United Nations Security Council

UN Security Council chamber in New York
Org type:	Principal Organ
Acronyms:	UNSC
Head:	Security Council President (rotating) October 2007: Ghana
Status:	Active
Established:	1946
Website:	www.un.org/Docs/sc
Wikimedia Commons:	United Nations Security Council
Portal:	United Nations Portal

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is the organ of the United Nations charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of international sanctions regimes, and the authorization for military action.^[1] Its powers are exercised through United Nations Security Council Resolutions. The United Nations Security Council, the organ of the United Nations charged with maintaining peace and security among nations, is commonly known as the Security Council. ... United Nations Science Committee United Nations Security Council, the most powerful organ of the United Nations, charged with maintaining peace and security between nations United Nations Staff College United Nations Space Command, a fictional organization in the Halo series of games and novels Category: ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x749, 154 KB) UN security council Author: Bernd Untiedt, Germany January 2005 File links The following pages link to this file: United Nations Security Council ... The Wikimedia Commons (also called Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ... Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1150x1150, 77 KB) Summary square version of Image:Flag_of_the_United_Nations. ... UN and U.N. redirect here. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ... International sanctions are actions taken by countries against others for political reasons, either unilaterally or multilaterally. ... For other uses, see War (disambiguation). ... A United Nations Security Council Resolution is voted on by the fifteen members of the United Nations Security Council, the most powerful organ of the United Nations. ...

The Security Council consists of five permanent members (the People's Republic of China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States), which have veto power over any resolution, and ten temporary members, which are elected for two-year terms by the United Nations General Assembly. The Presidency of the Security Council is an office which rotates among the members of the Council monthly in alphabetical order. The UN Security Council Veto Power is a power wielded solely by the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council, enabling them to void any Security Council resolution regardless of the level of general support. ... The United Nations General Assembly (GA) is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations. ...

The implementation of sanctions regimes are usually overseen by a Committee of the Security Council which consists of all the members of the Council, but with different rules of procedure. Authorized peacekeeping mandates usually submit reports back to the Council for discussion. Most Security Council meetings have transcripts which are made public.

History

The Security Council held its first session on 17 January 1946 at Church House, London. is the 17th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Church House is the building that serves as the headquarters of the Church of England, occupying the south end of Deans Yard next to Westminster Abbey in London. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ...

Since its first meeting, the Council, which exists in continuous session, has travelled widely, holding meetings in many cities, such as Paris and Addis Ababa. For the most part, however, it has remained located at UN Headquarters — first at Lake Success in New York and then at its current home in New York City. This article is about the capital of France. ... For the long-distance runner, see Addis Abebe. ... Lake Success is a village in Nassau County, New York in the USA. The population was 2,797 at the 2000 census. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ...

Significant changes in the Council’s composition have occurred on three occasions. In 1965, amendments to articles 23 and 27 of the Charter came into effect, increasing the number of elected members from six to ten.

In 1971 the General Assembly voted to remove the representative of the Republic of China (from 1949 on Taiwan) and seat the delegate from the People's Republic of China as the legitimate representative of China. Because the issue was presented as one involving which delegation would properly represent China rather than that of an admission or expulsion of a member, this issue required only action by the General Assembly and circumvented the inability of the Assembly to expel a member of the Council without the Council’s endorsement (subject to veto), or the lack of an amendment to article 23 specifying the identity of the permanent members. The United Nations General Assembly (GA) is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations. ... For the Chinese civilization, see China. ...

Similarly, there was no amendment to article 23 following the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1991. In much less contentious circumstances the Russian Federation acceded to the former Soviet seat. Soviet redirects here. ...

Members

The Security Council as of 2007, showing permanent members and current elected members.

The basis structure of the UNSC is set out in Chapter V of the UN Charter. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 370 pixel Image in higher resolution (1357 × 628 pixel, file size: 95 KB, MIME type: image/png) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): United Nations Security... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 370 pixel Image in higher resolution (1357 × 628 pixel, file size: 95 KB, MIME type: image/png) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): United Nations Security... Chapter V of the United Nations Charter contains its provisions establishing the UN Security Council. ...

Security Council members must always be present at UN headquarters in New York so that the Security Council can meet at any time. This requirement of the United Nations Charter was adopted to address a weakness of the League of Nations since that organization was often unable to respond quickly to a crisis. United Nations headquarters, view from East River United Nations headquarters in New York City The United Nations headquarters is a distinctive complex in New York City that has served as the United Nationss headquarters since its completion in 1952. ... The League of Nations was an international organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference in 1919–1920. ...

