In January, there were two discussions in the United Nations Security Council that are important to Refugees International’s work.  The discussion on Somalia was particularlydisappointing, but we were pleased that the UN Security Council is finally looking at how to respond to the escalating violence in south Sudan.

This year there were two important developments for women at the United Nations.  The first was the creation of a unified gender entity, and the second was the passage of Security Council Resolution 1888 on women and armed conflict.  While neither of these developments has led to concrete improvements in the lives of refugee and displaced women as of yet, we’re hopeful that in the near future the issues affecting them will be front and center of the UN's agenda.

After President Obama made his first speech to the United Nations General Assembly last Wednesday, the collective sigh of relief within the UN and UN missions was audible.  His speech embodied the spirit of optimism and hope contained in the UN Charter, rather than the hostility to the UN that characterized the US attitude over the previous eight years.  From my informal conversations with delegates, there was a sense that Obama had said all the right things.

Since 2000, Security Council members have taken a trip each year to Africa—to visit UN peacekeeping missions, to meet with heads of state, and to otherwise get a “real picture” of what is happening on the ground. Members will often visit camps to talk to refugees, internally displaced people and members of aid agencies who are providing services.