Sally Longworth speaking at event on UN Security Council Resolution 2242 at the Swedish Defence University

On 16 December, the Swedish Defence University will be holding an event on the background, content and significance of UN Security Council Resolution 2242. The event is hosted and organised by Martina Lindberg, FHS 1325-handläggare. Sally Longworth will be speaking on a panel together with Disa Kammars Larsson, Policy adviser on women, peace and security at Kvinna till Kvinna, Ola Saleh, Grants Manager MENA-regionen at Kvinna till Kvinna, and Elin Bjarnegård, Associate Professor at the Department for Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University.

The event will take place on 16 December 08:30-11:00 (coffee served from 08:20) in rooms 203 A+B at the Swedish Defence University on Drottning Kristinas Väg 37.

A preliminary agenda and registration is available on the Swedish Defence University's website here.

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UI event with UN Special Envoy for Syria

Staffan de Mistura, photo from UN file photo/ Jean-Marc Ferre

On Friday 27 November, Utrikespolitiska Instituet hosted an event with the UN Special Envoy of the Secretary General for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, on the recent peace negotiations in Vienna. A recording of the event can be accessed here.

/ Sally

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Action by the UN Security Council and the EU following the Paris and Beirut attacks

Both the EU and UN Security Council have taken action in wake of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and Beirut last week.

France invoked Article 42(7) of the Treaty of the European Union at a meeting of the Council of the European Union on 16 and 17 November. The outcome of the meeting indicates that Member States expressed their unanimous support for the move and will provide aid and assistance through bilateral arrangements. This is the first time that the mutual assistance clause has been invoked.

On 20 November, the Security Council passed Resolution 2249. In unprecendented language, the Security Council called upon Member States "that have the capacity to do so to take all necessary measures, in compliance with international law, in particular with the United Nations Charter, as well as international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, on the territory under the control of ISIL also known as Da’esh, in Syria and Iraq, to redouble and coordinate their efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist acts committed specifically by ISIL also known as Da’esh as well as ANF, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with Al-Qaida, and other terrorist groups, as designated by the United Nations Security Council, and as may further be agreed by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) and endorsed by the UN Security Council, pursuant to the statement of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) of 14 November, and to eradicate the safe haven they have established over significant parts of Iraq and Syria". The full text of the Resolution together with statements of countries during the meeting is available here.

/ Sally

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ICRC live streamed event on sexual violence in armed conflict

On 12 November 2015 1800-1930 the ICRC will be livestreaming an event on the underlying causes of sexual violence in armed conflict and prevention strategies. The event can be accessed here. Further details on panellists and background to the event are included on the ICRC's website.

/ Sally

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Forthcoming lecture on gender violence and fact-finding during armed conflict

On 2 November at 1500 Associate Professor Dr Gus Waschefort will hold a lecture on gender violence and fact-finding during armed conflict for the International Law Centre at the Swedish Defence University.

The lecture will take place in room N204 at the Swedish Defence University on Drottning Kristinas väg 37. 

Gus Waschefort is an Associate Professor of international law at the University of South Africa and served previously as legal advisor to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial summary or arbitrary executions. His academic interest relates primarily to the intersect of international humanitarian law, international human rights law and international criminal law – to this end he places much emphasis on human rights fact-finding, and is known for his work on children in armed conflict.

/ Sally

                    

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New Security Council resolution on women, peace and security

On the fifteenth anniversary of UNSCR 1325, the Security Council passed a further resolution relating to women, peace and security.

Paragraph 1 of UNSCR 2242 (2015) focuses on women's meaningful participation in peace processes and decision making. The resolution follows the publication of a global study by UN Women on the implementation of UNSCR 1325, which highlights the important gains to be made by the greater empowerment of women in peacebuilding efforts.

Resolution 2242 (2015) can be accessed here.

/ Sally

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Security Council authorises operations to tackle people smuggling of coast of Libya

On Friday 9 October, the UN Security Council authorised Member States, acting nationally or through regional organisations that are engaged in the fight against migrant smuggling and human trafficking, to inspect on the high seas off the coast of Libya vessels that they have reasonable grounds to suspect being used for migrant smuggling or human trafficking from Libya and to seize vessels confirmed as being used for such purposes. Acting under C.VII of the UN Charter, the Security Council authorised such action for a period of one year and the resolution was passed with 14 votes in favour, Venezuela abstaining.

The resolution notes the exceptional and specific circumstances present in the situation and was decided "with a view to saving the threatened lives of migrants or of victims of human trafficking".

The resolution also sets a number of requirements for Member States, including the requirement to make good faith efforts to obtain the consent of the vessel’s flag State prior to using the authority outlined in the resolution, to act in full compliance with international human rights law, to provide for the safety of persons on board as an utmost priority and to avoid causing harm to the marine environment or to the safety of navigation. The actions are also not applicable to vessels entitled to sovereign immunity under international law and the resolution underscores that the aim is to disrupt the organised criminal enterprises engaged in migrant smuggling and human trafficking and prevent loss of life. It is not intended to undermine the human rights of individuals or prevent them from seeking protection under international human rights law and international refugee law.

Members States are also called on to assist Libya, upon request in building needed capacity including to secure its borders and to prevent, investigate and prosecute acts of smuggling of migrants and human trafficking through its territory and in its territorial sea, and to cooperate with the Libyan Government, and with each other, including by sharing information about acts of migrant smuggling and human trafficking in Libya’s territorial sea and on the high seas off the coast of Libya, and rendering assistance to migrants and victims of human trafficking recovered at sea, in accordance with international law.

The full text of the resolution can be found here. The UN's press release is available here and background to the adoption of the resolution available here.

/ Sally

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