Security Council: Meetings Coverage

The Security Council, strongly condemning the rise of incitement to ethnic and religious hatred and violence in the Central African Republic — as well as manipulated hostility towards the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and other international actors — today adopted a presidential statement urging armed groups to cease all forms of violence, lay down their arms and engage constructively in the country’s evolving peace process.

The Security Council, convening today to discuss the nexus between climate change and conflicts around the globe, considered several concrete proposals to guide the 15-member organ’s efforts — or those of other United Nations entities — on that evolving and increasingly critical issue.

There can be no peace, security or development without the involvement of women at all levels of decision‑making and peace processes, the Security Council heard today during a briefing from senior officials who just returned from a visit to the Sahel region, where women and girls pay a stark cost for conflict.

The Security Council, acting unanimously at the outset of a far-ranging open debate today, adopted a resolution aimed at further crystalizing the protection of children in armed conflicts, including by combating their recruitment by non-State armed groups and treating formerly recruited children primarily as victims.

After years of decreases, casualties from explosive hazards were on the rise, the Assistant Secretary-General for Rule of Law and Security Institutions told the Security Council today, as the 15-nation organ took stock of progress in implementing its first stand-alone text on mine action, resolution 2365 (2017).

The Security Council today renewed the mandate of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) for six months until 31 December, adding that there should be no military activity of any kind in the area of separation between Israel and Syria, including Syrian military operations and those conducted by armed opposition groups.

Unanimously adopting resolution 2425 (2018), the Security Council today extended the mandate of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) until 13 July 2018.

United Nations Peacebuilding Commission emphasized its convening role and the value of partnerships, as well as the need to improve coordination with the Council’s own activities in order to better advise the 15-nation organ.

The Security Council today extended its arms embargo, asset freeze and travel ban on the Democratic Republic of the Congo until 1 July 2019 and the mandate of the Expert Group assisting the Sanctions Committee through 1 August 2019.

Peace in South Sudan would only be sustainable through a fair and inclusive revitalized peace agreement that would take the root causes of the conflict into account, the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations told the Security Council today, as members of the 15-nation organ cautiously welcomed the rapprochement between the country’s President and former First Vice-President.