At its 63rd meeting, on 18 April, the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, in connection with the examination of the fourth report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in Somalia, agreed to address the following messages through a public statement issued by the Chair of the Working Group.
Hailing the handover of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army’s (FARC-EP) remaining weapons to a United Nations-backed team as a “true example” of courage and commitment to peace, Security Council members today pledged to support Colombia as it transitioned out of its five-decades-long civil conflict.
The transition of the United Nations mission in Haiti, cholera and issues of justice and impunity dominated discussions between the Security Council and stakeholders on the ground, the Council President for June said today as he gave an overview of the recent visit to the Caribbean nation.
The Security Council, in a presidential statement today, emphasized that the withdrawal of the 13‑year‑old United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) “does not mark the end of the support of the United Nations” to the West African nation.
Expressing its deep concern over the number of civilians killed or maimed by landmines, improvised devices and other deadly remnants of war, the Security Council today called on the international community to end the carnage by acceding to regulatory treaties and supporting physical removal of such explosives.
The Security Council today decided to extend the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) for one year, while maintaining its previous troop level and highlighting such priority tasks as the protection of civilians and support to the country’s defence and security forces.
The United Nation’s political chief this afternoon told the Security Council that the 2015 accord on Iran’s Nuclear Programme known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action remained on track, calling on all participants in the agreement to continue to commit to its full implementation.
The Security Council today renewed the mandate of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) until 30 June 2018, while deciding to draw down the mission’s troop and police strength in that western region of Sudan over the next year.
The Security Council today decided to extend until 15 November 2018 the mandate of its Panel of Experts on Libya — as well as sanctions related to the illicit export of petroleum — while adding “attacks against United Nations personnel” to the criteria for the ongoing travel bans and freezing of assets affecting individuals and entities in the conflict-wracked North African nation.
The international community must stand up and halt the relentless, devastating humanitarian crisis in Syria, including by seizing the opportunity of the ongoing Astana talks and the related memorandum creating de-escalation zones, the senior United Nations humanitarian official stressed today as he briefed the Security Council.
