Security Council Working Methods
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The US is the president of the Security Council in December. Council members were unable to reach agreement on the provisional programme of work for the month, apparently due to Russia’s objection to the inclusion of Ukraine on the programme. Instead, the...
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The 22nd annual workshop for incoming members of the UN Security Council, titled “Hitting the Ground Running”, will be held on 21 and 22 November on Long Island, New York. The government of Finland is convening the workshop in cooperation...
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The UK is the president of the Security Council in November. 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, the...
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Switzerland is the president of the Security Council in October. Council members adopted the provisional programme of work for the month earlier today (1 October). Switzerland has chosen to organise two signature events. The first is a high-level briefing on...
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The six years I’ve spent as Security Council Report’s (SCR) Executive Director have been eventful. SCR has observed and documented the Council’s actions on dramatically changing situations including the COVID-19 pandemic, Ukraine, and Gaza, and on major policy shifts, such as the UN financing of AU peace support operations. Day in and day out, SCR has interacted with Council members, other member states, regional bodies, the UN Secretariat, academia, and civil society in order to produce impartial, nuanced and fact-checked reports on issues before the Security Council. I feel privileged to have held this position, in which I have learned a great deal. Stepping down, I offer some reflections on the Security Council’s impact on international peace and security.
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Slovenia is the president of the Security Council in September. Council members adopted the provisional programme of work for the month earlier today (3 September). Slovenia has chosen to organise one signature event, a high-level open debate on “Leadership for...
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On Monday morning (12 August), the Security Council will convene for a high-level debate titled “Addressing the historical injustice and enhancing Africa’s effective representation on the UN Security Council” under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item. This...
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Sierra Leone is the president of the Security Council in August. Council members adopted the provisional programme of work for the month earlier today (1 August). Sierra Leone has chosen to organise two signature events. It will convene a debate...
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In August, the Security Council is expected to convene for a debate titled “Addressing the historical injustice and enhancing Africa’s effective representation in the UN Security Council” under the “Maintenance of International Peace and Security” agenda item. The briefers are expected to include UN Secretary-General António Guterres; Dennis Francis, the President of the UN General Assembly; and a civil society briefer. No formal outcome is anticipated.
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Russia is the president of the Security Council in July. Council members adopted the provisional programme of work for the month earlier today (1 July). Russia has chosen to organise three signature events this month. It will convene a ministerial-level...
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The Military Staff Committee (MSC) is the oldest subsidiary body of the Security Council, with its role explicitly mentioned in the UN Charter. It is to advise and assist the Security Council on all military requirements for maintaining international peace and security. However, for most of its life, the MSC has been dormant and unable to fulfill this responsibility.
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In July, the Security Council will hold a ministerial-level open debate on “Multilateral cooperation in the interest of a more just, democratic and sustainable work order”. This is one of the signature events of the Russian presidency. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to chair the meeting. No briefers are anticipated.
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The Republic of Korea (ROK) is the president of the Security Council in June. Council members adopted the provisional programme of work for the month earlier today (3 June). The ROK has chosen to organise one signature event, a high-level...
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On 6 June, the 78th session of the UN General Assembly is scheduled to hold elections for membership of the Security Council. The five seats available for election in 2024, according to the regular distribution among regions, will be as follows: one seat for the African Group (currently held by Mozambique); one seat for the Asia-Pacific Group (currently held by Japan); one seat for the Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC, currently held by Ecuador); and two seats for the Western European and Others Group (WEOG, currently held by Malta and Switzerland). The five new members elected this year will take up their seats on 1 January 2025 and will serve until 31 December 2026.
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Tomorrow morning (16 May), the Security Council is expected to adopt its annual report to the General Assembly, covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 2023. Under Article 24(3) of the UN Charter, the Security Council must submit...
