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Philippine Womens University

Taft Avenue, Manila


HZB School of International Relations and Diplomacy
First Trimester Second Year






In Partial Fulfillment of the Course
Requirements in
Global Governance


The Security Council



Cruz, Christine Angeli N.
20130017





July 14, 2014


UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL

What is the Security Council?
The UN Charter established six main organs of the United Nations, including the Security Council. It
is the principal organ and it has a primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace
and security, which may meet whenever peace is threatened. It was established in 1946.
The Composition:
The Council has 15 members: five permanent members and 10 elected by the General Assembly for
two-year terms.
In its origin, the Security Council contained five permanent members: The Republic of China, France,
the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and
the United States of America. Since the origin, two changes have been made to the permanent
membership. In a highly controversial move, United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758,
passed on October 25, 1971, removed the Republic of China from the UN, including the Security
Council and recognized the Peoples Republic of China as Chinas representatives at the UN. The
Peoples Republic of China was immediately granted a permanent place on the Security Council.
The other change occurred with the fall of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Incoming
Russian Federation President Boris Yeltsin wrote a letter to the Secretary-General of the United
Nations requesting that his country take up the responsibilities of the USSR. The Secretary-General
made this request known to the body of the UN. With no objection noted, the request was granted
and on January 31, 1992, the Russian Federation took a permanent seat at the Security Council.

So today, the UNSC Permanent members are the Peoples Republic of China, France, Russian
Federation, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

The P5's privileged status has its roots in the UN's founding in the aftermath of World War II. The
United States and Russia (then the Soviet Union) were the outright victors of the war, and, along
with the United Kingdom, they shaped the postwar political order. As their plans for what would
become the United Nations took shape, U.S. president Franklin Delano Roosevelt insisted on
Nationalist China's inclusion at the helm, envisioning international security presided over by "four
global policemen." British Prime Minister Winston Churchill saw in France a European buffer
against potential German or Soviet aggression and so sponsored its bid for restored great-power
status.
The non-permanent members status has also experienced small changes since 1945. The original
writing of the Charter allowed for six non-permanent members, a number which was increased to
ten, effective August 31, 1965. In addition, the number of supporters required to pass a vote was
increased from seven to nine. These non-permanent members are elected for two-year terms, with
five of the members leaving every year. Each year the General Assembly elects five non-permanent
members (out of 10 in total) for a two-year term. In accordance with the General Assembly
resolution 1991 (XVIII) of 17 December 1963, the 10 non-permanent seats are distributed on a
regional basis as follows: five for African and Asian States; one for Eastern European States; two for
the Latin American and Caribbean States; and two for Western European and other States.
The voting rounds alternate between restricted and unrestricted. In unrestricted ballots, votes
can be cast for any member of the regional group that is not currently a member of the Council. In
restricted ballots, only the two highest-scoring candidates of the previous round can be voted for.
In order to apply for the UN Membership, a state has to submit an application to the
Secretary-General. Then, the Security Council considers the application and if nine members
out of fifteen (including all P5) vote in favor, the Council through a resolution recommends
the membership of that state to the General Assembly. In the Assembly, a 2/3 Majority vote
is required for the admission.
There are no Charter-specified qualifications for membership. Factors that are informally taken into
account by member states in electing Security Council members:
Positive Factors:
Troop contributions to UN peacekeeping operations, peacekeeping experience and record.
Representation of a significant demographic group.
Experience in international leadership.
Financial contributions to the UN budget.
Negative Factors:
Domestic insecurity.
A current campaign for other offices or seats.
THE CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL
Permanent members

Country Regional Group Member Since
People's Republic of
China
Asia-Pacific Group 1971, replaced the Republic of China
France
Western European and
Others Group
1946
Russian Federation Eastern European Group
1991, replaced the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics
United Kingdom
Western European and
Others Group
1946
United States
Western European and
Others Group
1946

Non-permanent members

Country Regional Group Term Began Term Ends
Argentina Latin American & Caribbean Group (GRULAC) 2013 2014
Country Regional Group Term Began Term Ends
Australia Western European and Others Group 2013 2014
Chad African Group 2014 2015
Chile Latin American & Caribbean Group (GRULAC) 2014 2015
Jordan Asia-Pacific Group 2014 2015
Lithuania Eastern European Group 2014 2015
Luxembourg Western European and Others Group 2013 2014
Nigeria African Group 2014 2015
Republic of Korea Asia-Pacific Group 2013 2014
Rwanda African Group 2013 2014

The President of the United Nations Security Council
Selection
Article 30 of the United Nations Charter states that the Security Council is empowered to establish
rules of procedure, "including the method of selecting its President".

