International konference om Danmark og FN’s Sikkerhedsråd: ”What can and should Denmark do on the UN Security Council in 2025-2026?”

(English below)

Den 27. april 2023 kl. 9.30-17.30 afholder Juridisk Institut og FN-forbundet støttet af Hermod Lannung Fonden en international konference på Syddansk Universitet i Odense. Baggrunden for konferencen er, at det i 2025-2026 formentligt – efter 20 år – igen bliver Danmarks tur til at sidde i FN’s mest magtfulde organ, Sikkerhedsrådet. Ved siden af de fem permanente medlemmer med vetoret vil Danmark være et af de 10 øvrige lande, som i to år er med til at forebygge og reagere på internationale kriser. 

Denne rolle er altid en stor udfordring for et lille land, men det gælder i endnu højere grad i en tid, hvor Sikkerhedsrådet skal håndtere Ruslands angrebskrig mod Ukraine og voksende spændinger mellem Kina og USA. Hvordan kan Danmark forberede sig på sin kommende rolle, og hvilke muligheder er der for at fremme danske prioriteter? 

Juridisk Institut og FN-forbundet har inviteret internationale og danske eksperter for at diskutere Danmarks perspektiver i FN’s Sikkerhedsråd. Konferencen afholdes på engelsk, og det er muligt at deltage både fysisk og via Zoom. Uanset hvad er tilmelding nødvendig, og det kan ske til og med den 25. april på https://event.sdu.dk/sdusecuritycouncil/signup.

Læs den seneste version af programmet nedenfor.

Har du spørgsmål, er du velkommen til at kontakte lektor Martin Mennecke på marme@sam.sdu.dk.

Practical details
Date: Thursday, 27 April 2023, 9:30-17:30

Venue: Sky Bar (top floor), Campus Kollegiet, Campusvej 1, 5230 Odense M. It will be possible to participate online in all three conference panels but not the opening keynote address. The Zoom details will be shared with registered participants in due course. 

The conference will be conducted in English. 

Attendance is free, but registration is required no later than 25 April under this link: https://event.sdu.dk/sdusecuritycouncil/signup

Please note, in person participation is limited to 55 participants allocated to those who register first. The conference is co-organized by the Danish UN Association and the Department of Law of the University of Southern Denmark, and it is supported by the Hermod Lannung Foundation.

Any questions can be sent to Associate Professor Martin Mennecke at marme@sam.sdu.dk.

Background
Denmark has launched its campaign to obtain a non-permanent seat on the 15-member United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Its aim is to succeed Norway and obtain a seat on the Council as the next country in the Nordic rotation. If elected, it will hold this position for a two-year period in 2025 and 2026 as one of the ten non-permanent UNSC states. With the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and a multitude of grave human rights violations taking place across the globe, Denmark is poised to take up this role during a particularly turbulent time in world history.

Many pertinent questions arise in connection with Denmark’s potential upcoming role at the UN Security Council. The conference will address some key topics surrounding a potential Danish membership, including:

• how Denmark should prepare to address new and continuing peace and security challenges while on the UNSC
• the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and a changing global political landscape on Denmark’s role on the UNSC
• how to pursue accountability for atrocity crimes during Denmark’s term on the Council
• other potential key focus areas for Denmark during its term.

A range of international diplomats, academics, former UN personnel, legal and military experts as well as representatives from human rights and non-governmental organizations will present their views. Participants will have the opportunity to pose questions to the experts and engage in discussions during the conference.

Program

9:30-9:45 Welcome 

- Lars Løkke Rasmussen, The Danish Foreign Minister 

9:45-10:30 Keynote: Norway – lessons learnt on the Security Council in 2021-2022
- Andreas Løvold, Director, Department for Multilateral Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway
- Discussant: Ellen Stensrud, Norwegian Centre for Holocaust and Minority Studies
- Chair: Martin Mennecke, University of Southern Denmark 

Denmark hopes to succeed Norway as the next country in the Nordic rotation. What lessons has Norway learnt during its membership on the Security Council? Norway witnessed, inter alia, the Russian invasion of Ukraine but also the military coup in Myanmar and massive atrocities during the conflict in Ethiopia. How can Denmark best prepare for and eventually use such membership? How much potential is there in practice in working together with the other elected members of the Security Council?

The first part of the conference will be held under Chatham House Rule. This means participants are free to use the information they gather during this part of the conference, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker, nor that of any other participant, may be revealed or cited when using this information. 

10:30-11:15 Questions and answers

11.15-11:45 Coffee break

11:45-13:00 Panel 1: What will Denmark’s role be on the Security Council regarding accountability for atrocity crimes in Ukraine and elsewhere?

 - 2 x 15 min presentations + 45 min Q&A

- Chair: Frederik Harhoff, University of Southern Denmark 

- Martin Mennecke, University of Southern Denmark

- Carrie McDougall, University of Melbourne (via Zoom)

Among the traditional Danish priorities at the UN is the pursuit of accountability for massive human rights violations. The UN Security Council can play an important role in this regard, as it can refer relevant situations to the International Criminal Court – however, the last occasion during which the Council utilized this power was in 2011, regarding Libya.

Other examples from the practice of the Security Council include its appointment of a special team to investigate atrocity crimes committed by ISIL in Iraq and of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Darfur, Sudan. What about accountability during Denmark’s term on the Council?

13:00-13:45 Lunch and networking (light refreshments will be served for all participants)

13:45-15:15 Panel 2: What do current world politics and the other incoming elected members mean for Denmark’s term on the Security Council? 
- 3x15 min presentations + 45 min Q&A

- Chair: Finn Reske-Nielsen, Danish UN Association 

- Shamala Kandiah, Security Council Report (via Zoom)

- Ulrika Møller, University of Gothenburg (via Zoom)

- Anders Wivel, University of Copenhagen

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has led to demands of Russia’s removal from the Security Council, but this of course did not happen. Therefore, the members of the Council have to make it work. Prior to Denmark joining the Council, the United States will elect a new president which may pose further challenges for the work of the Security Council.

In addition, Pakistan and Somalia are among the states running for a seat as elected members in 2025-2026. What implications does all this have for Denmark’s term on the Council? 

15:15-15:45 Coffee break

15:45-17:15 Panel 3: What should Denmark focus on while on the Security Council?
- 2x15 min presentations + 60 min Q&A

- Chair: Louise Riis Andersen, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

- Michael Lollesgaard, Lieutenant General (ret.), former UN Force Commander (MINUSMA/Mali) and former UN Head of Mission (Yemen) (via Zoom)

- Rikke Ishøy, Danish Red Cross

Equality, Security and Action – symbolised by a green swan: That is what is currently known about the Danish priorities for its membership. For the time being, Denmark must prioritise its election to the Council and strive to obtain the maximum votes possible during the elections held in the UN General Assembly. However, what will Denmark focus on during its membership, and what should it focus on? This panel will provide some input for further discussion. 

17:15 Concluding remarks