At its 51st meeting, on 26 November, the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict agreed, in connection with the examination of the first report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic (S/2014/31), to address the following message to all parties to the armed conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic through a public statement by its Chair:
Recalling that stabilizing the security situation in the Central African Republic was the main responsibility of that country’s stakeholders, the Security Council today reiterated its appeal to the leaders of the ex-Séléka and anti-Balaka groups, among other armed groups, to “immediately and permanently” lay down their weapons, release children from their ranks and embark on a path of dialogue.
The Security Council this morning renewed the mandate of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), which has supervised the ceasefire between Israel and Syria since 1974, for an additional next sixth months, until 30 June 2015.
The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Mahamat Zene Cherif (Chad):
Affirming that despite severe challenges in Syria the United Nations and its partners were delivering life-saving aid there, the Security Council this morning renewed for twelve months its authorization for those actors to use routes across conflict lines as well as specified border crossings.
The Security Council today heard a briefing by the Chair of its Libya Sanctions Committee, detailing steps taken to prevent the illegal diversion of arms, adjust its sanctions list and facilitate access to the strife-ridden North African country by the Panel of Experts which monitors those measures.
The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Mahamat Zene Cherif (Chad):
Commending the African Union for its growing role in peace and security in its region, the Security Council today stressed the importance of building a stronger and more cohesive partnership between it and the United Nations in conflict prevention and resolution, rapid response to emerging crises, protection of children and peacebuilding.
Recognizing that the Ebola outbreak had slowed national reforms, the Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Liberia until 30 September 2015, outlining priorities in the areas of civilian protection, humanitarian assistance support, justice and security body reforms, human rights promotion and protection, and protection of United Nations personnel.
In the 10 months since the adoption of resolution 2139 (2013), calls by the Security Council for the parties to conflict in Syria to end all violations of international humanitarian and human rights law had gone unheard, a top United Nations relief official told the 15-member body today, stressing that an estimated 200,000 people had been killed amid worsening violence.
