Melania will preside at UN meeting on children in conflict as US attacks Iran
US first lady Melania Trump will preside over a UN Security Council meeting on Monday that will focus on children in conflict, one of her signature issues, at a turbulent time as the United States has joined Israel in attacking Iran.
The UN says she will be the first spouse of a world leader to take the president’s seat at the United Nations’ most powerful body, which is charged with ensuring global peace and security.
The wife of President Donald Trump was given the opportunity as the United States takes over the council presidency for the month of March. In the past, presidents, prime ministers and foreign ministers have often wielded the gavel.
The rotating president of the 15-member council gets to choose the subject and participants for some meetings. Monday’s meeting, which was scheduled before the war began on Saturday, is officially titled “Children, Technology, and Education in Conflict.” The first lady’s office said it will “emphasise education’s role in advancing tolerance and world peace.” Melania Trump will be watched for anything she says, or doesn’t say, about the impact on children of the war her husband is waging.
Iranian state media has reported that a girls’ school in southern Iran was hit in an airstrike on Saturday, killing at least 165 people and wounding dozens more.
The Israeli military said it was not aware of strikes in the area. The US military said it was looking into the reports. The council’s last meeting, on Saturday, was a contentious emergency session called in response to the war.
