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Updated on 27 August 2014

Chapter 3: THE PEOPLE

Section 1: The President

 

Holding speakers to time limits

 

During its August 2014 Council presidency, the United Kingdom activated a flashing light system to signal speakers when they reached the limit of their allotted time, thereby encouraging them to conclude their remarks.  In some instances, the President thereafter banged the gavel to bring a speaker’s remarks to an end.  This attention to timeliness by the United Kingdom presidency allowed the Council to complete in less than six hours an Open debate on ‘Conflict prevention’ at which almost sixty statements were made (S/PV.7247 of 21 August 2014).  In the past, similar debates have taken closer to ten hours in order for a comparable number of speakers to be heard.  (This update supplements pages 49 and 117 of the book.)

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