The Security Council has established the following method of selecting the president: the
presidency rotates monthly among the state members of the Security Council. The rotation takes
place in alphabetical order of the member states' official United Nations names in English.

All members of the Council, including the President, must present credentials issued by either the
head of state, the head of government, or the minister of foreign affairs of their respective states to
the Secretary-General, except if the representative is also the head of government or minister of
foreign affairs.
Identity
The Permanent Representative (ambassador) of the state that holds the presidency is usually the
president of the Council, but if an official from the state who is higher in authority than the
Permanent Representative (such as a foreign minister, prime minister, or head of state) is present
in the Council, the higher official is the president.
Role
The role of president of the Security Council involves calling the meetings thereof,

approving the
provisional agenda (proposed by the Secretary-General),

presiding at its meetings,

and overseeing
any crisis. The president is authorized to issue both Presidential Statements

(subject to consensus
among Council members) and notes, which are used to make declarations of intent that the full
Security Council can then pursue. The President also usually speaks to the press on behalf of the
Security Council.
Security Council Presidency in 2014
The presidency of the Council is held by each of the members in turn for one month, following the
English alphabetical order of the Member States names.
Month Presidency End of Membership Term
January Jordan 31 December 2015
February Lithuania 31 December 2015
March Luxembourg 31 December 2014
April Nigeria 31 December 2015
May Republic of Korea 31 December 2014
June Russian Federation Permanent Member
July Rwanda 31 December 2014
August United Kingdom Permanent Member
September United States Permanent Member
October Argentina 31 December 2014
November Australia 31 December 2014
December Chad 31 December 2015

Functions and Powers
Under the United Nations Charter, the functions and powers of the Security Council are:
to maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles and purposes
of the United Nations;
to investigate any dispute or situation which might lead to international friction;
to recommend methods of adjusting such disputes or the terms of settlement;
to formulate plans for the establishment of a system to regulate armaments;
to determine the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression and to recommend
what action should be taken;
to call on Members to apply economic sanctions and other measures not involving the use of
force to prevent or stop aggression;
to take military action against an aggressor;
to recommend the admission of new Members;
to exercise the trusteeship functions of the United Nations in "strategic areas";
to recommend to the General Assembly the appointment of the Secretary-General and,
together with the Assembly, to elect the Judges of the International Court of Justice.

MORE INFORMATION:
According to the Charter, the United Nations has four purposes:
to maintain international peace and security;
to develop friendly relations among nations;
to cooperate in solving international problems and in promoting respect for human rights;
and to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
All members of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security
Council. While other organs of the United Nations make recommendations to member states, only
the Security Council has the power to make decisions that member states are then obligated to
implement under the Charter.
Maintaining Peace and Security
When a complaint concerning a threat to peace is brought before it, the Councils first action is
usually to recommend that the parties try to reach agreement by peaceful means. The Council may:
set forth principles for such an agreement;
undertake investigation and mediation, in some cases;
dispatch a mission;
appoint special envoys; or
Request the Secretary-General to use his good offices to achieve a pacific settlement of the
dispute.
When a dispute leads to hostilities, the Councils primary concern is to bring them to an end as soon
as possible. In that case, the Council may:
issue ceasefire directives that can help prevent an escalation of the conflict;
Dispatch military observers or a peacekeeping force to help reduce tensions, separate
opposing forces and establish a calm in which peaceful settlements may be sought.
Beyond this, the Council may opt for enforcement measures, including:
economic sanctions, arms embargoes, financial penalties and restrictions, and travel bans;
severance of diplomatic relations;
blockade;
Or even collective military action.
A chief concern is to focus action on those responsible for the policies or practices condemned by
the international community, while minimizing the impact of the measures taken on other parts of
the population and economy.
A Member State against which preventive or enforcement action has been made taken by the
Security Council may be suspended from the exercise of the rights and privileges of membership by
the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.
A Member State which has persistently violated the principles contained in the Charter may be
expelled from the United Nations by the Assembly on the Councils recommendation.
A state which is a member of the United Nations but not of the Security Council may participate,
without a vote, in its discussions when the Council considers that the countrys interests are
especially affected. Both Members of the United Nations and non-members, if they are parties to a
dispute being considered by the Council, are invited to take part, without a vote, in the Councils
discussion: the Council lays down the conditions for participation by a non-member State.
Structure
Article 29
"The Security Council may establish such subsidiary organs as it deems necessary for the
performance of its functions."
Charter of the United Nations
Rule 28
"The Security Council may appoint a commission or committee or a rapporteur for a specified
question."
Provisional Rules of Procedure of the Security Council

