Photo: Gabriel Piętka / MSZ
PODSUMOWANIE POLISH MEMBERSHIP IN THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL #PLUNSC
2018-2019
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POLAND AS A NONPERMANENT MEMBER OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL On 2 June 2017 Poland was elected a non-permanent member of the Security Council (as a representative of the Eastern European Group) for a two-year term by a record number of 190 votes of the United Nations member states. 1 January 2018 was the sixth time that we joined that prestigious body, which, according to the UN Charter, is responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security. From the very beginning we were actively involved in Poland’s priority themes: •international law; •protection of civilians in armed conflict; •peace and security in Eastern Europe. As a Council member we chaired four of its subsidiary organs – sanctions committees on: (i) Sudan, (ii) South Sudan and (iii) Iraq and the United Nations Compensation Commission. We presided over the Security Council’s work twice – in May 2018 and August 2019.
Photo: Sebastian Indra / MSZ
Photo: Tymon Markowski / MSZ
Photo: Sebastian Indra / MSZ
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STRENGTHENING OF INTERNATIONAL LAW
The strengthening of international law has always been Poland’s main priority in the Security Council. From our perspective, respecting obligations deriving from international law is the fundamental part of rule-based order and the key to the maintenance of international peace and security. In its activities, Poland focused on keeping the topic of international law, including international humanitarian law (IHL), on the Security Council’s agenda. During Poland’s first Presidency in the Council in May 2018 we organized an open debate on the role of international law in the context of the maintenance of international peace and security, chaired by President of Poland, Andrzej Duda. Further, during another Presidency in August 2019, we organized a briefing on international humanitarian law, in the context of the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Geneva Conventions. In this spirit, on 20 August 2019, we led the Council to the adoption of the PRST (presidential statement) on international humanitarian law. We also co-organized an ‘Arria-formula’ meeting on cooperation of the International Criminal Court and the Security Council (July 2018) and organized an ‘Arria-formula’ meeting on the prevention of atrocity crimes (December 2018).
Photo: Jakub Szymczuk / KPRP
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PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS
Conflict prevention and activities aiming to improve the protection of civilians, especially vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, have been another priority at the Council. Poland has set itself several specific sub-themes in this area. We have focused on promotion of the protection of children in armed conflict with particular emphasis on the topic of children born of sexual violence in conflicts and reintegrating children previously associated with armed groups. In addition to thematic meetings at the Security Council, Poland established permanent and close cooperation with the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict. We also joined the Steering Committee set up as part of the work on establishing the Children’s Reintegration Fund. We have successfully introduced the topic of people with disabilities at the Council. At the initiative of Poland, the Security Council unanimously adopted the first-ever resolution on persons with disabilities in armed conflict, on 20 June 2019.
Photo: Sebastian Indra / MSZ
Photo: Tymon Markowski / MSZ
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Photo: Sebastian Indra / MSZ
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REGIONAL ISSUES ďšť UKRAINE AND GEORGIA
During our term in the Council, Poland has consistently acted to embed the Eastern dimension in the Council’s agenda. We have been particularly active in maintaining Ukraine on the UNSC agenda by initiating and organizing a meeting on the situation in Ukraine, including in Crimea, an extraordinary briefing on the escalation of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia in connection with the events in the Sea of Azov, informal expert consultations on the situation in Ukraine in the context of compliance with international humanitarian law, and a meeting with the Informal Group of Friends for Ukraine. We also took advantage of our Council membership to raise the issue of the 10th anniversary of Russian aggression against Georgia. Photo: Sebastian Indra / MSZ
Photo: Tymon Markowski / MSZ
Photo: Sebastian Indra / MSZ
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ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL
EUROPEAN COOPERATION IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL The years 2018-2019 can be considered exceptional for European cooperation in the UN Security Council. EU countries accounted for as many as one-third of the Council members, which had a measurable impact on the Council’s work. Under the enhanced European cooperation, EU member states continued to agree positions on key issues, practice joint media appearances and facilitate in-depth exchange of information between capitals. From the onset of its UN Security Council membership, Poland's priority was to promote common values for EU countries in the area of conflict prevention, with particular emphasis on international law, protection of women and children in armed conflict, as well as freedom of religion, belief and protection of religious minorities.
