An Overview
The Security Council Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions (IWG) was established in June 1993 to enhance and streamline ways and means whereby the Security Council addresses issues related to its documentation and other procedural questions. The Working Group meets as agreed by members of the Security Council.
The Working Group makes recommendations, proposals and suggestions to the members of the Council concerning the Council's documentation and other procedural questions. On 31 January 2006 (S/2006/66) the Security Council decided to end the rotating monthly chairmanship of the Working Group. Since then, the Working Group has been chaired by a member of the Security Council for an extended period, currently for 12 months.
On 19 July 2006, the Security Council approved a Note by the President of the Security Council (S/2006/507) with a view to enhancing the efficiency and transparency of the Council’s work, as well as its interaction and dialogue with non-Council members. On 19 December 2007, the Security Council approved a Note by the President of the Security Council (S/2007/749), which contains several additional agreed measures. On 31 December 2008, the Security Council approved a Note by the President of the Security Council (S/2008/847) consolidating and revising the provisions concerning the summary statement of matters of which the Security Council is seized (seizure statement). On 27 July 2010, the Security Council adopted a Note by the President of the Security Council (S/2010/507) which incorporates and further develops the previous notes, by superseding those notes. Following the adoption, the President of the Council (Nigeria) read a statement to the press (SC/9995) which highlights some of the new elements incorporated in S/2010/507.
The Working Group has concentrated, inter alia, on implementation of existing measures agreed by the members of the Security Council in the area of documentation and other procedural questions, in particular those contained in the Note by the President of the Security Council of 26 July 2010 (S/2010/507). The Working Group has also focused on interaction and dialogue between the Security Council and other relevant United Nations bodies, the United Nations Secretariat and other United Nations Member States. In addition, the Working Group has been seized with a range of other practical questions pertaining to documentation and procedures of the Security Council.