Short Article

04-09-2024 | 17:10 PM

United Nations Security Council 

The G4 Countries stated that without reforms, the UN Security Council is ill equipped to address global challenges.

Key Highlights 

• The United Nations Security Council is one of the UN’s six main organs, responsible for maintaining international peace and security. 
• Headquarter: New York City
• Permanent Members: Russia, China, France, United States and United Kingdom
• All Permanent members hold veto power, allowing them to block any substantive resolution.
• The Security Council held its 1st session on 17 January 1946 in Westminster, London.
• It has 15 members, and each member has one vote. 
• Under the UN Charter, all member states are obligated to comply with council decisions.

• A representative of each of its members must be present at all times at UN Headquarters so that the Security Council can meet as the need arises.
• More than 50 United Nations Member States have never been Members of the Security Council.

UNSC Election

• Every year, the General Assembly elects 5 non-permanent members for a period of 2 years. 

Need For Reform 

• India’s Charge d'Affaires and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN indicated that recent geopolitical events have revealed the council’s limitations in safeguarding international peace and security. 
• The G4 nations stressed that the lack of adequate geographic representation in the Security Council is responsible for its failures, such as Non-representation of Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean and the under-representation of the Asia-Pacific region in the permanent category.
• Any reform of the council must address the lack of representation, especially in the permanent category. 
• Addressing this historical imbalance is important for the council to effectively tackle current global challenges.