The Security Council has created working groups that consist of representatives of the members of the Security Council to discuss a range of issues related to the general work of the Council such as procedural questions, peacekeeping operations and protections of civilians. Below is a list of all the working groups established by the Security Council, with a short description prepared on the basis of the content of the Repertoire, as well as links to the sections covering them in the Repertoire. As the meetings and deliberations of the working groups are generally not made public, only limited information is available on these bodies.
Africa
Ad Hoc Working Group on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa
The Ad Hoc Working Group on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa was established on 1 March 2002 to monitor the implementation of recommendations outlined in previous Council decisions regarding conflict prevention and resolution in Africa as well as to propose recommendations on the enhancement of cooperation between the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council and other United Nations agencies dealing with Africa.
Ad Hoc Working Group on Africa
The Ad Hoc Working Group on Africa was established on 28 May 1998 to review recommendations in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa and to prepare a framework for the implementation of recommendations, and to submit specific proposals for concrete action for consideration by the Council by September 1998.
General
Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict
The Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) was established in July 2005 to, inter alia, make recommendations to the Council on possible measures to promote the protection of children affected by armed conflict, including through recommendations on appropriate mandates for peacekeeping missions and recommendations with respect to parties to the conflict.
Working Group established pursuant to resolution 1566 (2004)
The Working Group established pursuant to resolution 1566 (2004) consisting of all members of the Council was established in October 2004 to (i) consider and submit recommendations to the Council on practical measures to be imposed upon individuals, groups or entities involved in or associated with terrorist activities, other than those designated by the Al-Qaida/Taliban Sanctions Committee, including more effective procedures considered to be appropriate for bringing them to justice through prosecution or extradition, freezing of their financial assets, preventing their movement through the territories of Member States, preventing supply to them of all types of arms and related material, and on the procedures for implementing these measures; (ii) consider the possibility of establishing an international fund to compensate victims of terrorist acts and their families, which might be financed through voluntary contributions, which could consist in part of assets seized from terrorist organizations, their members and sponsors, and submit its recommendations to the Council.
Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations
The Working Group was established on 31 January 2001 to address both generic peacekeeping issues relevant to the responsibilities of the Council, and technical aspects of individual peacekeeping operations and to seek the views of the troop-contributing countries (TCCs) through meetings between the Working Group and the TCCs.
Informal Working Group on International Tribunals
The Informal Working Group on International Tribunals was established in June 2000 to deal with a specific issue pertaining to the statute of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 (ICTY) and subsequently mandated to deal with other legal issues pertaining to ICTY as well as the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 1994 (ICTR).
Working Group on General Issues of Sanctions
The Working Group on General Issues of Sanctions was established on 17 April 2000 to develop general recommendations on how to improve the effectiveness of United Nations sanctions.
Informal Working Group on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict
The Informal Working Group on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict was established in September 1999 to review further the recommendations contained in the 8 September 1999 report of the Secretary-General regarding measures that could be taken to insure the protection of civilians and to consider appropriate steps by April 2000.
Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions (IWG)
The Informal Working Group was established in June 1993 to deal with issues related to its documentation and other procedural questions.