The role of president of the Security Council involves setting the agenda, presiding at its meetings and overseeing any crisis. It rotates in alphabetical order of the members' names in English.

There are two categories of membership in the UN Security Council: permanent members and elected members.

Permanent members

See also: China and the United Nations, France and the United Nations, Russia's membership in the United Nations, Soviet Union and the United Nations, United Kingdom and the United Nations, and United States and the United Nations

The Council seated five permanent members who were originally drawn from the victorious powers after World War II: Chinas seat in the United Nations has been occupied by the Peoples Republic of China since October 25, 1971. ... The France is a charter member of the United Nations and one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council. ... Russias membership in the United Nations after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, was the succession of the Soviet Unions seat, including its permanent membership on the UN Security Council. ... The Soviet Union took an active role in the United Nations and other major international and regional organizations. ... The United Kingdom is a charter member of the United Nations and one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council. ... The United States is a charter member of the United Nations and one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

• The Republic of China (Taiwan)
• The French Republic
• The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
• The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• The United States of America

Two of the original members, the Republic of China and the Soviet Union, were later replaced by recognized successor states, even though Article 23 of the Charter of the United Nations has not been accordingly amended: Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China. ... For the Chinese civilization, see China. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... “CCCP” redirects here. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... “UK” redirects here. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Succession of states. ... The United Nations Charter is the constitution of the United Nations. ...

• The People's Republic of China
• The Russian Federation

Since the stalemate of the Chinese Civil War, there have been two states claiming to represent "China" and thus both officially claim each other's territory. In 1971, the People's Republic of China was awarded China's seat in the United Nations by UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, and the Republic of China (which had lost mainland China and was limited to Taiwan since 1949) soon lost membership in all UN organs. In 1991, Russia acquired the seat originally held by the Soviet Union, including the Soviet Union's former representation in the Security Council. Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... Combatants Nationalist Party of China Communist Party of China Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Mao Zedong Strength 4,300,000 (July 1946) 3,650,000 (June 1948) 1,490,000 (June 1949) 1,200,000 (July 1946) 2,800,000 (June 1948) 4,000,000 (June 1949) The Chinese Civil War... For other uses, see State (disambiguation). ... A territory (from the word terra, meaning land) is a defined area (including land and waters), usually considered to be a possession of an animal, person, organization, or institution. ... Chinas seat in the United Nations has been occupied by the Peoples Republic of China since October 25, 1971. ... United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, adopted on October 25, 1971, replaced the Nationalist Republic of China (Taiwan) (ROC) with the Communist Peoples Republic of China (PRC) as the sole representative of China in the United Nations. ... ... Russias membership in the United Nations after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, was the succession of the Soviet Unions seat, including its permanent membership on the UN Security Council. ...

The five permanent members of the Security Council are the only nations recognized as possessing nuclear weapons under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, although it lacks universal validity, as some nuclear nations have not signed the treaty. This nuclear status is not the result of their Security Council membership, though it is sometimes used as a modern-day justification for their continued presence on the body. India, Pakistan and North Korea possess nuclear weapons outside of the anti-proliferation framework established by the Treaty. It is generally believed that Israel possesses nuclear weapons as well. In 2004, four of the five permanent members were also the world's top four weapons exporters when measured by arms value; China was seventh. This is a list of countries with nuclear weapons. ... Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Opened for signature July 1, 1968 in New York Entered into force March 5, 1970 Conditions for entry into force Ratification by the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and 40 other signatory states. ...

Each permanent member has the power to veto any substantive resolution. (See Veto power, below.) The United Nations Security Council veto power is a veto power wielded solely by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, enabling them to void any Security Council substantive resolution regardless of the level of general support. ... “Security Council” redirects here. ...

The Permanent Representatives of the U.N. Security Council permanent members are Wang Guangya, Jean-Marc de La Sablière, Vitaly I. Churkin, Sir Emyr Jones Parry and Zalmay Khalilzad.^[2] Wang Guangya (王光亚) (b. ... Jean-Marc de La Sablière is the Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations. ... Vitaly Ivanovich Churkin (born February 21, 1952 in Moscow) is the current Permanent Representative (Ambassador) of the Russian Federation to the United Nations. ... Sir Emyr Jones Parry (born September 21, 1947) is a British politician and diplomat. ... Dr. Zalmay Mamozy Khalilzad (Pashtu/Persian: ‎ ) (born 22 March 1951) is the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq. ...

