UN SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENCY?
Every month, one of the 15 states in the UN Security Council holds the presidency. It is the task of the president to be a professional partner in organising Council meetings and excel at transparent and smooth administration.
The president composes a work programme that is adopted by the members of the Council on the first day of the presidency. While many meetings and mandate extensions are automatically included in the programme, every president has a chance to shape the agenda with their priorities. This is usually done by holding meetings on important issues.
PRIORITIES OF THE ESTONIAN PRESIDENCY
We based our actions on five priorities:
- We brought high-level attention to the issue of emerging security threats. Our goal was to hold an open meeting of the UN Security Council on cybersecurity for the first time in history. As the President of the Council, we continued raising awareness of emerging threats. Particularly at the time, when cyber incidents had increased during the pandemic, it was time to discuss the common rules for a stable and peaceful cyberspace.
- We highlighted how peace, security and conflict prevention are inextricably linked. Our Presidency held a high-level open meeting on the protection of children's rights in armed conflict. Additionally, our goal was to include as many civil society representatives as possible to brief the Council, as they provided a broader view of the impact of conflicts.
- Estonia and Norway were the penholders for Afghanistan at the UN Security Council. Our task was to help improve the situation in Afghanistan. In light of the very dynamic political developments at a critical moment for Afghanistan’s future, we kept Afghanistan actively on the agenda.
- Estonia considered the security of our region crucial. We contributed to the increased visibility and influence of the European Union in the UN. To this end, we invited the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell to brief the Council on EU-UN cooperation on peace and security.
- Estonia also contributed to increasing the transparency of the UN Security Council and shaping its working methods by organising a Council meeting on the subject. It was a follow-up to the event on working methods held in May 2020 during Estonia’s previous presidency.
SPECIAL EVENTS DURING THE PRESIDENCY
Thursday 10 June
Discussion on the UN’s cooperation with regional organisations (European Union)
The meeting focused on the cooperation possibilities of the EU and the UN on issues of international peace and security and look at ongoing crises where both organisations are participating in resolution efforts. Josep Borrell, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, briefed the Council.
Wednesday 16 June
Open debate on the working methods of the UN Security Council
This was an annual discussion of the Security Council aimed at increasing the transparency and efficiency of the Council’s work. Holding the open meeting offers the broader UN membership with a chance to have a say in issues such as how the Security Council coped with COVID-19-era working methods at a time when physical meetings were limited, and which innovative solutions could find continued use by the Council. As deputy chair of the Security Council’s working group on working methods, Estonia held a joint session with the chair of the working group, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Tuesday 22 June
High-level discussion on Afghanistan
This was a regular UN Security Council meeting where the UN’s special representative in Afghanistan briefed the Council on the developments of the last three months. Estonia and Norway were the penholders for Afghanistan and considering the concerning security situation and the fraught peace negotiations there, we considered it crucial to keep events in Afghanistan in particular focus.
The meeting was chaired by Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets. Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan Deborah Lyons briefed the Council. A representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) also attended the meeting.
Monday 28 June
High-level open meeting on the protection of children in armed conflict
The main aim of the meeting was to chart the situation in serious violations against children in conflicts in the past year, including highlighting specific issues. It was crucial to underline the close link between peace, security and conflict prevention, which has been among Estonia’s priorities throughout its UN Security Council membership. The debate was based on the UN Secretary-General’s annual report on children and armed conflict.
The meeting was chaired by President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid. Secretary-General of the UN António Guterres briefed the Council, and we invited representatives of UNICEF and the civil society as additional briefers.
Tuesday 29 June
High-level open meeting on cybersecurity
The meeting aimed at an improved understanding of the increased risks emanating from malicious activities in cyberspace and their impact on international peace and security. The meeting helped raise awareness of existing international rules and demonstrate that the Security Council is serious about what is happening in cyberspace. It was important to underline that existing international law also applies in cyberspace and the UN has agreed on rules for responsible state behaviour. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. UN High Representative for Disarmament Izumi Nakamitsu brief edthe Council.
Last updated: 24.08.2022
