Field Missions

In 2019, the Security Council went on five field missions. 

In February, the Council visited West Africa. In Côte d’Ivoire, the mission noted the country’s progress towards stability and economic growth, and called upon the authorities to enhance national reconciliation and take the needed measures to engage all stakeholders. In Guinea-Bissau, the mission advocated continued political dialogue for the full implementation of the Conakry Agreement and the ECOWAS Road Map for the peaceful resolution of the country’s political crisis. Through various meetings with government and civil society representatives in both countries, the mission was also informed about initiatives to bolster women’s empowerment and full participation in political processes. 

In March, the Council visited the Sahel. In Mali, the mission met with representatives of government, opposition, and civil society members, including women’s groups. The mission took note of the progress made in various areas, including the launching of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process, since the renewal of the MINUSMA mandate. In Burkina Faso, the mission expressed concern over the fragility of the security and socioeconomic situation, and reiterated their call for impartial judicial investigations for executions of civilians. The mission also called for the protection of women and children and strengthening women’s participation in parliament and administration. 

In June, the Council visited Iraq and Kuwait. In Kuwait, the mission met with government representatives to discuss bilateral engagement between Iraq and Kuwait and regional issues. Through its first-ever visit to Iraq, the Council recognized the country’s progress and remaining challenges in post-conflict recovery and reconstruction efforts. The mission reaffirmed the inclusive manner in which the government is responding to the needs of its people, including women, youth, children, displaced persons and persons belonging to all ethnic and religious groups. The mission also recognized the important work done by civil society members towards rebuilding efforts. 

In July, the Council visited Colombia. The mission briefed with various stakeholders and expressed its full commitment to the Colombian peace agreement. The mission also met with civil society, which included representatives from women’s, human rights, and peacebuilding organizations. The mission expressed concern over threats targeting civil society, citing the example of a woman community leader who was not able to meet with the Council due to direct threats, while commending community leaders’ efforts towards peace building. 

In October, the Council visited Ethiopia and South Sudan. In Ethiopia, the mission held the thirteenth annual joint consultative meeting with the Peace and Security Council of the African Union. In South Sudan, the mission expressed support for the efforts of regional organizations and actors working to facilitate the peace process. The mission also met with members of civil society and non-governmental organizations. The mission highlighted the need to improve the dire humanitarian, human rights and economic situation in South Sudan.

• Security Council Mission to West Africa (13 to 17 February 2019)

• Security Council Mission to the Sahel (21 to 25 March 2019)

• Security Council Mission to Iraq and Kuwait (27 to 30 June 2019)

• Security Council Mission to Colombia (11 to 14 July 2019)

• Security Council Mission to Ethiopia and South Sudan (19 to 23 October 2019)

In 2018, the Security Council went on three field missions. 

In January, the Council visited Afghanistan for the first time since 2010. The mission noted persistent insecurity, which continues to be the main obstacle to stabilization efforts. The security situation remains highly volatile. The mission noted with concern the increasing number of casualties as terrorist groups, including newcomers, are adopting increasingly violent tactics. 

From April 28-May 2, the Security Council visited Bangladesh and Myanmar. The mission expressed concern about the potential regional repercussions of the Rohynga refugee crisis, urging the Security Council to take action to prevent deterioration of conditions. The mission also stressed the need for the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of refugees as well as a need to establish an independent accountability mechanism supported by the international community to address human rights violations in the Rakhine state. 

In October, the Security Council visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The mission welcomed the preparations for the elections on December 23. The mission also met with women representatives of civil society and women candidates in the presidential and legislative elections and discussed women's full participation in the peace and security decision-making processes. The mission expressed concern about the security of the civilian population, in light of the ongoing violence in certain parts of the country, and called for accountability for violations of international humanitarian law. 

• Security Council Mission to Afghanistan (12-15 January 2018)
• Security Council Mission to Bangladesh and Myanmar (28 April-2 May 2018)
• Security Council Mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (5-7 October 2018)

In 2017, the Security Council went on five field missions.

In March, the Council sent a mission to the Lake Chad Basin region (Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria) to enable members to assess the security and humanitarian situations, while increasing the international focus on a conflict that has received less attention than other crises.

A month later,  the Security Council organised a visit was to Colombia to express the support of the Council for the implementation of the Final Peace Agreement. 

From June 22-24, the Security Council visited the Republic of Haiti to reaffirm the support of the Security Council to the Government and the people of Haiti for the purpose of contributing to its stability and development; review the implementation of resolution 2350 (2017), with a focus on the conclusion of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and the transition to the new United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH); and identify the necessary measures for the successful implementation of the mandate of MINUJUSTH.

Then in September, the Security Council visited Ethiopia to strengthen partnership and enhance cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union in the areas of peace and security. 

In October, the Security Council conducted a field mission to the Sahel,  during which it visited Mali, Mauritania and Burkina Faso. One of the goals of the visit was to provide the members of the Council with a first-hand assessment of the situation on the ground and an opportunity exchange views with the various actors on the ground of the Secretary-General’s recommendations aimed at strengthening international support for the Joint Force.

• Security Council Mission to Lake Chad Bassin (1 to 7 March 2017)
• Security Council Mission to Colombia (3 to 5 May 2017)
• Security Council Mission to Haiti (22 to 24 June 2017)
• Security Council Mission to Ethiopia (6 to 8 September 2017)
• Security Council Mission to the Sahel (19 to 22 October 2017)

In 2016, the Security Council went on five field missions.  