Elected members

See also: List of elected members of the United Nations Security Council

See also: 2006 United Nations Security Council election

Ten other members are elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms starting on 1 January, with five replaced each year. The members are chosen by regional groups and confirmed by the United Nations General Assembly. The African bloc chooses three members; the Latin America and the Caribbean, Asian, and Western European and Others blocs choose two members each; and the Eastern European bloc chooses one member. Also, one of these members is an Arab country, alternately from the Asian or African bloc.^[3] Since 1966, the UN Security Council has included 10 elected (non-permanent) members. ... The 2006 United Nations Security Council election began on 16 October 2006 during the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly, held at UN Headquarters in New York City. ... United Nations General Assembly The United Nations General Assembly is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations. ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The United Nations is unofficially divided into five geopolitical regional groupings. ... The United Nations General Assembly (GA) is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... Here is an alphabetical list of subregions in the UN geoscheme for the Americas. ... For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... WEOG Member States The Western European and Others Group (WEOG) is one of several unofficial regional voting blocs within the United Nations. ... Pre-1989 division between the West (grey) and Eastern Bloc (orange) superimposed on current national boundaries: Russia (dark orange), other countries of the former USSR (medium orange),members of the Warsaw pact (light orange), and other former Communist regimes not aligned with Moscow (lightest orange). ... “Arab States” redirects here. ... For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ...

The current (2007) elected members, with the regions they were elected to represent and their Permanent Representatives, are:

1. Belgium (Western Europe and Other): Amb. Johan C. Verbeke
2. Republic of the Congo (Africa): Amb. Basile Ikouebe
3. Ghana (Africa): Amb. Nana Effah-Apenteng
4. Indonesia (Asia): Amb. Rezlan Ishar Jenie
5. Italy (Western Europe): Amb. Marcello Spatafora
6. Panama (Latin America and Caribbean): Amb. Ricardo Alberto Arias
7. Peru (Latin America and Caribbean): Amb. Oswaldo de Rivero
8. Qatar (Asia, Arab): Amb. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser
9. Slovakia (Eastern Europe): Amb. Peter Burian
10. South Africa (Africa): Amb. Dumisani Kumalo

Until 2000 Israel was not a member of any regional group and so could not be elected to the Security Council or become involved in many consultative UN bodies. Israel would normally fall within the Asia group but many Arab states blocked Israel's inclusion in this group. In 2000 Israel was granted temporary membership in the Western European and Others Group (WEOG) and this was extended indefinitely in 2004. Israel is limited in the activities that it can undertake as part of WEOG.^[4] Image File history File links Flag_of_Belgium_(civil). ... Johan C. Verbeke, born 1951, is the Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Republic_of_the_Congo. ... Basile Ikouébé (born 1 July 1946[1]) is the current Minister of Foreign Affairs and La Francophonie of the Republic of the Congo. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ghana. ... Nana Effah-Apenteng is the Permenant representative of Ghana to the United Nations, appointed in May 2000. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Indonesia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Image:Marcello Spatafora. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Panama. ... Ricardo Alberto Arias (born 11 September 1939 in Panama City, Panama) is the Ambassador to the United Nations for Panama, appointed in 2004. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Peru. ... Ambassador Oswaldo de Rivero (b. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Qatar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Slovakia. ... Ambassador Peter Burian (b. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Africa. ... Categories: Stub ... WEOG Member States The Western European and Others Group (WEOG) is one of several unofficial regional voting blocs within the United Nations. ...

Veto power

Main article: United Nations Security Council veto power

Under Article 27 of the UN Charter, Security Council decisions on all substantive matters require the affirmative votes of nine members. A negative vote, or veto, by a permanent member prevents adoption of a proposal, even if it has received the required number of affirmative votes. Abstention is not regarded as a veto despite the wording of the Charter. Since the Security Council's inception, China (ROC/PRC) has used its veto five times; France 18 times; Russia/USSR 122 times; the United Kingdom 32 times; and the United States 81 times. The majority of Russian/Soviet vetoes were in the first ten years of the Council's existence. Since 1984, China has vetoed three resolutions; France three; Russia/USSR four; the United Kingdom ten; and the United States 43. The United Nations Security Council veto power is a veto power wielded solely by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, enabling them to void any Security Council substantive resolution regardless of the level of general support. ... The United Nations Security Council veto power is a veto power wielded solely by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, enabling them to void any Security Council substantive resolution regardless of the level of general support. ... The United Nations Charter is the constitution of the United Nations. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Procedural matters are not subject to a veto, so the veto cannot be used to avoid discussion of an issue.

Status of non-members

A state that is a member of the UN, but not of the Security Council, may participate in Security Council discussions in matters that the Council agrees that the country's interests are particularly affected. In recent years, the Council has interpreted this loosely, enabling many countries to take part in its discussions or not depending on how they interpret the validity of the country's interest. Non-members are routinely invited to take part when they are parties to disputes being considered by the Council.