Part of the UN System
The Security Council is one of the six main organs established under the UN Charter. It is organized
in such a way that it can function continuously, and a representative of each of its members must be
present at all times at UN Headquarters.
To perform its functions, the Security Council has created a series of subsidiary to focus on specific
issues.
Subsidiary Organs
Article 29 of the United Nations Charter sets out that the Security Council may establish subsidiary
bodies as needed for the performance of its functions. This is also reflected in Rule 28 of the
Councils Provisional Rules of Procedure.
All existing committees and working groups are comprised of the fifteen members of the Council.
While standing committees are chaired by the President of the Council, rotating on a monthly basis,
other committees and working groups are chaired or co-chaired by designated members of the
Council who are announced on an annual basis by a Note of the President of the Security Council.
The mandate of subsidiary organs, whether they are committees or working groups, can range from
procedural matters (e.g. documentation and procedures, meetings away from headquarters) to
substantive issues (e.g. sanctions regimes, counter-terrorism, peacekeeping operations).
The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International
Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) are subsidiary organs of the Security Council within the terms
of article 29 of the Charter. As such they are dependent on the UN in administrative and financial
matters, although as judicial institutions, they are independent of any one State or group of States,
including their parent body, the Security Council.
Committees
Counter-Terrorism and Non-Proliferation Committees
Counter-Terrorism Committee
1540 Committee

Military Staff Committee
The Military Staff Committee helps plan UN military measures and regulates armaments.
Sanctions Committees (ad hoc)
The use of mandatory sanctions is intended to apply pressure on a State or entity to comply with
the objectives set by the Security Council without resorting to the use of force. Sanctions thus offer
the Security Council an important instrument to enforce its decisions. The universal character of
the United Nations makes it an especially appropriate body to establish and monitor such
measures.
The Council has resorted to mandatory sanctions as an enforcement tool when peace has been
threatened and diplomatic efforts have failed. The range of sanctions has included comprehensive
economic and trade sanctions and/or more targeted measures such as arms embargoes, travel
bans, financial or diplomatic restrictions.
Standing Committees and Ad Hoc Bodies
Standing Committees are open-ended and generally were established to address certain procedural
questions, such as the admission of new members. Ad hoc committees are established for a limited
time and to address a specific issue.
Peacekeeping Operations and Political Missions
A peacekeeping operation consists of military, police and civilian personnel, who work to
deliver security, political and early peace building support. Peacekeeping is flexible and over
the past two decades has been deployed in many configurations. Today's multidimensional
peacekeeping operations are called upon not only to maintain peace and security, but also to
facilitate the political process, protect civilians, assist in the disarmament, demobilization
and reintegration of former combatants; support the organization of elections, protect and
promote human rights and assist in restoring the rule of law.
Political missions are part of a continuum of UN peace operations working in different stages
of the conflict cycle. In some instances, following the signing of peace agreements, political
missions overseen by the Department of Political Affairs during the stage of peace
negotiations have been replaced by peacekeeping missions. In other instances, UN
peacekeeping operations have given way to special political missions overseeing longer term
peace-building activities.

