United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2536-2544

United Nations Security Council Resolutions are available at: <https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/resolutions-0>

Resolution 2536 (July 28, 2020) –

In response to ongoing violence in the Central African Republic and acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, the Security Council “[d]ecide[d] that, until 31 July 2021, all Member States shall continue to take the necessary measures to prevent the … supply, sale or transfer to the CAR … of arms.” The Council listed several exceptions to this decision and enumerated the process by which states should notify the Committee of the transport of the excepted categories of goods. In addition to renewing and reaffirming several measures contained in resolutions 2488 (2019), 2399 (2018), and 2507 (2020), the Council extended the Panel of Experts’ mandate until August 31, 2021. Noting “reports of illicit transnational trafficking networks which continue to fund and supply armed groups in the CAR,” the Council “request[ed] the Panel… devote special attention to the analysis of such networks.” It also requested a report by CAR authorities “on the progress achieved regarding the SSR [security sector reform], the disarmament, demobilisation, reintegration and repatriation (DDRR) process and the management of weapons and ammunition.” In closing, the Council requested that the Secretary-General complete “an assessment on the progress achieved by the CAR authorities” by June 15, 2021.

[https://undocs.org/en/S/RES/2536(2020)]

Resolution 2537 (July 28, 2020) –

In resolution 2537, the Security Council called on both parties to the conflict in Cyprus to take responsibility for achieving peace. To that end, the Council “[w]elcome[d] the trilateral meeting of the leaders and the Secretary-General on 25 November 2019 … at which both sides reaffirmed their commitment to a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality.” The Council requested that leaders work together to “ensure effective coordination and cooperation on health matters,” “deliver[] more constructive and harmonised messages,” and “promote peace education across the island.” It also requested that both sides cooperate with the Committee on Missing Persons and collaborate to create “an effective mechanism for direct military contacts.” It welcomed the Secretary-General's continued participation in the process, specifically “his efforts to achieve terms of reference to serve as a consensus starting point for phased, meaningful, and results-oriented negotiations.”

The Council emphasized the importance of “reopening … all the crossing points and the return to the operating status that existed prior to 29 February 2020” and requested that leaders “restore in Strovilia the military status quo which existed there prior to 30 June 2000.” It “[e]xpresse[d] serious concern at the increased number and severity of violations of the military status quo along the ceasefire lines” and extended the mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus until January 31, 2021.

[https://undocs.org/en/S/RES/2537(2020)]

Resolution 2538 (August 28, 2020) –

In resolution 2538, the Security Council encouraged “Member States…to strengthen their collective efforts to promote the full, effective, and meaningful participation of uniformed and civilian women in peacekeeping operations.” It listed several measures states can take “to increase the deployment of uniformed women to peacekeeping operations” and “[c]all[ed] on the Secretary-General to continue to implement the System-Wide Strategy on Gender Parity and Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy 2018–2028.” Additionally, the Council emphasized the importance of “safe, enabling and gender-sensitive working environments for women,” “targeted trainings and capacity-building programmes,” and continued “efforts [by the Secretary-General] to prevent and address sexual harassment within peacekeeping operations.” It requested that the Secretary-General include an update on “the progress of the implementation of this resolution and other related aspects of participation of women in peacekeeping operations in his comprehensive annual briefing.”

[https://undocs.org/en/S/RES/2538(2020)]

Resolution 2539 (August 28, 2020) –

In response to a request from the Lebanese government, the Security Council “extend[ed] the present mandate of UNIFIL [United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon] until 31 August 2021.” Throughout the next year, UNIFIL should “take fully into account gender considerations as a cross-cutting issue … and … assist the Lebanese authorities in ensuring the full, effective and meaningful participation … of women at all levels of decision-making.” The Council “[a]uthorize[d] UNIFIL … to take … measures to provide support … in the aftermath of the explosions that occurred in … Beirut” and reduced “the troop-ceiling set out in … resolution 1701 from 15,000 authorized troops to 13,000 troops.”