From 21 January to 23 January the Security Council took a field mission to Burundi and Ethiopia. In Burundi, the Council members met with elder statesmen including the Minister of Foreign Affairs and President Pierre Nkurunziza, independent media representatives, civil society organisations,  and the Burundian representative for the Office of the High Commission on Human Rights to discuss paths to ending the conflict. Following, these meetings, the council flew to Ethiopia to meet with the African Union to share key messages from their visit to Burundi and reflect on the situation in Somalia. Women, Peace and Security considerations were not featured in any of the dialogues from this trip. 

The second Security Council field mission was in March, to Mali, Guinea Bissau, and Senegal. Women Peace and Security featured prominently at the dialogues in this mission. In Mali, the women's civil society groups the Security Council met with reflected the systematic discrimination they face and expressed concern for the low levels of women allowed to participate in Malian peace negotiations. Issues of women's human rights including access to justice, were highlighted. 

In May, the Security Council travelled to Somalia, Kenya, and Egypt. In Nairobi, the council met with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta to discuss the challenges of the Somali political process, hosting refugees, and the threats posed by Al-Shabaab. In Egypt,  The Council met for the first time with representatives of the Arab League to discuss peace in the Middle East, the refugee crisis, and the situations in Libya and Somalia. Finally, in Mogadishu, the Council met with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Prime Minister Sharmarke and the regional leaders of Puntland to discuss the state's progress towards stability. The council also met with women's civil society representatives to ensure a strengthened role for women in the government of Somalia. 

Lastly, the Council visited South Sudan and Addis Ababa in September 2016 and DRC and Angola in November 2016. During the mission to South Sudan, the Council engaged with the Transitional Government of National Unity and civil society, including women’s representatives, on the impact on South Sudan’s communities and their views about next steps. During the visit to DRC and Angola, gender-specific issues have not been discussed. 

• Security Council Mission to Africa (21-23 January 2016)
• Security Council Mission to West Africa (3-9 March 2016)
• Security Council Mission to the Horn of Africa (17-22 May 2016)
• Security Council Mission to South Sudan and Addis Ababa (2 to 5 September 2016)
• Security Council Mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola (10 to 14 November 2016)

In 2015, the Security Council the Security Council went on two field missions.

From January 23-25, the Council travelled to Haiti, where it met with President Michel Martelly, opposition political leaders, and civil society groups including women's organisations. The primary focus of the visit was the state's lapsed parliament, ensuing political crisis, and persisting humanitarian crisis. However, through the Council's meetings with women's civil society, the WPS agenda was given a platform in the dialogue. Issues of women's participation and access to justice were featured

Then between March 9 and 13, the Council visited Burundi, Ethiopia, and the Central African Republic. Among its meeting with heads of state and members of the security sector to assess progress in implementing Resolution 2149, the Council met with members of women's civil society. Themes of disarmament, displacement, and conflict resolution were prominent in discussions, as were issues of Women Peace and Security. The topics broached ranged from increasing women's participation, offering protection from SGBV, integrating the WPS agenda into reconciliation processes, and deploying women protection advisors in MINUSCA.

• Security Council Mission to Haiti (23-25 January 2015)
• Security Council Mission to Africa (9-13 March 2015)

In 2014, the Security Council the Security Council went on two field missions.  

From 1 February to 3 February the Security Council took a field mission to Bamako, Mali (MINUSMA). There, in the town of Mopti, the Council members met with armed groups, civil society organisations, the European Training Mission (EUTM) and Operation Serval- the French military operation which aimed to oust Islamist extremist groups in the area. Although they discussed disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) and the return of state authority to the north, no Women, Peace and Security considerations were made.

The second Security Council field mission was in August to Belgium, South Sudan and Somalia. In Belgium, the Council members commemorated the anniversary of World War I, in South Sudan they discussed the conflict and humanitarian disaster, and in Somalia members discussed support for the government. This trip to South Sudan and Somalia did include Women, Peace and Security considerations, gender language in the terms of references  and meetings with women’s civil society and women leaders in both South Sudan and Somalia.

• Security Council Mission to Europe and Africa (8-14 August 2014)
• Security Council Mission to Mali (1-3 February 2014)

Data from the Global Indicators (S/2014/69) show us that in 2013, the Security Council undertook two field missions, to Yemen in January and to the Great Lakes Region and Addis Ababa in October. No references to women, peace and security were included in terms of reference of the Council’s mission to Yemen (S/2013/61) or briefing on the findings (S/PV.6916). The mission report (S/2013/173), however, mentions the need for attention to women’s rights in Yemen’s political transition and in the drafting of the new constitution, and includes concerns about lack of access to services, including life saving reproductive health services. Issues regarding women’s protection and participation were included in the terms of reference of the Council’s mission to the Great Lakes region (S/2013/579), particularly the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the mission met with women leaders and civil society representatives and engaged with high-level officials on accountability issues for sexual violence. However, there was no related substantial reporting in the briefing to the Council (S/PV.7045), although the mission report (S/2014/341) contains references to ending sexual violence in connection with fighting impunity.

• Security Council Mission to Africa (3-9 October 2013)
• Security Council Mission to Yemen (25-27 January 2013)

Previous years missions included: 

• Security Council Mission to Timor-Leste (3-6 November 2012)
• Security Council Mission to West Africa (18-24 May 2012) Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone