Jordan assumes UNSC presidency for April

Jordan on Wednesday assumed the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for April.

Dina Kawar, the permanent representative of Jordan at the UN, took over the rotating presidency from Francois Delattre, the French ambassador to the UN, who had held the UNSC presidency for March, according to a Xinhua report.

In April, a ministerial-level open debate on the role of youth in countering violent extremism is planned. In addition, meetings are planned on the humanitarian situation in Syria and sexual violence in conflicts.

Under the UN Charter, the UNSC has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of peace and security in the world.

The Council is composed of five permanent members -- the US, Britain, China, France and Russia -- and 10 non-permanent members that are elected in groups of five, with a tenure of two years on the Council.

The presidency of the Council rotates among its 15 member states on a monthly basis according to the English alphabetical order of the countries' names.