UN SECURITY COUNCIL
Mission/Mandate:
Under the Charter of the United Nations, the Security Council (UNSC) has primary responsibility “for the maintenance of international peace and security” (UNSC Website, http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/unsc_background.html, accessed on 29 May 2008).
The functions and powers of the Security Council are set out in the UN Charter: To maintain peace and security, to investigate disputes, to recommend methods of adjusting or settling such disputes (UNSC Website, http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/unsc_functions.html, accessed on 29 May 2008).
Target group:
Member states of the UN, UN General Assembly, parties to a dispute.
Objective:
The Security Council conducts missions as part of its role to investigate disputes or situations which might lead to international friction and to recommend conflict resolution methods, to assure the society concerned of the commitment by the international community, and to review activities and progresses (see Terms of Reference in Mission Reports for further details).
The Security Council also regularly requests the UN Secretary-General, through resolutions, to keep the Council informed of the situation in countries it monitors. (Note: Some of the Secretary-General’s reports are directed to both, the UNSC and the General Assembly.)
Funding:
UN budget.
Scope of reporting:
Countries included: Countries involved in conflicts/disputes or in situations which might lead to international friction.
Thematic priorities: Conflicts/disputes; threats to international peace; security; peace processes.
Reporting methodology:
Security Council Mission Reports are based on information acquired by the mission delegation through meetings with representatives of governments, parties, civil society, UN agencies and other organisations in the countries concerned. Information on the terms of reference and composition of a mission (and, sometimes, on the programme) is contained in the annex of the mission reports.
Publication cycle:
No general publication cycle. Security Council resolutions may set a timeframe for reporting periods.
Languages:
English. Most documents are also available in other UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish).
Navigation of website:
Security Council Mission Reports can be accessed by selecting Mission Reports in the navigation bar of the UNSC main website, or by following this link: http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/missionreports.html (accessed on 29 May 2008).
Reports of the Secretary-General to the Security Council can be accessed by clicking on the respective item in the navigation bar of the UNSC main website and choosing the year of publication (for 2008 see: http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/sgrep08.htm, accessed on 29 May 2008).
Additional references:
Security Council Report: “Security Council Report seeks to fill this gap by establishing an independent professional capacity, supported by a first-rate research staff, to provide timely, accurate and objective information and analysis on the activities of the Security Council. Security Council Report publishes regular reports on the Council's existing and prospective agenda, supplemented by ad hoc Update Reports on breaking news.”
http://www.securitycouncilreport.org/ (accessed on 29 May 2008)
