Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions (IWG)

Overview

Established in June 1993 to study and make recommendations for the improvement of the Council’s practices and working methods, the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions (IWG) is a subsidiary body of the Council with the mandate to improve the process by which the Security Council addresses issues concerning its documentation and other procedural questions. Since its establishment, the Council has issued several notes and statements by the President based on discussions in the IWG establishing and recommending measures to enhance the Council’s efficiency, transparency and interactivity.

Background

Owing to the considerable number of individual notes and statements issued, starting in 2006, and subsequently in 2010, 2017 and 2024 (S/2006/507, S/2010/507, S/2017/507 and S/2024/507), under the Chairmanship of Japan, the Council issued four comprehensive compilations of working methods, known as “Notes 507”, on measures designed to improve the working methods, integrating and further developing previous notes and presidential statements. For a comprehensive list of all notes by the President of the Security Council issued in connection with its working methods, please visit the Reference Documents page.

IWG Chairmanship

From 1993 to 2006, the IWG was chaired by the delegation holding the monthly Presidency of the Council. From 2006 onwards, the Chairmanship was assigned to a single Member State ranging from periods of one to two years.

List of IWG Chairs since 2006