Australia’s next Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Gillian Bird, reports on Australia’s two year term on the UN Security Council and Australia’s UN Security Council Presidency in November. 

During our current two year term on the UN Security Council, Australia has built a strong reputation for making practical, innovative and constructive contributions to the Council’s work.

As President during November, we have been responsible for managing the Council’s agenda, chairing its meetings, working towards common ground on issues under discussion, and acting as the public representative – delivering statements and conveying decisions on behalf of the Council. As well as overseeing a busy program of regular Council meetings and peacekeeping mandate renewals, the Presidency has provided an opportunity to consolidate this reputation and to pursue a package of initiatives which take forward some of Australia’s key priorities in the Council, ahead of the conclusion of our term in December.

Australia’s Presidency comes at a time when the world faces an unprecedented number of complex challenges to international peace and security, including the threat of ISIL in Iraq and Syria. A key focus for Australia has been to strengthen international cooperation to combat terrorism, including tackling the threat of foreign terrorist fighters and stopping the spread of violent extremism.

On 19 November, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop chaired a high-level meeting on counter-terrorism, where the Council adopted an Australian-drafted and negotiated Presidential Statement that sets out a roadmap for the effective implementation of recent Council resolutions [Resolution 2170 on ISIL and al-Nusrah Front, and Resolution 2178 on Foreign Terrorist Fighters] to step up international cooperation in the fight against ISIL and other terrorist organisations.

The Presidential Statement [S/PRST/2014/23] sets out practical steps for improving information sharing between States to prevent travel, recruitment and financing of terrorists. It identifies effective strategies to stop the spread of violent extremism in our communities, and better positions the UN to tackle the causes of terrorism and violent extremism, by enhancing coordination between states and delivering more effective capacity building.

A second key initiative of Australia’s Presidency was to convene the first ever dedicated Council session on UN policing, highlighting the increasingly important role that police play in UN peacekeeping and peacebuilding missions, in particular for post-conflict stabilisation, security sector reform, the rule of law and protection of civilians. Each of these is integral to paving the way for longer term stability and economic and social development.

Foreign Minister Bishop chaired this meeting on 20 November, when the Council also unanimously adopted a new Australian resolution [S/RES/2185 (2014)] that strengthens the effectiveness of police deployments in UN peacekeeping and political missions around the world. The resolution aims to improve standards, guidance and training for police deployments on UN Missions, while also recognising their role in protecting civilians and combatting organised crime and terrorism.

The resolution underscores the importance of women’s participation in policing and urges the deployment of more women police in UN missions. The full and effective participation of women is vital for developing and enhancing security services, building ties between police and the communities they serve, and for promoting a successful transition to stable post-conflict societies.

Australia also held a briefing on General Issues Concerning Sanctions (25 November). The briefing examined how the UN system can improve the way it coordinates – internally and with relevant States, international and regional organisations – to more effectively implement the sanctions regimes established by the Council. Sanctions are a key tool for the Council in addressing threats to international peace and security and improving their effectiveness has been a priority for Australia during our Council term.

Australia last held the Presidency of the Council in September 2013, at the height of the crisis over the use of chemical weapons in Syria. On 27 September, the Council adopted a Presidential resolution [S/RES/2118 (2013)] requiring the elimination of all of Syria’s chemical weapons and their production facilities. Although there are some residual concerns, including about Syria’s disclosures, most of the chemical weapons stockpile has now been eliminated. That month also saw the passage of a landmark Australian-led resolution to curb the use of small arms and light weapons, a major driver of conflict, especially in Africa.

Gillian Bird is Deputy Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations designate.