PassBlue

: Economic interests, often intertwined with geopolitical rivalries, clearly impact multilateral negotiations, and the UN precisely exists to provide a space to overcome — real or perceived — divisions and forge common ground. But this requires sound design and management of negotiation processes, and the incoming UN secretary-general could provide impetus, along with member states, to fill the existing gap.

How the Next UN Chief Can End the Era of Stalled Multilateralism - PassBlue How the Next UN Chief Can End the Era of Stalled Multilateralism - PassBlue

: Since the UN Charter was negotiated in 1945, member states have relied on multilateral negotiations in New York, Geneva and other multilateral hubs to deliver landmark achievements, from the Universal Declaration on Human Rights to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) to the Paris Agreement on climate change.

But established practices are now undermining the ability to forge deals that are both acceptable and capable of addressing global challenges.
https://passblue.com/2026/06/07/how-the-next-un-chief-can-end-the-era-of-stalled-multilateralism/

Read the recap:

[UN: June 5] American Deputy Booted Over Unpaid Dues, New Security Council Members & Lots More - PassBlue [UN: June 5] American Deputy Booted Over Unpaid Dues, New Security Council Members & Lots More - PassBlue

Recap of the most important news around the organization: This Week @ UN
https://passblue.com/2026/06/05/un-june-5-american-deputy-booted-over-unpaid-dues-new-security-council-members-lots-more/

–– Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, MBE, the founder/CEO of theInternational Civil Society Action Network ( ) and an architect of Security Council Resolution 1325 in 2000, writes that women’s roles in peace and security efforts, such as above, may be mandated by the UN Security Council’s women, peace and security agenda, but they are being erased as the UN undergoes major reforms.

https://passblue.com/2026/06/04/un-reform-without-women-is-not-reform-at-all/

Zimbabwe (Africa), Kyrgyzstan (Asia-Pacific), Trinidad and Tobago (Latin America-Caribbean), Austria, and Portugal (Western Europe) set to join the Security Council in 2027, while the terms of Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama and Somalia end on Dec. 31.
https://passblue.com/2026/06/03/five-new-countries-elected-to-the-un-security-councils-2027-28-term/

Portraits of Victory: Austria, Kyrgyzstan, Portugal, Trinidad ​and Tobago and Zimbabwe were elected by the UN General Assembly to two-year terms in the Security Council starting on January 1, 2027. Here are portraits of the victorious teams.

1. Kyrgyzstan's defeat of Philippines required four separate votes to push them over the mark. To the left is Kyrgyzstan foreign minister Jeenbek Kulubayev.

2. Austria won one of three seats in the Western European group. Austrian Foreign Minister, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, is in the center of the photo in a blue blazer and white dress.

3. Portugal won the second seat in the Western European Group. To the left is Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel and in the center is Rui Manuel Vinhas Tavares Gabriel, Portuguese ambassador to the UN. Germany was the third candidate running for the two seats in the Western European Group and failed to gain a seat in the Security council in this term.

4. Zimbabwe ran unopposed in the African Group. To the right is Foreign Minister Amon Murwira

5. Trinadad and Tobago ran unopposed for the Latin American and Caribbean Group. To the left is the foreign minister, Sean Sobers.

Photo credit: John Penney/PassBlue
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-- Latin American countries are grappling with a variety of boring issues, but they won’t be on the agenda of Colombia's presidency of the 15-member UN Security Council, according to the provisional program of work. Instead, the focus is on conflicts in the Mideast, women’s participation in peace processes — a topic it knows intimately from its 2016 peace pact — and the protection of children in armed conflicts, among other matters.
https://passblue.com/2026/06/02/colombia-looks-past-regional-problems-to-spotlight-the-conflicts-in-the-mideast/

UN Security Council stakeout with Oana-Silvia Țoiu, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Romania and many UN ambassadors condemend Russian drone attack on Galati, Romania, near the border with Ukraine. Photographed on June 1, 2026 at UNHQ in NYC.

Photo Credit: John Penney/PassBlue

Yesterday, Ambassador Leonor Zalabata Torres of Columbia spoke to the press regarding her country's rotation into the Security Council June presidency. Zalabata, an Arhuaco leader from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, makes UNSC history as the first Indigenous person from the Americas to serve on the Council.
Of the action packed agenda, Zalabata said, via translation: Colombia wants our experience to be used to build peace. Reaffirms its commitment to UN Charter, international law, human rights & humanitarian law.
Ergo, UNSC program in June focusing on: building/perpetuating peace; people-centered approach; strengthening multilateralism to better respond to "interconnected challenges"
Two open debates are scheduled: "peace is decided with women" & "prevention/protection" of education affected by conflict
Images: Proposed Program of Work and Zalabata briefing the press, June 1.