Insights on Protection Issues
There is talk that under the Brazilian presidency in February there will be consultations on how the Council can work more efficiently on protection issues. The aim appears to be to find ways of streamlining the Council’s work on these thematic issues. Ideas being floated include adjusting the timing of the thematic reports so that they are not so spread out.
This year, the Children in Armed Conflict report is expected out in May; the 1325 report on Women, Peace and Security is due in October and the 1820 report on sexual violence in December. Briefings on Protection of Civilians are likely to be in the middle of the year and at the end of the year. Another suggestion to streamline this issue is holding a thematic debate that covers all three areas of protection under active Council consideration.
Some members, as well as the Secretariat, are likely to have some concerns over the efficacy of bringing the separate protection areas under a larger protection umbrella and it remains to be seen how far this discussion will be taken.