Security Council Programme of Work for January 2024
France is the president of the Security Council in January.
While France will not be pursuing a signature event in January, the quarterly open debate on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” will be elevated to ministerial level. UN Secretary-General António Guterres may brief. Additional meetings on this issue may be convened depending on developments in Israel and Gaza.
Tomorrow afternoon the Council is expected convene a briefing, followed by consultations, on Houthi Red Sea attacks under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item.
Other Middle Eastern issues on the programme of work this month include consultations on Yemen and on the political and humanitarian situations in Syria. UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg and Major General Michael Beary, the head of the UN Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA), are expected to brief in the Yemen meeting via videoconference. A representative of OCHA may brief as well. In the Syria meeting, Special Envoy Geir O. Pedersen and an OCHA representative are the anticipated briefers.
On European issues, the Council is expected to hold a meeting with troop-contributing countries of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). Council members are also scheduled to hold consultations on UNFICYP, featuring a briefing by Special Representative and head of UNFICYP Colin Stewart. The Council is scheduled to renew UNFICYP’s mandate ahead of its 31 January 2024 expiry.
The Council may hold one or more meetings on the situation in Ukraine depending on developments.
Two issues on the Americas are on the programme of work in January. The Security Council is expected to hold a briefing and consultations on Colombia. Special Representative and head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia Carlos Ruiz Massieu is scheduled to brief on recent developments and the Secretary-General’s latest 90-day report on the mission. A civil society representative may brief as well.
The Council also plans to receive a briefing, followed by consultations, on the situation in Haiti. Special Representative and head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) María Isabel Salvador may brief the Council on recent developments in the country and the Secretary-General’s latest report on BINUH. A civil society representative may participate as well.
Regarding African issues, Special Representative and head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) Leonardo Santos Simão is expected to brief on developments in West Africa and the Sahel. Consultations are scheduled to follow.
ICC Prosecutor Karim Asad Ahmad Khan will brief the Council on the ICC’s Darfur-related activities via videconference.
The one Asian issue currently on the programme of work this month is the consultations on the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA). Special Representative and head of the UNRCCA, Kaha Imnadze, is expected to brief members on the UNRCCA’s work during this meeting.
Other issues may be raised in January depending on developments.
