Security Council Working Methods

  • September 2023

    Working Methods Open Debate

    Monthly Forecast

    In September, the Council will hold its annual working methods open debate. Ambassador Ferit Hoxha (Albania), the chair of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions, will brief.

  • The United States is the president of the Security Council in August. In an unusual but not unprecedented development, Council members were unable to reach agreement on the provisional programme of work for the month, due to Russia’s objections primarily...

  • 3 July 2023

    Programme of Work for July 2023

    What's in Blue

    The UK is the president of the Security Council in July. Council members adopted the provisional programme of work for the month earlier today (3 July). The UK has chosen to organise three signature events this month. It will convene...

  • With the Security Council elections behind them, incoming Council members—Algeria, Guyana, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, and Slovenia—are now starting to discuss the allocation of the chairs and vice-chairs of the subsidiary bodies. For many years this process was shrouded in secrecy, with the permanent members deciding how to allocate these positions, often with minimal consultation.

  • 1 June 2023

    Programme of Work for June 2023

    What's in Blue

    The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the president of the Security Council in June. Council members adopted the provisional programme of work for the month earlier today (1 June). The UAE has chosen to organise three signature events. The first...

  • 1 June 2023

    Security Council Elections 2023

    Research Report

    The 77th session of the UN General Assembly is scheduled to hold elections on 6 June for five non-permanent seats of the Security Council for the 2024-2025 term.

  • Next Tuesday (30 May), the Security Council is expected to adopt its annual report to the General Assembly, covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 2022. The adoption was initially scheduled for the afternoon of 24 May but...

  • Security Council Report’s report of 2 May, Security Council Working Methods in Hard Times, analyses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine crisis on the Council’s working methods and on its transparency, effectiveness, and accountability. These events affected many aspects of life in the Council: how it meets, how it votes, whom it invites to participate in its meetings, and whom it hears from. They presented elected Council members with challenges but also opportunities to make a difference in the work of the Council. The report also covers the work of key groupings that helped shape the Council’s working methods during this period, including the Security Council’s Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions (IWG) and the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency Group (ACT).  

  • 1 May 2023

    Programme of Work for May 2023

    What's in Blue

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

  • In the space of about three years, the Council has grappled with two major crises—the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine—that could have threatened its ability to function. Yet, except for a brief moment at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Council continued to operate, adapting its working methods to new realities. These twin crises have both changed and challenged how the Council exercises its role, illuminating the role of working methods as the Council’s foundation for functioning in hard times.  

  • Tomorrow morning (24 April), the Security Council will hold a ministerial-level open debate on “Effective multilateralism through the defense of the principles of the UN Charter”, under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey...

  • 3 April 2023

    Programme of Work for April 2023

    What's in Blue

    Russia is the president of the Security Council in April. Council members adopted the provisional programme of work for the month earlier today (3 April). Russia is expected to hold two signature events during its presidency. One will be an...

  • In April, the Security Council will hold a ministerial-level open debate on “Effective multilateralism through the Defense of the Principles of the UN Charter”, one of the signature events of the Russian presidency. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to chair the meeting.

  • 1 March 2023

    Programme of Work for March 2023

    What's in Blue

    Mozambique 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, Mozambique will organise an open debate...

  • 1 February 2023

    Programme of Work for February 2023

    What's in Blue

    Malta is the president of the Security Council in February. Council members adopted the provisional programme of work for the month earlier today (1 February). Malta has chosen to organise two signature events. There will be a ministerial-level open debate...