Security Council Open Debate on Working Methods, November 2011

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Overview

On the 30th of November, the Security Council discussed the progress, and challenges linked to its current Working Methods. Although a high number of speakers took the floor, references to the women, peace and security agenda were few, with only 5 out of 40 statements mentioning WPS. Countries mentioning gender at the debate included the US, Belgium, Australia, Germany and Finland.

With a view to making the Council a more effective and egalitarian entity, the debate focused on the need for the Council to improve transparency with regard to its work and policy formation. Whilst a majority of countries praised the council for the recent increase in thematic open debates, they were almost unanimous in calling for improved interaction between the Council and non-permanent member states, UN subsidiary bodies/ agencies, special representatives and civil society. In addition, Brazil and Colombia called for public and closed meetings to be recognized as holding equal importance, with Brazil suggesting that meetings, including those with troop and police-contributing countries, should remain open except in the most extenuating circumstances. Further, Colombia suggested that in order to achieve more relevant outcomes, open debates should be held before the negotiation of presidential statements or resolutions.

Another dominant theme was the need for comprehensive reform concerning the makeup of the Council with particularly strong statements being made by India and Lebanon. Eluding to the current distribution of veto power, India emphasized the need to achieve a more representative Council, one based on the current global reality, and hence better able to respond to the changing nature of conflict and adopt more relevant strategies for prevention.

Gender Analysis

As noted above, mention of gender was scarce at this debate. Statements, which did mention WPS, agreed that the Security Council enhance its interaction with the Special Representative for gender and sexual violence, with UN Women and with the Peacebuilding Commission in order to achieve more relevant action on gender issues. Notably, Australia called on the Council to issue a standing invitation to the Executive Director of UN-Women and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict to attend all relevant meetings and debates.

“In order to enhance the Council's capacity for prevention, we support the suggestion of regular briefings from the Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities. We have also encouraged the Council to issue a standing invitation to the Executive Director of UN-Women and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict”.

The US emphasised how the Group of Friends on Women, Peace and Security is able to inform the Council's actions through inclusive and transparent dialogue between Council and non-Council members. Finally, Finland suggested that the Council commence systematic linking of country-specific situations and horizontal themes, such as Women, Peace and Security and pursue requests for thematic information pertaining to these situations.

Resources: 

Press Release: SC Open Debate: Working Methods 11/30/2011

Please choose

General Women, Peace and Security
  • Country

    Finland
  • Extracts

    The Council has made good progress in developing cross-cutting issues, such as women and peace and security. The Council should now systematically link country-specific situations and horizontal themes, and follow up on requests for thematic information when handling reports on country-specific situations.

Conflict Prevention
  • Country

    Australia
  • Extracts

    In order to enhance the Council's capacity for prevention, we support the suggestion of regular briefings from the Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities. We have also encouraged the Council to issue a standing invitation to the Executive Director of UN-Women and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict.

Reconstruction and Peacebuilding
  • Country

    Belgium
  • Extracts

    The Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, currently under German chairmanship, has granted access to the Chairs of PBC configurations, because issues such as child soldiers and gender-based violence against children are, all too often, common practice in countries on the agenda of the PBC. That practice of granting access to a subsidiary organ should be generalized and should be adopted as a general rule by all subsidiary organs, as appropriate.

Implementation
  • Country

    Germany
  • Extracts

    Important progress has been made in enhancing the relationship between the Security Council and thematic Special Representatives of the Secretary- General, such as those for children and armed conflict and sexual violence in conflict. Similarly, the briefings provided by the Executive Director of UN-Women and representatives of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights have been important to the Council's work. In our view, the Council has greatly benefited from their analyses and reports.

  • Country

    United States of America
  • Extracts

    The Council has also increased its interaction with non-Council members through informal processes, such as groups of friends. The Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security, for instance, informs the Council's actions through inclusive and transparent dialogue between Council and non-Council members.

  • Country

    Australia
  • Extracts

    In order to enhance the Council's capacity for prevention, we support the suggestion of regular briefings from the Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities. We have also encouraged the Council to issue a standing invitation to the Executive Director of UN-Women and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict.

  • Country

    Finland
  • Extracts

    The Council has made good progress in developing cross-cutting issues, such as women and peace and security. The Council should now systematically link country-specific situations and horizontal themes, and follow up on requests for thematic information when handling reports on country-specific situations.

  • Country

    Belgium
  • Extracts

    The Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, currently under German chairmanship, has granted access to the Chairs of PBC configurations, because issues such as child soldiers and gender-based violence against children are, all too often, common practice in countries on the agenda of the PBC. That practice of granting access to a subsidiary organ should be generalized and should be adopted as a general rule by all subsidiary organs, as appropriate.