Programme of Work for July 2024
Russia is the president of the Security Council in July. Council members adopted the provisional programme of work for the month earlier today (1 July).
Russia has chosen to organise three signature events this month. It will convene a ministerial-level open debate on “Multilateral cooperation in the interest of a more just, democratic and sustainable world order” under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to chair the meeting. No briefers are anticipated.
Another signature event is a debate on the cooperation between the UN and regional organisations that will focus on the role of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Officials from the three organisations’ secretariats are expected to brief.
Russia also plans to convene July’s quarterly open debate on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” as a ministerial-level signature event. Lavrov is expected to chair the meeting, at which Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland is expected to brief. This month, the Council will also receive a briefing from Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator (SHRC) for Gaza Sigrid Kaag in line with resolution 2720 of 22 December 2023. Additional meetings on this file may be convened depending on developments in Israel and Gaza.
Several other Middle Eastern issues are on the programme this month.
Council members are expected to vote on a draft resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA) ahead of its 14 July expiry. There will also be an open briefing and closed consultations on Yemen. Briefings are expected from UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg and OCHA’s Director for Financing and Partnerships Lisa Doughten. Major General Michael Beary, the head of UNMHA, is expected to brief in consultations.
The Council will also hold its monthly meeting on the political process and the humanitarian situation in Syria. Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen and Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya will brief on political and humanitarian developments, respectively.
There will be a briefing in consultations on the implementation of resolution 1701, which in 2006 called for a cessation of hostilities between the Shi’a group Hezbollah and Israel. The anticipated briefers are Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert—whose appointment was announced on 20 May and who succeeds Joanna Wronecka—and Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix.
The Council will also address several African issues in July.
A briefing and consultations on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is planned for this month. Special Representative and Head of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) Bintou Keita is expected to brief.
The Council will also hold its biannual briefing on West Africa and the Sahel. Special Representative and Head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) Leonardo Santos Simão is the anticipated briefer.
Council members are expected to extend the sanctions measures imposed on the Central African Republic (CAR) ahead of their 31 July expiry and to renew the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 2127 CAR Sanctions Committee, which expires on 31 August.
Regarding the Americas, the Council expects to renew the mandate of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) ahead of its 15 July expiry. Prior to this, it will hold an open briefing and closed consultations on the situation in Haiti. Special Representative and Head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) María Isabel Salvador is the anticipated briefer.
The Security Council will also hold its quarterly meeting on Colombia this month. Special Representative and Head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia Carlos Ruiz Massieu is expected to brief.
On European issues, Council members will receive a briefing in consultations on Cyprus and the work of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) from Special Representative and Head of UNFICYP Colin Stewart. As in previous months, the Council may also hold one or more meetings on Ukraine in July.
The only Asian issue on the programme this month is the biannual consultations on the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA). Special Representative and Head of UNRCCA Kaha Imnadze is the anticipated briefer.
Council members will also continue following closely developments in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Sudan. They may choose to convene meetings on these or other issues, depending on developments.
