"UN Turns 81 Amid Deadlock Over Security Council Reform"
Veto power
the ability of any UNSC permanent member to block a substantive Council resolution under Article 27
Uniting for Peace Resolution
a 1950 UNGA mechanism to recommend action when the Security Council is deadlocked
The United Nations was set up in 1945, after the Second World War. It replaced the failed League of Nations. Its job was to stop conflicts between states and help them cooperate on development. The UN Security Council (UNSC) gives veto power to five permanent members. These are the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia and China. This power comes from Article 27 of the UN Charter. The veto was meant to keep the strongest powers committed to the system. Instead, it has become the main reason the Council cannot act. Rivalry between the US-led bloc and the Russia-China alignment blocks consensus. This happens exactly when the Council needs to act, on crises such as Ukraine, Gaza and Libya.
The General Assembly has tried to push back on this deadlock. In 2022 it adopted a resolution (A/76/262). This resolution requires any permanent member using a veto to appear before the Assembly. They must explain the decision. This does not remove the veto. But it makes using it more costly politically. An older tool exists too. The Uniting for Peace Resolution (1950) allows the General Assembly to recommend collective action. This happens when the Security Council is deadlocked. However, it is used rarely. The Council's permanent membership was expanded once. It grew from 11 to 15 seats in 1965. But the number of permanent, veto-holding members has never changed since 1945.
The UN Credentials Committee is set up by the UN General Assembly. It assesses the credentials of all UN member states. It then submits its report to the General Assembly for approval. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to non-member states and inter-governmental organisations. Permanent observers can maintain missions at UN headquarters.
Beyond the Security Council, the UN has built a wide record of humanitarian and development work. Agencies like UNICEF and the World Health Organisation have nearly halved child mortality since 1990. They have pushed polio close to eradication. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees helps over 35 million displaced people every year. The World Food Programme delivers relief after disasters. On development, the Millennium Development Goals (2000-2015) halved extreme poverty worldwide. They were followed by the Sustainable Development Goals (2015-2030). On the environment, the Montreal Protocol phased out 99% of ozone-depleting chemicals. …
With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements:
1.The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-member States.
2.Inter-governmental organisations can seek observer status in the UN General Assembly.
3.Permanent Observers in the UN General Assembly can maintain missions at the UN headquarters.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Consider the following statements:
1.Recently, all the countries of the United Nations have adopted the first-ever compact for international migration, the 'Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM)'.
2.The objectives and commitments stated in the GCM are binding on the UN member countries.
3.The GCM addresses internal migration or internally displaced people also in its objectives and commitments.
How many of the above statements are correct?
"The reform process in the United Nations remains unresolved, because of the delicate imbalance of East and West and entanglement of the USA vs. Russo-Chinese alliance." Examine and critically evaluate the East-West policy confrontations in this regard.
With reference to the United Nations Security Council, consider the following statements: 1. The veto power of permanent members is provided under Article 27 of the UN Charter. 2. The number of permanent members has remained unchanged since 1945. 3. The Council's total membership was expanded in 1965 by adding more non-permanent seats. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following pairs of UN reform mechanisms and their descriptions: 1. Uniting for Peace Resolution : Allows UNGA to recommend action when UNSC is deadlocked 2. Resolution A/76/262 : Requires a vetoing permanent member to explain its decision to UNGA 3. Ezulwini Consensus : A G4 proposal for permanent seats for India, Brazil, Germany and Japan How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
Which of the following statements about the Uniting for Peace Resolution is/are correct? 1. It was adopted in 1950 by the UN General Assembly. 2. It allows the General Assembly to recommend collective action when the Security Council is deadlocked due to a veto. 3. It has replaced the Security Council as the primary body for authorising peacekeeping missions. Select the correct answer using the code below.
The 'G4 nations' seeking permanent UN Security Council seats consist of which of the following countries?
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