continuing effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the precipitous escalation of conflict in the Middle East, and pushback against UN peacekeeping in Africa as well as UN sanctions. The shifting global balance of power, the contrasting narratives about global priorities that emerged after the invasion of Ukraine, and the allegations of Western double standards over Israel’s actions in Gaza, have severely strained relations and deepened the atmosphere of distrust. The Council continued to come under public attack for its inability to address violations of the UN Charter.

  • 1 December 2023

    Programme of Work for December 2023

    What's in Blue

    Ecuador is the president of the Security Council in December. Council members adopted the provisional programme of work for the month earlier today (1 December). Ecuador has chosen to organise one signature event during its presidency. It will convene a...

  • The 21st annual workshop for incoming members of the UN Security Council, titled “Hitting the Ground Running”, will be held on 2 and 3 November on Long Island, New York. The government of Finland is convening the workshop in cooperation...

  • 1 November 2023

    Programme of Work for November 2023

    What's in Blue

    China is the president of the Security Council in November. Council members adopted the provisional programme of work for the month earlier today (1 November). China has chosen to organise one signature event during its presidency. It will convene an...

  • 2 October 2023

    Programme of Work for October 2023

    What's in Blue

    Brazil is the president of the Security Council in October. Council members adopted the provisional programme of work for the month earlier today (2 October). In the two preceding months, the Council had been unable to agree on its provisional...

  • The Secretary-General’s New Agenda for Peace calls for strong partnerships between the UN and regional frameworks as part of “networked multilateralism”. Current geopolitical shifts make it imperative to reflect on how such partnerships should function—how the Security Council and regional organisations relate to each other in the maintenance of international peace and security. This is especially important in assessing how and when the Council must be involved with regional arrangements, including peace and enforcement operations. The Council itself has a mixed record in interpreting the provisions of the UN Charter, however.

  • 4 September 2023

    Working Methods Open Debate

    What's in Blue

    Tomorrow morning (5 September), the Security Council will hold its annual open debate on its working methods. The meeting will be conducted under the agenda item “Implementation of the note by the President of the Security Council (S/2017/507)”, referring to...

  • 1 September 2023

    Plan of Work for September 2023

    What's in Blue

    Albania is the president of the Security Council in September. Council members were unable to reach agreement on the provisional programme of work for the month, due to Russia’s apparent objection to the inclusion of Ukraine on the programme. Instead,...

  • Introduction In July 2023, UN Secretary-General António Guterres released A New Agenda for Peace. It is one of 11 policy briefs connected to his 2021 report, Our Common Agenda, reflecting his vision for the future of multilateralism and intended to...