Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 18
18
Deferred
Prioritise co-penholding with Elected UN Security Council Members for country and thematic files.
Recommendation
The Government should prioritise co-penholding with at least one Elected Member to the United Nations Security Council per country and thematic file, where appropriate, and where Elected Members are willing and able to contribute meaningfully. This would also provide a practical 48 and implementable reform mechanism within the United Nations Security Council in a manner beneficial to the UK’s interests. The Government should adopt co-penholding as a rule for files where the UK’s foreign policy serves as a barrier to its ability to be an actor in promoting global peace and security efforts at the United Nations Security Council. (Recommendation, Paragraph 73)
Government response summary AI-generated
The government's response discusses the challenges of securing UN funding for AU Peace Support Operations in Somalia (AUSSOM) and highlights the UK's £16.5 million commitment to AUSSOM and efforts to lobby other international partners for financial pledges. It does not address the recommendation to prioritise co-penholding with Elected Members of the UN Security Council.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
Deferred
32. HMG has championed broad and thorough engagement when penholding. As a matter of principle, we consult widely on all UK-penned UN Security Council products from the outset, with a particular focus on countries whose interests are most affected or whose diplomatic influence is most germane to resolving a particular conflict. The UK has championed co-penning in recent years, and we engage with relevant Member States when and where we feel a UN Security Council product would benefit from being co-penned, taking every effort to ensure that products being negotiated in the Council are informed and empowered by relevant voices. For example, numerous press statements drafted and negotiated jointly with the African members, including on Libya and Sudan, and the UK-Sierra Leone draft resolution on protection of civilians in Sudan. However, co-penning is not appropriate for every agenda item, and we therefore do not agree with the Committee that the UK should take a “one size fits all” approach.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