International Courts and Tribunals
The Security Council established the International Criminal Tribunal for the former
Yugoslavia (ICTY) in 1993, following massive violations of humanitarian law during the
fighting in the former Yugoslavia. It was the first war-crimes court created by the United
Nations and the first international war-crimes tribunal since the Nuremberg and Tokyo
tribunals at the end of the Second World War. The Tribunal tries those individuals most
responsible for appalling acts, such as murder, torture, rape, enslavement, destruction of
property and other violent crimes. It aims to render justice to thousands of victims and their
families, thus contributing to a lasting peace in the area. As of the end of 2011, the Tribunal
had indicted 161 people.
The Security Council created the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in 1994
to prosecute those responsible for genocide and other serious violations of international
humanitarian law committed in Rwanda between 1 January and 31 December 1994. It may
also deal with the prosecution of Rwandan citizens who committed acts of genocide and
other such violations of international law in the territory of neighbouring States during the
same period. In 1998 the Rwanda Tribunal handed down the first-ever verdict by an
international court on the crime of genocide, as well as the first-ever sentence for that crime.
Advisory Subsidiary Organ
The Peace building Commission (PBC) is an intergovernmental advisory body that supports peace
efforts in countries emerging from conflict, and is a key addition to the capacity of the International
Community in the broad peace agenda.
The Peace building Commission plays a unique role in:
bringing together all of the relevant actors, including international donors, the international
financial institutions, national governments, troop contributing countries;
marshalling resources and
advising on and proposing integrated strategies for post-conflict peace building and recovery
and where appropriate, highlighting any gaps that threaten to undermine peace.
The Peace building Commission is an Advisory Subsidiary Body of both the Security Council and
the General Assembly.
Voting
Each member of the Council has one vote. Decisions on procedural matters are made by an
affirmative vote at least nine of the 15 members. Decisions on substantive matters require nine
votes including the concurring votes of all five permanent members. This is the rule of great
Power unanimity, often referred to as the veto power. All five permanent members have
exercised the right of veto at one time or another. Choosing to abstain from voting counts,
obviously, as a vote neither for nor against a resolution and as such would not be considered using
a veto. (If a permanent member does not support a decision but does not wish to block it through a
veto, it may abstain.) However, vetoes may not be used in procedural matters, i.e. a veto cannot be
used to avoid discussing a topic.
While other organs of the United Nations make recommendations to Governments, the Council
alone has the power to take decisions which Member States are obligated under the Charter to
carry out.
The principle of unanimity among permanent members of the Security Council takes account of the
political reality that ensuring of peaceful cooperation among the great powers and joint action by
them in achieving collective security is the most fundamental guarantee of world peace and the pre-
requisite for the development of peaceful relations among all states.
The Veto Power
Article 27 of the UN Charter allows the permanent members of the Security Council to quash any
non-procedural draft resolution with their negative votes, irrespective of its level of international
support and popularity.
Origins of the veto provision
The idea of states having a veto over the actions of international organizations was not new in
1945. From the foundation of the League of Nations in 1920, each member of the League Council,
whether permanent or non-permanent, had a veto on any non-procedural issue.

From 1920 there
were 4 permanent and 4 non-permanent members, but by 1936 the number of non-permanent
members had increased to 11. Thus there were in effect 15 vetoes. This was one of several defects
of the League that made action on many issues impossible.
The UN Charter provision for unanimity among the Permanent Members of the Security Council
(the veto) was the result of extensive discussion, including at Dumbarton Oaks (AugustOctober
1944) and Yalta (February 1945).


The UNSC veto system was established in order to prohibit the UN from taking any future action
directly against its principal founding members. One of the lessons of the League of Nations (1919
46) had been that an international organization cannot work if all the major powers are not
members. The expulsion of the Soviet Union from the League of Nations in December 1939,
following its November 1939 attack on Finland soon after the outbreak of World War II, was just
one of many events in the League's long history of incomplete membership.


The rationale for the P5 veto power was to ensure that the UNSC did not suffer the same fate as its
predecessor the League of Nations.
In essence, the veto power was granted to the P5 as reassurance that their interests would not be
ignored and in the hope that it would ensure their participation in the new organization. The veto
power was designed to transform a wartime alliance into a big-power oligarchy to secure the hard
won peace that would follow.
Most common users
Number of resolutions vetoed by each of the five permanent members of the Security Council
between 1946 and 2007.
In the history of the Security Council, almost half the vetoes were cast by the Soviet Union, with the
vast majority of those being before 1965.
Since 1966, out of the total 155 vetoes cast, 133 were issued by one of the council's
three NATO members: the US, the UK and France.
From 1946 to 2008, vetoes were issued on 261 occasions. For that period, usage breaks down as
follows:
The United States has used the veto on 82 occasions between 1946 and 2007; and since
1972, it has used its veto power more than any other permanent member.
Russia or the Soviet Union have used the veto on 124 occasions, more than any two others
of the five permanent members of the Security Council combined.
The Strengths and Weaknesses of the UN Security Council
STRENGTHS:
The strengths of the UN were meant to originate from the Security Council, and strong
leadership from its Secretary General.
Having the most powerful states as members was regarded as been a notable strength.
The structure of the Security Council favoring the permanent members was intended to be a
strength as any resolutions would be enforced with a minimum of difficulty
The organization had a state centric outlook was also considered a strength
the notion that the UN was not allowed to interfere in any member state's internal affairs
was claimed to be strength
WEAKNESSES:
The domination of the UN by the major powers might be regarded as a weakness.
It is a weakness of the UN that peacekeeping missions only have a realistic chance of been
successful if the United States backs operations.
The UN has another weakness when it comes down to collective security and peacekeeping,
it is not supposed to interfere in the internal affairs of member states
THE SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM
Since the establishment of the UN Security Council in 1946, it has been faced w/ a lot of criticism. A
large part of the criticism is due to the structure of the council that many believe that is
undemocratic especially because it gives considerable power and privileges to certain countries of
the world.
The use of Veto Power has become distant from that initial reason and how this power has turned
into a tool for protecting the national interests of permanent members of their strategic allies.
In the last decades, the world has been arguing about thus the veto power is relevant over the
effectiveness of the UNSC. In the worlds eyes, the UNSC that is supposed to be a world organization
seems change into the king of the nations. The permanent members (P5) seem like they have
control over this organization, especially with their veto powers.
This power has been responsible for the silence of the Security Council on some major international
conflicts including the:
Iraq War (2003)
The 2008 Conflict in Georgia
The 2009 Massacre of Sri Lankan Tamils
The Recent Syrian Conflict
Because of these criticisms, some countries are not satisfied with the speed or achievements of the
negotiations. Some countries have started separate efforts to present a resolution on the reform of
the Council to the General Assembly with the aim of securing permanent seats for them.


