Guyana assumes presidency of UN Security Council

Guyana today assumes the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council for the month of June 2025, marking a significant leadership role during its two-year term on the Council.

According to a release, the agenda for the month includes a series of mandated meetings covering critical international issues. These include discussions on Syria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Central Africa, Sudan, Libya, and Yemen. The Council will also hold a mandated meeting on Resolution 2334, which addresses Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories.

A major highlight of Guyana’s presidency will take place on 19 June, when President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali chairs a High-Level Open Debate on “Poverty, Underdevelopment and Conflict: Implications for the Maintenance of International Peace and Security.” The session will involve briefers from the United Nations system and the African Union, alongside participation from various UN Member States. The debate aims to deepen understanding of the links between sustainable development and global peace and security, with a focus on poverty and underdevelopment as both causes and consequences of conflict.

Guyana will also host the annual Children and Armed Conflict Open Debate on 25 June. The meeting will include briefings from Virginia Gamba, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, and Catherine Russell, the Executive Director of UNICEF. Member States will respond to the Secretary-General’s annual report on Children and Armed Conflict during the debate.

Throughout the month, Guyana will emphasise its key priority areas. These include conflict prevention, the security-development nexus, the impact of climate change on peace and security, the protection of children in armed conflict, and the women, peace and security agenda.

The Security Council is expected to adopt its Programme of Work on 2 June. Following this, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, will brief the media on the month’s programme and the presidency’s planned initiatives.

Guyana was elected to the Security Council for the 2024–2026 term. This is its third time serving on the Council, having previously held seats in 1975–1976 and 1982–1983.