Gustavo Meza-Cuadra, Permanent Representative of Peru to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of April, speaks at a press conference about the Council's work in April at the UN headquarters in New York, April 2, 2018. Peru, presidency of the UN Security Council for April, said Monday that it has chosen to hold a high-level briefing on peacebuilding and sustaining peace in the month. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Peru, presidency of the UN Security Council for April, said Monday that it has chosen to hold a high-level briefing on peacebuilding and sustaining peace in the month.

The briefing is to coincide with the April 24-25 General Assembly high-level event on this issue, the permanent representative of Peru to the UN, Gustavo Meza-Cuadra, said at a press conference about the Council's work in April.

During the month, there will be three open debates, including one on women, peace and security, focusing in particular on preventing sexual violence in conflict through empowerment, gender equality and justice, he said.

The other two are one on youth, peace and security and the quarterly debate on the Middle East, which is to focus as usual on Israel/Palestine.

Regarding the Middle East, the Council will continue to follow developments in Syria closely and is expected to receive the monthly briefings on political and humanitarian developments and on the use of chemical weapons, with additional meetings possible depending on developments, said Meza-Cuadra.

Arria-formula meetings are anticipated on counter-terrorism and organized crime, on the rule of law and peacekeeping, and on the role of religious leaders in promoting peace and security, he added.

Additionally, Council members will attend a retreat with the Secretary-General in Sweden.

The Peruvian UN ambassador also said that Council members will travel to Iraq and Bangladesh during the month as well.

It is the fifth time that Peru holds the presidency of the Council.

Peru on Sunday officially held the Council presidency for April replacing the Netherlands.

The UN body has 15 members, and each member has one vote. The permanent members of the Council known as the "Permanent Big Five," including China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly including the Netherlands, Sweden, Bolivia, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Poland and Peru.