Security Council Open Debate on the Maintenance of International Peace and Security, September 2015
On Wednesday (30 September), under the presidency of the Russia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov, the Security Council will hold a ministerial-level open debate on the settlement of conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa and countering the terrorist threat in the region. The ministerial-level open debate will be accompanied by a briefing by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The debate is expected to focus on the genesis of the terrorist threat in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as on how existing conflicts contribute to the narrative exploited by violent extremisms. In this sense, an assessment on the root causes and the regional dimensions of terrorism will be the key element for the debate. The debate is also expected to assess the implementation of obligations imposed by the Council on member states, in order to curb the financing of different terrorist groups’ affiliates and to enhance the Council’s instruments to tackle the evolving nature of the terrorist threat. Tackle violent extremism and radicalisation processes while maintaining full observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, is also expected to be on the agenda. As outcome of the debate, the Council is likely to adopt a presidential statement where member states will be called upon to adopt alternative narratives to violent extremism, to ensure overall implementation of the Council’s counter-terrorism framework and to refrain from fueling conflicts in the region to advance their own interests. Due to clear divergences and lack of common visions among Council members, the adoption of a more specific and demanding statement could be difficult to accomplish.
The debate will be accompanied by a briefing by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. It is expected to focus on the genesis of the terrorist threat in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as on how existing conflicts contribute to the narrative exploited by violent extremisms. It is also expected to assess the implementation of obligations imposed by the Council on member states, in order to curb the financing of different terrorist groups’ affiliates and to enhance the Council’s instruments to tackle the evolving nature of the terrorist threat.
As an outcome of the debate, the Council is likely to adopt a presidential statement where member states will be called upon to adopt alternative narratives to violent extremism, to ensure overall implementation of the Council’s counter-terrorism framework and to refrain from fueling conflicts in the region to advance their own interests.
Gender Analysis