In its first open briefing since the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad nearly 10 days ago, speakers at today’s Security Council meeting hailed the end of his family’s 54-year dictatorship as a moment of hope for the Syrian people, with two Syrian citizens urging the 15-nation organ to stand by Syrians in their efforts to achieve an inclusive political transition, as well as justice and accountability for the atrocities committed by the Assad regime.
The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Linda Thomas-Greenfield (United States):
Updating the Security Council today on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, a senior United Nations official stressed that repeated attacks on that country’s energy infrastructure by the Russian Federation — as well as the continued inability to reach civilians living in occupied regions — could have dire consequences in the third winter of this “intolerable war”.
The people of Libya are yearning to choose their leaders, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today, as she outlined a detailed plan to help the country to hold overdue national elections, following the recent municipal polls held after a decade-long hiatus.
Spotlighting Central African States’ renewed commitment to multilateralism, a senior United Nations official briefed the Security Council today on positive political developments in the region amid ongoing violence and security threats.
Five outgoing Chairs of Security Council subsidiary bodies briefed the 15-nation organ on the work of these entities today, with many of them pointing to the significant amount left to accomplish despite the considerable effort invested during the past two years.
The Security Council today extended for 14 months the mandate of the team monitoring sanctions against the Taliban and associated individuals and entities that threaten Afghanistan’s peace, stability and security, as delegates highlighted the experts’ vital work.
The Security Council today extended its authorization for Member States to intercept vessels transporting banned items to and from Somalia, including illegal arms imports and charcoal exports, until 28 February 2025 — a short-term renewal to provide members with additional time to discuss “the best shape” of the sanctions regime amid the ongoing United Nations drawdown in Somalia.
Meeting on the heels of the Taliban’s new directive prohibiting women and girls from attending public and private medical institutes in Afghanistan, the Security Council examined the impacts of the de facto authorities’ increasingly repressive policies, amounting to “gender apartheid”, as speakers urged the Taliban to reverse course.
On 22 November 2024, in pursuance of paragraph 5 of resolution 2664 (2022), a representative of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), on behalf of the Emergency Relief Coordinator, briefed the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolution 2745 (2024) on the delivery of life-saving assistance and other activities that support essential human needs in the Central African Republic.