COMMEMORATION OF VICTIMS OF ACTS OF VIOLENCE BASED ON RELIGION OR BELIEF On 28 May 2019 at the initiative of Poland, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution establishing August 22 as the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. On the same day, a UN Security Council ‘Arria-formula’ meeting was held, which dealt with advancing the safety and security of persons belonging to religious minorities. The meeting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Jacek Czaputowicz and, among others, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet.
Photo: Sebastian Indra / MSZ
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ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL
POLAND RETURNS TO PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS In November 2019, Polish contingent of over 200 peacekeepers took up their duties as part of UNIFIL mission in Lebanon. This marked Poland’s return, after several years, to direct involvement in UN peacekeeping missions. The Polish battalion under Irish command serves in the southern sector of the mission’s area, along the Lebanese-Israeli border. The mission’s primary objectives are to assist the government of Lebanon in ensuring the return of its effective authority in the area, control the Blue Line and monitor the cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel, as well as help ensure humanitarian access to civilian populations.
Photo: st.szer. Wojciech Król / CO MON
Re-engagement with UNIFIL is part of Poland’s longtime activity in UN peacekeeping missions worldwide and shows its recognition of the organization’s fundamental role in conflict prevention, crisis management and guaranteeing peace and security.
Photo: st.szer. Wojciech Król / CO MON Photo: st.szer. Wojciech Król / CO MON
Photo: Leszek Chemperek / CO MON
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HIGHLEVEL POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT
Poland’s membership in the Security Council meant taking responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. Polish officials took that duty seriously. During its two-year term, Poland was represented at a high political level at more than 20 Council meetings. President Andrzej Duda attended 3 meetings of the Security Council, including the open debate on the role of international law, which he chaired in May 2018. Minister of Foreign Affairs Jacek Czaputowicz participated actively (6 times as a chairman) in 13 formal meetings of the Security Council and one informal ‘Arria-formula’ meeting. Other high-level representatives of the President’s Chancellery and ministries participated in 5 sessions of that body.
Photo: Jakub Szymczuk / KPRP
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POLAND’S MEMBERSHIP IN NUMBERS UNSC ACTIVITIES DURING POLAND’S MEMBERSHIP
35
PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENTS (PRST)
106 RESOLUTIONS
546
254
FORMAL MEETINGS
CLOSED CONSULTATIONS
UNSC ACTIVITIES DURING POLAND’S PRESIDENCIES
6
RESOLUTIONS
48
FORMAL MEETINGS
6
PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENTS (PRST)
27
CLOSED CONSULTATIONS
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2018 2019
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KEY EVENTS 26 November 15 March
21 February briefing on the role of the United Nations Charter in the maintenance of international peace and security (participation of MFA Jacek Czaputowicz)
10 January closed consultations (AOB) on situation on the Korean Peninsula at the initiative of Poland and Sweden
‘Arria-formula’ meeting on Russian occupation of the Crimean Peninsula at the initiative of Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States in cooperation with Ukraine
2018 15 March ‘Arria-formula’ meeting on situation on the Crimean Peninsula at the initiative of Poland, Belgium, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States
1 April briefing on international humanitarian law (participation of MFA Jacek Czaputowicz)
17 May open debate on the role of international law in the maintenance of international peace and security
22 May open debate on protection of civilians in armed conflicts
29 May briefing on situation in Ukraine
extraordinary briefing on situation in Ukraine (‘Arria-formula’ in the context of escalation of tensions in the Sea of Azov) at the initiative of Poland, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States
May
2 August open debate on children in armed conflicts
13 August briefing on international humanitarian law
2019
20 August
22 August
debate on challenges for peace and security in the Middle East
‘Arria-formula’ meeting on advancing safety and security of persons belonging to religious minorities
10 and 16 October closed consultations (AOB) on situation in north-eastern Syria at the initiative of Poland, France, Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom
August
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20 June
20 August
adoption of UNSC resolution on situation of persons with disabilities in armed conflicts
adoption of UNSC PRST on international humanitarian law
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