Guyana assumes Presidency of UN Security Council for June

Guyana has assumed the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council for the month of June.

Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Carloyn Rodrigues-Birkett, will chair the month’s activities, which includes a heavy focus on global security.

In a release today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation explained that the month’s activities include several mandated meetings on conflicts in Syria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, Libya, and Yemen with a mandated meeting on resolution 2334 which deals with Israeli settlements on Palestine’s Territory.

President Irfaan Ali is also expected to chair a High-Level open debate on Poverty, Underdevelopment and Conflict, which is expected to feature briefs from the United Nations Systems and the African Union.

The release explained further that the debate will build upon previous discussions in the Council on the relationship between sustainable development and international peace security with focus on poverty and underdevelopment and is coming at a time when armed conflicts are increasing and Sustainable Development Goals are not on track to be achieved by 2030.

Further, Guyana will also organize the annual Children and Armed conflict Open Debate later this month, in addition to briefings from Special Representatives of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict.

Moreover, the Foreign Ministry stated that Guyana will also focus the Council’s attention on some of its priority areas including conflict prevention and the security development nexus, the impacts of climate change on peace and security, the protection of children in armed conflict and the women, peace and security agenda.

Guyana was elected to the Security Council for a term of two years as a non-permanent member from January 2024 to December 2026.

Prior to its current term Guyana served on the Council in 1975-1976 and 1982- 1983

The UN Security Council is composed of 15 countries, five of which – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States – are permanent members, granting them the right to veto any resolution or decision.