Role of the Security Council

Under Chapter Six of the Charter, "Pacific Settlement of Disputes", the Security Council "may investigate any dispute, or any situation which might lead to international friction or give rise to a dispute". The Council may "recommend appropriate procedures or methods of adjustment" if it determines that the situation might endanger international peace and security. These recommendations are not binding on UN members. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Under Chapter Seven, the Council has broader power to decide what measures are to be taken in situations involving "threats to the peace, breaches of the peace, or acts of aggression". In such situations, the Council is not limited to recommendations but may take action, including the use of armed force "to maintain or restore international peace and security". This was the basis for UN armed action in Korea in 1950 during the Korean War and the use of coalition forces in Iraq and Kuwait in 1991. Decisions taken under Chapter Seven, such as economic sanctions, are binding on UN members. Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter sets out the UN Security Councils powers to maintain peace. ... This article is about the Korean peninsula and civilization. ... Combatants United Nations:  Republic of Korea,  Australia,  Belgium,  Luxembourg,  Canada,  Colombia,  Ethiopia,  France,  Greece,  Luxembourg,  Netherlands,  New Zealand,  Philippines,  South Africa,  Thailand,  Turkey,  United Kingdom,  United States Medical staff:  Denmark,  Australia,  Italy,  Norway,  Sweden Communist states:  Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,  Peoples Republic of China,  Soviet Union Commanders... Economic sanctions are economic penalties applied by one country (or group of countries) on another for a variety of reasons. ...

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell holds a model vial of anthrax while giving a presentation to the United Nations Security Council in February 2003. Foreign ministers and heads of government often appear in the UNSC in person to discuss issues of great importance.

The UN's role in international collective security is defined by the UN Charter, which gives the Security Council the power to: Image File history File links Powell-anthrax-vial. ... Image File history File links Powell-anthrax-vial. ... General Colin Luther Powell, United States Army (Ret. ...

• Investigate any situation threatening international peace;
• Recommend procedures for peaceful resolution of a dispute;
• Call upon other member nations to completely or partially interrupt economic relations as well as sea, air, postal, and radio communications, or to sever diplomatic relations; and
• Enforce its decisions militarily, if necessary.

The United Nations has helped prevent many outbreaks of international violence from growing into wider conflicts. It has opened the way to negotiated settlements through its service as a centre of debate and negotiation, as well as through UN-sponsored fact-finding missions, mediators, and truce observers. UN Peacekeeping forces, comprised of troops and equipment supplied by member nations, have usually been able to limit or prevent conflict, although sometimes not. Some conflicts, however, have proven to be beyond the capacity of the UN to influence. Key to the success of UN peacekeeping efforts is the willingness of the parties to a conflict to come to terms peacefully through a viable political process. Peacekeeping is a way to help countries torn by conflict create conditions for sustainable peace. ...

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court grants the Security Council the power to refer cases to the Court, where the Court could not otherwise exercise jurisdiction.^[5] The Council exercised this power for the first time in March 2005, when it referred to the Court “the situation prevailing in Darfur since 1 July 2002”;^[6] since Sudan is not a party to the Rome Statute, the Court could not otherwise have exercised jurisdiction. Australia and New Zealand have called on the Council to refer Robert Mugabe's alleged crimes to the International Criminal Court.^{[citation needed]} Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court Opened for signature June 17, 1998[1] at Rome Entered into force July 1, 2002 Conditions for entry into force 60 ratifications Parties 99[2] The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (or Rome Statute) is the treaty which established the International... Official logo of the ICC. The International Criminal Court (ICC) was established in 2002 as a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, crime of aggression, and war crimes, as defined by several international agreements, most prominently the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. ... For other uses, see Darfur (disambiguation). ... Mugabe redirects here. ...

