Security Council Programme of Work for March 2025
Denmark is the president of the Security Council in March. Council members adopted the provisional programme of work for the month earlier today (3 March).
Denmark is expected to organise one signature event, an open debate on “Advancing adaptability in UN Peace Operations – Responding to new realities” under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item. Denmark’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, is expected to chair the meeting. Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to brief. One or more civil society representatives may also brief.
In March, the Security Council will also hold its annual meeting on European Union (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 Kaja Kallas is the anticipated briefer.
Several Middle Eastern issues are on the programme of work this month.
Two meetings on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” are currently scheduled. The first is a briefing in consultations from Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator (SHRC) for Gaza Sigrid Kaag in line with resolution 2720 of 22 December 2023. The second is the Council’s regular monthly briefing and consultations on the file, at which Kaag may brief in her capacity as Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process ad interim. A civil society representative might also brief. Additional meetings may be convened depending on developments on the file.
There will be meetings on the political, humanitarian, and chemical weapons tracks in Syria. Rasmussen is expected to chair the meeting on political and humanitarian developments. The meeting is expected to feature briefings from Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher, and a civil society representative. High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu will brief at the meeting on the chemical weapons track.
The Council will also hold its monthly briefing on Yemen. UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg and Fletcher are expected to brief. A civil society representative may also brief. Closed consultations are scheduled to follow the open briefing.
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 Hezbollah and Israel.) Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix are expected to brief.
Lacroix will also brief Council members in closed consultations on the activities of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan.
The Security Council is expected to address several African issues in March.
Regarding Sudan, the Council is scheduled to receive a briefing on the work of the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee. At the time of writing, the chair of the committee had not yet been appointed, as Council members continue to negotiate this year’s allocation of subsidiary bodies. There may also be a meeting on general developments in the country.
The Council is scheduled to hold its regular quarterly briefing and consultations on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) towards the end of the month. Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the DRC and Head of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) Bintou Keita is expected to brief. A civil society representative may also brief. Members may choose to convene additional meetings prior to that to discuss developments in eastern DRC.
This afternoon (3 March), the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2776, extending the 2713 Al-Shabaab sanctions regime until 13 December and renewing the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 2713 Al-Shabaab Sanctions Committee until 13 January 2026.
The only Asian issued featured on this month’s programme is Afghanistan. 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.
Regarding non-proliferation issues, the Council is expected to receive a briefing on the work of the 1540 Committee. (Adopted in 2004, resolution 1540 aims to prevent non-state actors from obtaining access to weapons of mass destruction.) At the time of writing, the chair of this committee had also not yet been appointed.
While Haiti was not on the programme of work at the time of writing, the Council is expected to consider the Secretary-General’s 24 February letter containing a comprehensive assessment of the situation in Haiti and his strategic recommendations on the full range of options for UN support for the country.
As in past months, there are likely to be one or more meetings on Ukraine in March. Other issues could be raised during the month depending on developments.
