INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATIONS ON SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM: WORKING METHODS
STATEMENT BY MR HAMISH FEJO, FIRST SECRETARY, PERMANENT MISSION OF AUSTRALIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
27 February 2025
Co-chairs,
Australia has consistently championed transparent and effective working methods of the Security Council to enable the Council to discharge its mandate.
Australia welcomes the progress made in this regard, particularly under the leadership of Japan to revise Note 507 – the comprehensive compilation of working methods of the Council.
Today, I wish to elaborate on three key ways to improve the working methods of the Council.
First, Australia supports enhancing participation by briefers in the Security Council.
This includes participation in Council meetings by those working in the field, often at great risk to their own personal safety, whether civil society representatives or humanitarian briefers.
Their expertise provides valuable first-hand insights to the Council on threats to international peace and security.
Second, Australia supports increasing consultation and coordination between the Security Council with other UN bodies, particularly the Peacebuilding Commission.
The Commission, as per its mandate and functions, provides valuable advice to the Council on cross-cutting peacebuilding needs and priorities.
This includes to assist Council decision making on the formation, review and drawdown of peace operations and special political mission mandates.
As a current member of the Commission, Australia recognises the need to strengthen the Commission’s advisory role to the Council, amid a concerning rise in armed conflict.
We welcome the progress to this end, including strengthened language on collaboration between the Council and the Commission in the revised Note 507 on Council working methods.
But more can be done.
We call for the implementation of the revised Note 507 and to explore ways for the Commission to advise the Council in a more timely manner.
Third, Australia supports ongoing implementation of initiatives to improve the transparency of the Council, especially regarding the use of the veto, like the Veto Initiative which Australia has championed.
In this regard, we appreciated that the most recent annual report of the Security Council to the General Assembly which included – for the first time – a dedicated chapter on the special reports on the use of the veto.
We encourage UN Member States’ continued participation in General Assembly debates on the Use of the Veto, especially the participation of states to explain their use of the veto.
In summary, Australia will continue to engage on pragmatic ideas and proposals to strengthen the working methods of the Security Council, in support of maintaining international peace and security.