There are a lot of proposals on the reform of the Security Council, and strong disagreements among
advocates of different proposal but not much has been achieved.
The 7-7-7 Formula for reforming the Security Council,
Kishore Mahbubani is a notable academic and former Singaporean diplomat. He is currently
Professor in the Practice of Public Policy and Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at
the National University of Singapore
.

From 1971 to 2004 he served in the Singaporean Foreign Services, becoming Singapores
Permanent Representative to the United Nations. In that role he served as President of the United
Nations Security Council in January 2001 and May 2002.
Kishore suggested the 7-7-7 Formula for reforming the Security Council, where there will be seven
permanent members, seven semi-permanent members and seven elected members. According to
him, the main reason why Security Council reform has not moved an inch is that for every new
winner (new permanent member) there is a new loser. So, in this formula, the losers will become
winners: they will get automatically rotated back into the Council every fourth term. In short, given
the complex and messy political world we live in, we have to aim for pragmatic, not perfect
solutions where all three constituencies of the UN the great powers, the middle powers and small
states benefit from the 7-7-7 formula.
For me, the 7-7-7 formula of Kishore Mahbubani is a very good suggestion because it is true that the
main reason why Security Council reform has not moved an inch is that for every new winner (new
permanent member) there is a new loser.
I think that an increase in the number of seats in the Council is much more realistic than reforming
or removing the veto power.
The permanent should minimize their usage of the Veto power and they should not forget their
duties in maintaining international peace and security, which may meet whenever peace is
threatened. If only the veto power can be abolished easily, because it has been one of the main
impediments against the much needed reform of the United Nations Security Council.
References:
Basic Facts about the United Nations. United Nations Publication, 1992.
Council on Foreign Relations. The UN Security Council. (15 June 2014)
BarryVale.ExpertsColumn.com. The Main strengths and weaknesses of UN Peacekeeping.
http://barryvale.expertscolumn.com/article/main-strengths-and-weaknesses-un-
peacekeeping (15 June 2014)
United Nations. What is the Security Council?. http://www.un.org/en/sc/about/ (15 June
2014)
UN Elections. Security Council. http://www.unelections.org/?q=node/33 (15 June 2014)
United Nations. Structure. http://www.un.org/en/sc/about/structure.shtml (15 June
2014)
List Verse. Top 10 Failures of the United Nations. http://listverse.com/2013/01/28/top-
10-failures-of-the-united-nations-2/ (15 June 2014)
Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. President of the United Nations Security Council.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_Nations_Security_Council (07 July
2014)
United Nations Security Council. Presidency http://www.un.org/en/sc/presidency/ (07
July 2014)
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. United Ntaions Security Council Veto Power
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council_veto_power (07 July 2014)
The United Nations Security Council: its Veto Power and Its Reform by Sahar Okhovat.
http://sydney.edu.au/arts/peace_conflict/docs/working_papers/UNSC_paper.pdf (07 July
2014)
Column: Keeping the Ship on Course
http://www.mahbubani.net/articles%20by%20dean/keeping-the-ship-on-course.pdf (07
July 2014)
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Kishore Mahbubani
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kishore_Mahbubani (07 July 2014)

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