Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett participated yesterday in the 2023 UN Security Council Briefing Series for non-contested candidates and presented Guyana’s vision and priorities for its term on the UN Security Council.
A release from the Permanent Mission said that Guyana’s candidacy is uncontested, being the sole candidate for a single seat available to the Latin America and Caribbean region. The election for the five incoming members will be held on 6th June 2023. Those elected will serve a two-year term on the Council from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025.
The Ambassador said that Guyana’s service on the Council will be guided by a people-centred approach and will be shaped by a firm commitment to multilateralism, collective action and to the principles and objectives of the United Nations Charter.
She pledged that Guyana will work collaboratively with all Council members and the wider UN membership in addressing the issues on the Council’s agenda. She further outlined five areas that will be given special focus during Guyana’s tenure: (i) climate change, food insecurity and conflict; (ii) peacebuilding and conflict prevention; (iii) women, peace and security; (iv) protection of children in armed conflict; and (v) youth, peace and security, the release said.
The annual Briefing was organized by the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) for the following candidate countries: Algeria and Sierra Leone from the African Group, the Republic of Korea from the Asia-Pacific Group, and Guyana from the Latin American and Caribbean Group. A debate will be held for the two candidates contesting the Eastern European seat today.
The briefing was open to all Member States, Non-Member Observer States, UN Agencies, UN-affiliated Civil Society Organizations and other stakeholders, who took turns in questioning the candidates about their priorities and concerns.