Addressing the ongoing tension between Israel and Lebanon, the Council “[r]eiterate[d] its call for Israel and Lebanon to support a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution” and emphasized the need for an expedited withdrawal of Israeli troops from northern Ghajar. It requested that the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Secretary General collaborate to create timelines for the “deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces in southern Lebanon and the territorial waters of Lebanon.” It also “[r]eiterate[d] its call for the Government of Lebanon to present a plan to increase its naval capabilities,” encouraged “further international support for the Lebanese Armed Forces and all state security institutions,” and “[c]ondemn[ed] all violations of the Blue Line.” The Council called for increased cooperation between UNIFIL, the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, and the Lebanese Armed Forces. In closing, the Council “[s]tresse[d] the importance of, and the need to achieve, a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.”

[https://undocs.org/en/S/RES/2539(2020)]

Resolution 2540 (August 28, 2020) –

The Security Council extended the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia's (UNSOM) mandate until August 31, 2021, and requested that the mission focus on several priority tasks over the next year. Those priorities include supporting the transition to “Somali Government-led, inclusive politics,” “the delivery of elections which are free, fair, timely, peaceful, transparent, credible and inclusive,” and “the implementation of key security sector reforms.”

The Council “[u]rge[d] the Somali authorities to create a conducive political and security climate for inclusive elections across Somalia and at all levels” and “[d]emand[ed] all parties to the conflict to take appropriate measures to … prevent violations … against children.” Addressing the needs of internally displaced people, it “[c]all[ed] upon … all relevant actors to facilitate, support and, where appropriate, implement durable solutions for internal displacement.” The Council also “[u]nderline[d] the need for the FGS [Federal Government of Somalia] to establish and operationalise the National Human Rights Commission, accelerate the appointment of Commissioners, and establish and operationalise the Constitutional Court and the Judicial Service Commission in line with the Provisional Constitution and the relevant legislation.”

[https://undocs.org/en/S/RES/2540(2020)]

Resolution 2541 (August 31, 2020) –

The Security Council condemned the August 18, 2020, mutiny in Kati and reiterated its support for the continued implementation of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali. Acting under Article VII of the UN Charter, it renewed the travel bans and asset freezes listed in resolution 2374 until August 31, 2020. It also renewed the mandate of the Panel of Experts until September 30, 2021.

[https://undocs.org/en/S/RES/2541(2020)]

Resolution 2542 (September 15, 2020) –

The Security Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) until September 15, 2021, and requested the Secretary-General appoint a Special Envoy to oversee all of UNSMIL's work. UNSMIL's priorities include “consolidate[ing] the governance, security and economic arrangements of the Government of National Accord” and “further[ing] an inclusive political process and security and economic dialogue.” The Secretary-General should submit “an assessment and recommendations for improving the efficiency of UNSMIL's overall mission structure,” “an assessment of the options for effective ceasefire monitoring under the auspices of the UN,” and a summary of COVID-19's impact on peacekeeping operations in Libya. The Council “demand[ed] full compliance including by all Member States with the arms embargo imposed under resolution 1970 (2011)” and “welcome[d] efforts by the Libya Sanctions Committee's Panel of Experts to investigate violations of the arms embargo.” Finally, the Council “encourage[d] continued work towards, a comprehensive political strategy.”

[https://undocs.org/en/S/RES/2542(2020)]

Resolution 2543 (September 15, 2020) –

The Security Council expressed appreciation and support for the work of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and “stresse[d] the need to ensure continued adequate resourcing for UNAMA to fulfil its mandate.” It “[w]elcome[d] the start of intra-Afghan negotiations in Doha, Qatar on 12 September 2020” and laid out specific priorities for UNAMA and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to pursue. These include “support[ing] … the organization of future timely, credible, transparent, and inclusive Afghan elections” and “the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan in fulfilling its commitments to improve governance and the rule of law.” The Council also encouraged increased collaboration and communication between UN entities in Afghanistan, Afghan authorities, and international parties.

[https://undocs.org/en/S/RES/2543(2020)]

Resolution 2544 (September 18, 2020) –

The Security Council began by acknowledging the ongoing threat that the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) poses “to international peace and security” and the need “to ensure that members of ISIL (Da'esh) are held accountable for their crimes in Iraq.” It then “[r]eaffirm[ed] its resolution 2379 (2017), by which the Investigative Team … was established” and extended the Team's mandate until September 18, 2021.

[https://undocs.org/en/S/RES/2544(2020)]