Programme of Work for March 2024
Japan 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, Japan will organise an open debate on “Promoting conflict prevention–Empowering all actors including women and youth” under the “Peacebuilding and sustaining peace” agenda item. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo and Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) Ambassador Sérgio França Danese (Brazil) are expected to brief. Representatives of academia and civil society may also brief.
The second signature event this month is a high-level briefing on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item. Japanese Foreign Minister Yōko Kamikawa is expected to chair the meeting. Secretary-General António Guterres is the anticipated briefer.
In addition to these signature events, Japan will convene an open debate on the Security Council’s working methods under the agenda item “Implementation of the note by the President of the Security Council (S/2017/507)”, referring to the most recent version of the comprehensive compendium of Council working methods.
The Security Council will also hold its annual meeting on strengthening EU-UN cooperation under the “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security” agenda item. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles is expected to brief.
As in past months, there are likely to be one or more meetings on Ukraine in March.
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 Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) ahead of its 15 March expiry. Prior to this, the Council is expected to hold a briefing, followed by consultations, on the Secretary-General’s 90-day report on UNMISS. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix is expected to brief in the open chamber, while Special Representative and Head of UNMISS Nicholas Haysom is expected to brief during the closed consultations. The Council will also hold a meeting with UNMISS troop-contributing countries, in which Haysom will participate.
On Sudan, the Council will hold an open briefing, followed by closed consultations, on the Secretary-General’s report on “UN efforts to support Sudan on its path towards peace and stability” in accordance with resolution 2715 of 1 December 2023, which terminated the mandate of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS). Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to brief in the open chamber, while Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Sudan Ramtane Lamamra will brief during the closed consultations. Council members also expect to vote on a draft resolution renewing the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee, which expires on 12 March. The chair of the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Joon-kook Hwang (Republic of Korea), is expected to provide the quarterly briefing on the committee’s work.
The Council will also hold an open briefing, followed by closed consultations, on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Special Representative of the Secretary-General 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 discuss several Middle Eastern issues in March.
There will be meetings on the political, humanitarian, and chemical weapons tracks in Syria. Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Adedeji Ebo will brief on the chemical weapons track. The meeting on the political and humanitarian developments will include briefings from Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen and an OCHA official.
The Council will also hold its monthly meeting on Yemen. UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg and an OCHA official are expected to brief. Head of the UN Mission to support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA) Major General Michael Beary is expected to brief in consultations.
Council members will receive a briefing in consultations on the Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of resolution 1701. (Adopted in 2006, resolution 1701 called for a cessation of hostilities between the Shi’a group Hezbollah and Israel.) Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka and Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix are 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 may brief. Additional meetings on this issue may be convened depending on developments in Israel and Gaza. In this regard, closed consultations that are likely to focus on humanitarian issues in Gaza have been scheduled for 7 March.
Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix will also brief Council members in closed consultations on the activities of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan.
Two Asian issues are featured on this month’s programme.
Council members are expected to vote on a draft resolution extending the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) ahead of its 17 March expiry. Prior to that, there will be an open briefing and closed consultations on the situation in Afghanistan. Special Representative and Head of UNAMA Roza Otunbayeva is expected to brief. A civil society representative may also brief.
The Security Council is expected to extend the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 1718 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Sanctions Committee. The chair of the 1718 DPRK Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Pascale Baeriswyl (Switzerland), is also expected to brief on the committee’s work.
In March, the chair of the 1540 Committee, Ambassador José Javier De La Gasca (Ecuador), will brief the Council on the committee’s work. (Adopted in 2004, resolution 1540 aims to prevent non-state actors from obtaining access to weapons of mass destruction.)
The Security Council is also expected to adopt a presidential statement requesting the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) to submit a report on the progress of its work since the last review of the IRMCT, which was conducted in June 2022.
Other issues could be raised during the month, depending on developments.
