Programme of Work for June 2022
Albania is the president of the Security Council in June. The Council adopted its provisional programme of work for the month earlier today (1 June).
Albania will organise a high-level open debate on strengthening accountability and justice for violations of international law as one of the signature events of its presidency. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama will chair the meeting. The expected briefers are ICJ President Joan E. Donoghue, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet and Professor of Public International Law at Oxford University Dapo Akande.
The second signature event this month is a ministerial-level open debate on the role of regional organisations in implementing the women, peace and security agenda in contexts of political turmoil and seizures of power by force. Albanian Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Olta Xhaçka will chair the meeting and Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to provide opening remarks. UN Women Executive Director Sima Sami Bahous and high-level representatives from the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), the League of Arab States (LAS), and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) are the anticipated briefers. A Council product is a possible outcome.
In addition to these signature events, Albania will organise “Sofa Talks”—an informal format for frank conversations among the Council’s permanent representatives—at Greentree on 17 June.
The annual open debate on the working methods of the Security Council will take place in June. It will focus on monitoring the implementation of Note 507, which is the most recent version of the comprehensive compendium of Council working methods.
The Security Council is also scheduled to hold its semi-annual debate on the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT). The IRMCT’s president, Judge Carmel Agius, and its prosecutor, Serge Brammertz, are expected to brief. The Council is also expected to vote on a resolution extending the term of the prosecutor and the operating period of the IRMCT, both of which expire on 30 June.
Ukraine is likely to continue as a key focus for Council members this month. Albania will convene a briefing on the situation in Ukraine, which will focus on the war’s effects on women and girls, including the increased risks of conflict-related sexual violence and trafficking. Council members may convene additional meetings on Ukraine, depending on developments on the ground.
The other European issue on this month’s programme is the annual briefing on EU-UN cooperation. Albanian Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Olta Xhaçka is expected to chair the meeting. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles and Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo are the anticipated briefers.
Regarding Asian issues, there will be a briefing and consultations on the work of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). An official from the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and a representative of Afghan civil society are expected to brief. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths will brief on the delivery of humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan.
On the Americas, there will be a briefing on the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH). Special Representative and head of BINUH Helen La Lime will brief on recent developments and the Secretary-General’s report on BINUH. A civil society representative may also brief. Closed consultations are scheduled to follow the open briefing.
Several African issues are on the programme this month.
The Security Council is expected to vote on a draft resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) ahead of its 3 June expiry. Additionally, the chair of the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Harold Adlai Agyeman (Ghana), is expected to provide a quarterly briefing on the committee’s work.
Council members will vote on a draft resolution renewing the authorisations established by resolution 2292 of 14 June 2016 allowing member states to inspect vessels on the high seas off the coast of Libya that they have reasonable grounds to believe are violating the arms embargo. There will also be a briefing, followed by consultations, on the situation in Libya and the work of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). A DPPA official and a civil society representative are expected to brief. The chair of the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee, Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti (India), may brief on the committee’s activities.
The Council also expects to renew the mandate of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), which expires on 30 June. Prior to that, there will be a briefing and consultations on Mali. Special Representative and head of MINUSMA El-Ghassim Wane is expected to brief. A civil society representative may also brief. The Council will hold a meeting with MINUSMA’s troop-contributing countries, in which Wane will participate.
On the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Security Council members will vote on a draft resolution renewing the mandate of the 1533 DRC Sanctions Committee and its Panel of Experts, which are due to expire on 1 July and on 1 August, respectively. The Council will also hold a briefing and consultations on the situation in the DRC. Special Representative and head of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) Bintou Keita is expected to brief. A civil society representative may also brief.
The Security Council will receive a briefing on the Secretary-General’s semi-annual report on the UN Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) and the implementation of the UN’s regional strategy to combat the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO) Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee is expected to brief. An official from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and a civil society representative may brief. Consultations are expected to follow.
There will be an open briefing, followed by closed consultations, on South Sudan. Special Representative and head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Nicholas Haysom and OCHA’s Acting Operations Director Ghada Eltahir Mudawi are expected to brief. A civil society representative may also brief.
The chair of the 751 Somalia Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason (Ireland), will deliver her 120-day periodic briefing to the Council on the activities of the committee.
The Council will hold a briefing and consultations on the Central African Republic (CAR). Special Representative for the CAR and head of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) Valentine Rugwabiza will brief the Council for the first time since her appointment on 24 February. A civil society representative may also brief.
Several Middle Eastern issues will be addressed in June.
The Security Council will hold its monthly meetings on the political and humanitarian tracks in Syria. Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen and a civil society representative will brief on political developments, while Griffiths and a civil society representative will brief on the humanitarian situation.
The Council will vote on a draft resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) ahead of its 30 June expiry. Prior to that, Council members will receive a briefing in consultation on UNDOF’s activities from a UN Secretariat official. The Council will also hold a meeting with UNDOF’s troop-contributing countries, in which Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in DPPA-DPO Mohamed Khaled Khiari will participate.
The Council will hold its monthly briefing and consultations on Yemen. UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg and OCHA’s Mudawi will brief. A civil society representative may also brief. The head of the UN Mission to support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA), Major General Michael Beary, is expected to brief in consultations.
On Iraq, there will be a briefing on the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD). Special Adviser and Head of UNITAD Christian Ritscher is the anticipated briefer.
The Security Council is also scheduled to receive the Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of resolution 2231, which endorsed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran’s nuclear programme in 2015. The Council also expects reports from the Joint Commission, established by the parties to the JCPOA to oversee its implementation, and from the Council’s 2231 facilitator, Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason (Ireland). DiCarlo and a representative of the EU, in its capacity as coordinator of the Joint Commission, are also expected to brief.
The Council will convene for its monthly meeting on “the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question”. Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland will brief. One or more civil society representatives may also brief.
Also in June, the General Assembly is expected to elect five new Security Council members for the 2023-2024 term: Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland.
Council members will be closely following developments related to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Ethiopia and Myanmar. They may choose to convene meetings on these and any other issues.
