Security Council Working Methods

  • August 2013

    In Hindsight: The Media Stakeout

    Monthly Forecast

    In February 2011 we identified a notable reduction in appearances at the Security Council media stakeout since renovations had begun on the Council chamber. An analysis of the number of stakeouts during the entire renovation period prompts us to ask once more whether such reduced use will continue to be the status quo now that the Council is back in its refurbished chamber or whether Council members will reinvigorate this mechanism.

  • From November 2010 through March 2012, with a break in December 2010 during the US presidency of the Council), “horizon-scanning” briefings by the Department of Political Affairs (DPA) were a regular feature of the programme of work of the Security Council. The UK initiated these briefings to provide the Council with information that might allow for better preventive diplomacy and conflict prevention. Additionally it was hoped that this format would allow for an unscripted exchange of ideas.

  • 29 April 2013

    Wrap-Up Session for April 2013

    What's in Blue

    Tomorrow morning the Security Council is expected to hold a wrap-up session for the month of April. This will be the third wrap-up session of the monthly programme of work since January 2013. (Pakistan and ROK held similar sessions in...

  • 27 February 2013

    Wrap-Up Session for February 2013

    What's in Blue

    Tomorrow morning (28 February) the Council is expected to hold a wrap-up session for the month. The format will be a private meeting in which Council members will have the opportunity to speak on the Council’s work in February. Non-council...

  • 25 February 2013

    Working Methods: Wrap-Up Sessions

    Update Report

    On 28 February, the Republic of Korea will hold a “wrap-up session” of its February Council presidency. The meeting will be held under the agenda item “Implementation of Note S/2010/507 (Wrap-up Session)” as a private meeting at which non-Council members will be invited to attend if they express their interest.

  • 30 January 2013

    Council Wrap-Up Session

    What's in Blue

    Tomorrow morning (Thursday, 31 January), the Security Council is scheduled to hold a private meeting under the agenda item “Implementation of Note S/2010/507”. The meeting was convened by Pakistan—as Council President in January—as a “wrap-up session” of the Council’s work...

  • On 26 November 2012, the Council held an open debate on its working methods. The all-day meeting enabled member states to take stock of what had been an eventful year on working methods, which culminated in two presidential notes being agreed in December in addition to the note of 5 June.

  • 21 November 2012

    Working Methods Open Debate

    What's in Blue

    On Monday (26 November), the Security Council is scheduled to hold an open debate on its working methods. This will be the fifth open debate on this topic (the first one was held in 1994). No Council outcome is anticipated....

  • 6 November 2012

    Annual Report Adoption

    What's in Blue

    On Thursday morning (8 November), and pursuant to article 24(3) of the UN Charter, the Security Council is scheduled to adopt its draft annual report to the General Assembly covering its work from 1 August 2011 until 31 July 2012....

  • November 2012

    Working Methods

    Monthly Forecast

    Late in November the Council will hold an open debate on its working methods. The Chair of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions, Ambassador José Filipe Moraes Cabral (Portugal), will brief.

  • Over the past two years or so, the Security Council has on several occasions chosen to communicate a set of complex political messages through press statements rather than a presidential statement or a resolution. The only mode of communication of Council decisions or views that is recognised in the Council's Provisional Rules of Procedure is a resolution.

  • 16 March 2012

    Working Methods Consultations

    What's in Blue

    On Monday (19 March), Security Council members will hold consultations on the Council’s working methods at the permanent representative level. As Council president in March, the UK has highlighted the issue as a priority, particularly in terms of modernising Council...

  • January 2012

    In Hindsight: The Working Methods Open Debate

    Monthly Forecast

    On 30 November 2011, the Council held an open debate on its working methods, the fourth such debate on the issue with35 delegations participating, including 20 members at large. As president, Ambassador José Filipe Moraes Cabral (Portugal) volunteered to speak last, allowing him to sum up the debate.

  • 29 November 2011

    Open Debate on Council Working Methods

    What's in Blue

    The Council is set to hold an open debate tomorrow (Wednesday, 30 November) on Security Council working methods, under the agenda item “Implementation of the note by the President of the Security Council”. (Presidential note S/2010/507 of 26 July last...

  • November 2011

    Working Methods

    Monthly Forecast

    The Council is expected to hold an open debate on Security Council working methods in November. No formal Council action is expected, but the debate will inform the work of the Council's Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions, which is chaired by Bosnia and Herzegovina until the end of 2011.