On 1 August, Sierra Leone assumed the one-month rotating Presidency of the UN Security Council. Member States addressed several threats to international peace and security, most notably in Africa. Slovenia called for a fully legitimate and efficient Council with a stronger voice for Africa. In addition, Slovenia supported the convening of briefings on the famine declaration in Sudan and on the latest developments in Gaza following the attack on the al-Tabeen school.

On World Humanitarian Day, Slovenia, together with Switzerland, drafted press elements that were agreed by the Council. As the war in Ukraine reached the 2.5-year milestone, Slovenia and the US called for a meeting to discuss the recent developments.

Following the 1 August report of the Famine Review Committee that concluded there was a famine in Zamzam camp for internally displaced persons in North Darfur, Council members debated the humanitarian situation in Sudan. Given that a staggering 26 million people are in acute hunger, Slovenia felt compelled to support the convening of this briefing.

“Famine has no place in the 21st century,” stressed Ambassador Samuel Žbogar in his opening remarks. The humanitarian situation in Sudan remains dire, so the Ambassador once again called for unimpeded and safe humanitarian access and an immediate ceasefire. “A durable political solution is the only way to fully avert the spread of famine and alleviate human suffering,” he added.

Regarding the ongoing hostilities in Gaza, Slovenia supported Algeria in calling for an urgent meeting prompted by the Israeli attack on the al-Tabeen school in Gaza on 10 August. Slovenia condemned the attack on the school compound and reiterated its call for full respect of international humanitarian law, including Security Council resolution 2601 on protection of schools and educational facilities in armed conflict.

Ambassador Žbogar stood firm in his support of the negotiations Egypt, Qatar and the United States are conducting to finalize a long-awaited ceasefire deal. Otherwise, the Council should ensure a ceasefire finally happens through the implementation of its resolutions. “There is no more time to spare,” he said, urging all actors in the region to exert maximum restraint to prevent us from going down a road of no return.

Furthermore, Slovenia expressed full support in response to the Secretary-General’s appeal for a polio pause in Gaza and called for days of tranquility in order to administer polio vaccines to children in Gaza immediately.

As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine reached the 2.5-year milestone, Slovenia and the US requested that the Council convene over the most recent developments. “The sheer extent of human life lost to this war is intolerable and it compels us to look for a just and lasting peace for Ukraine and its people,” underlined the Ambassador, calling for the peace process to begin. On top of that, he underscored the persistent risks to nuclear power plants during armed conflicts and the need for the Council to address nuclear safety and security. Slovenia stands ready to engage.

On World Humanitarian Day on 19 August, Slovenia, together with Switzerland, drafted press elements in support of humanitarian workers and in an effort to address the alarming violations of international law, which exists to protect humanitarian personnel worldwide. The elements were agreed by the Council.

Before the open debate on conflict prevention and peacebuilding, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and Switzerland launched the Joint Action for the New Agenda for Peace. The three countries, which are presiding over the Security Council in August, September and October, respectively, are worried about the rise in conflicts around the globe and want to focus more on prevention. They committed to driving forward conflict prevention in the Council as it can break the cycle of violence and lay the foundations to ensure a more peaceful and stable world.

At a high-level debate on addressing historical injustice and enhancing Africa’s effective representation on the Council, one of Sierra Leone’s signature events, Slovenia underlined that the Council cannot remain frozen in time. It must evolve and adapt. The world has changed significantly since 1945 and the current composition of the Council does not reflect that, Africa remains underrepresented and Security Council reform is more pressing than ever. Slovenia favors the redress of this historical injustice and calls for a fully legitimate and efficient Council. Africa’s voice should be heard and valued.

In the wake of the accelerated drawdown of peace operations, the UN Security Council discussed the women, peace and security agenda related to this drawdown. Slovenia reiterated that there is no peace without a strong women’s role and underlined the need for their full, equal, meaningful and safe participation in peace processes and security matters, including in peacekeeping transitions. The key lies in supporting and enabling women to shape the destinies of their communities. Their rights must be protected and accountability for sexual and gender-based violence ensured. Slovenia also participated in marking the 75^th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions that Switzerland hosted in Geneva on 26 August.

In its intervention Slovenia underscored that the only way to protect humanity in the direst situations such as armed conflicts is to fully respect and implement international humanitarian law.

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