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- The United Nations is set to debate a provision that would require the five permanent members of the body’s Security Council to justify invoking their veto powers.
United Nations Security Council
- It is one of the UN’s six main organs and is aimed at maintaining international peace and security.
- It held its first session on 17th January 1946 in Westminster, London.
- Headquarters: New York City.
- Membership: The Council is composed of 15 Members:
- Permanent members with veto power :
- China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
- Ten non-permanent members : Albania ,Brazil,Gabon,Ghana ,India,Ireland ,Kenya ,Mexico ,Norway,United Arab Emirates
- More than 50 United Nations Member States have never been Members of the Security Council.
- Permanent members with veto power :
What is Veto power?
- Striking down a resolution: The UNSC veto power is the power of the five permanent members of the UNSC to veto (strike down) any “substantive” resolution.
- The veto power originates in Article 27 of the United Nations Charter, which states:
- Each member of the UNSC shall have a vote.
- Decisions of the UNSC on procedural matters shall be made by an affirmative vote of nine members.
- Decisions of the UNSC on all other matters shall be made by an affirmative vote of nine members, including the concurring votes of the permanent members.
- This means that a negative vote from any of the permanent members will block the adoption of a draft resolution.
- A permanent member that abstains or is absent from the vote will not block a resolution from being passed.
- Although the “power of veto” is not mentioned by name in the UN Charter, Article 27 requires concurring votes from the permanent members.
- For this reason, the “power of veto” is also referred to as the principle of “great power unanimity” and the veto itself is sometimes referred to as the “great power veto”.
Which P5 member has used the most vetoes?
Do vetoes work in emergency sessions in the General Assembly?
What about veto restraint in case of genocide, crimes against humanity?
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Arguments against the veto
- The veto power has been criticised for its undemocratic nature: A single country can prevent a majority of the Security Council from taking any action.
- Some critics see veto power exclusive to the permanent five as being anachronistic, unjust, or counterproductive.
- On the matter of veto power, India along with the other G4 countries (Brazil, Germany, and Japan) has previously stated that if given a permanent seat on the UNSC, it would not use the veto for a period of 15 years.
- Veto is the most undemocratic element of the UN, as well as the main cause of inaction on war crimes and crimes against humanity, as it effectively prevents UN action against the permanent members and their allies.
- The US routinely casts lone vetoes against resolutions criticising Israel. The permanent members also veto resolutions that criticise their own actions.
- Amnesty International claimed that the five permanent members had used their veto to promote their political self interest or geopolitical interest above the interest of protecting civilians.
Arguments in favour for the veto
- Supporters regard the veto as an important safeguard in international relations.
- India has been at the forefront of a years-long effort to reform the Security Council, saying it rightly deserves a place as a permanent member.
- Supporters of veto power regard it as a promoter of international stability and a check against “snap” military interventions.
Source: TOI
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