11 November 2015
UN Security Council Discusses Working Methods, SDG 16
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Speakers at the UN Security Council's Annual Debate on Working Methods stressed the need for continued cooperation between the Council and the UN Secretariat, and for a comprehensive approach to peace and development in post-conflict settings, noting the recently adopted Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on peaceful societies (Goal 16).

The annual meeting also serves as the discussion of the Council's annual report to the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

UN logo20 October 2015: Speakers at the UN Security Council’s Annual Debate on Working Methods stressed the need for continued cooperation between the Council and the UN Secretariat, and for a comprehensive approach to peace and development in post-conflict settings, noting the recently adopted Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on peaceful societies (Goal 16). The annual meeting also serves as the discussion of the Council’s annual report to the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

In his briefing to the Debate, which took place at UN Headquarters in New York, US, on 20 October 2015, UNGA President Mogens Lykketoft said the UN Security Council’s (UNSC) working methods are of interest to all UN Member States. He highlighted that, in cooperation with the Council President, he will invite nominations for the position of UN Secretary-General, and encouraged Member States to include qualified women in the pool of candidates, noting that the UN has never had a female Secretary-General.

Sven Jürgenson, Vice-President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), reminded UNSC members of the UN Charter’s little-used provision that ECOSOC may furnish information and assist the UNSC upon request, as it has previously done through setting up advisory groups to assist the recovery process in Haiti, Guinea-Bissau and Burundi. He stressed the link between sustainable development and lasting peace, noting the changing nature of conflict from inter-State wars to complex and recurring civil conflicts. He proposed that ECOSOC can be “the counterpart of the Security Council to embrace a truly holistic approach to peace and security.”

Jan Eliasson, UN Deputy Secretary-General, recalled the report of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations, which was submitted to the UN Secretary-General in June 2015, and highlighted the UN Secretary-General’s subsequent report, which provides recommendations on how operations can be developed and improved. Eliasson underlined the proposals related to prevention and post-conflict measures, recalling SDG 16 on peaceful societies in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Eliasson also noted the role of the UN Secretariat in providing the institutional memory and advice to the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council and its members. He highlighted several arrangements for cooperation between the Council and the UN Secretariat, including the informal Working Group on Documentation, which, he said, has given more transparency to the Council’s work by crafting ‘Notes’ that document trends of relevance to the wider UN membership. He also mentioned the monthly briefings provided by the UN Department of Political Affairs, which provide early warning of threats to international peace and security, the Inter-Agency Working Group on UN Sanctions, and the briefings to the Council via secure video teleconferences from UN offices around the world, 101 of which took place in 2014. [UN Press Release] [Remarks by UNGA President] [Remarks by UN Deputy Secretary-General] [Webcast of Opening Segment] [Report of the Security Council (A/70/2)]

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