Resolutions

The legally binding nature of Security Council Resolutions has been the subject of some controversy. It is generally agreed that resolutions are legally binding if they are made under Chapter VII (Action with Respect to Threats to the Peace, Breaches of the Peace, and Acts of Aggression) of the Charter. The Council is also empowered to make resolutions under Chapter VI (Pacific Settlement of Disputes); most authorities do not consider these to be legally binding. The International Court of Justice suggested in the Namibia case that resolutions other than those made under Chapter VI can also be binding,^[7] a view that some Member States have questioned. Others have asserted that Chapter VI resolutions are non-binding, but may contain binding sections.^[8] It is beyond doubt however that those resolutions made outside these two Chapters dealing with the internal governance of the organization (such as the admission of new Member States) are legally binding, where the Charter gives the Security Council power to make them. A United Nations Security Council Resolution is voted on by the fifteen members of the United Nations Security Council, the most powerful organ of the United Nations. ... Category: ... Category: ... Category: ... Category: ... Category: ... Category: ... Category: ... Category: ... Category: ... Category: ... Category: ... Category: ... Category: ... Category: ... Category: ... Category: ... Category: ... Category: ... A United Nations Security Council Resolution is voted on by the fifteen members of the United Nations Security Council, the most powerful organ of the United Nations. ... The United Nations Charter is the constitution of the United Nations. ... The International Court of Justice (known colloquially as the World Court or ICJ; French: ) is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. ...

If the council cannot reach consensus or a passing vote on a resolution, they may choose to produce a non-binding presidential statement instead of a Resolution. These are adopted by consensus but often involve similar behind-closed-doors wrangling. They are meant to apply political pressure — a warning that the council is paying attention and further action may follow. A Presidential Statement is released often created when the United Nations Security Council cannot reach consensus or are prevented from passing a resolution by a permanent members veto, or threat thereof. ...

Press statements typically accompany both resolutions and presidential statements, carrying the text of the document adopted by the body and also some explanatory text. They may also be released independently, after a significant meeting.

Criticisms of the Security Council

There have been criticisms that the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (who are all nuclear powers) have created an exclusive nuclear club whose powers are unchecked. The lack of true international representation in the United Nations Security Council, as exists in the General Assembly, has led to accusations that the UNSC only addresses the strategic interests and political motives of the permanent members, especially in humanitarian interventions. For example, the eagerness to protect oil-rich Kuwaitis in 1991 compared to the lack of enthusiasm to protect resource-poor Rwandans in 1994.^[9] Non-nuclear countries can be elected to serve a temporary term on the Security Council, but critics have suggested this is inadequate. Critics have suggested that expanding the number of permanent members to include non-nuclear powers would democratize the organization.^[10] Still other nations have advocated abolishing the concept of permanency altogether; under the government of Paul Martin, Canada advocated this approach.^[11] There are currently five nations considered to be nuclear weapons nations, an internationally recognized status conferred by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. ... The United Nations General Assembly (GA) is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations. ... Paul Edgar Philippe Martin, PC, MP, BA, LLB, LLD (h. ...

Another criticism of the Security Council involves the veto power of the five permanent nations. As it stands, one veto from any of the "Big Five" (Russia, China, the United States, the United Kingdom and France) can halt any possible action the Council may take. One nation's objection, rather than the opinions of a majority of nations, may cripple any possible UN armed or diplomatic response to a crisis. For instance, "Since 1982, the US has vetoed 32 Security Council resolutions critical of Israel, more than the total number of vetoes cast by all the other Security Council members."^[12] This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Other critics and even proponents of the Security Council question its effectiveness and relevance because in most high profile cases, there are essentially no consequences for violating a Security Council resolution. The most prominent and dramatic example of this became the Darfur crisis, in which Arab Janjaweed militias, supported by the Sudanese government, committed repeated acts of ethnic cleansing and genocide against the indigenous population thus far killing an estimate of 300,000 civilians in what is the largest case of mass murder in the history of the region, yet the U.N. has continuously failed to act against this severe and ongoing human rights issue. Another such case occurred in the Srebrenica massacre where Serbian troops committed genocide against Bosnian Muslims in the largest case of mass murder upon the European continent since World War II. Srebrenica had been declared a U.N. "safe area" and was even protected by 400 armed Dutch peacekeepers, but the U.N. forces did nothing to prevent the massacre.^{[dubious – discuss]} The Darfur conflict is an ongoing conflict in the Darfur region of western Sudan, mainly between the Janjaweed, a government-supported militia recruited from local Arab tribes, and the non-Arab peoples of the region. ... Languages Arabic and other minority languages Religions Islam, Christianity, Druzism and Judaism Arab woman from Ramallah wearing traditional dress in 1915. ... A Janjaweed miltiaman mounted The Janjaweed (Arabic: جنجويد; variously transliterated Janjawid, Janjawed, Jingaweit, Jinjaweed, Janjawiid, Janjiwid, Janjaweit, etc. ... Ethnic cleansing refers to various policies or practices aimed at the displacement of an ethnic group from a particular territory in order to create a supposedly ethnically pure society. ... For other uses, see Genocide (disambiguation). ... Human rights are rights which some hold to be inalienable and belonging to all humans. ... Burial of 505 identified Bosniak civilians (July 11, 2006) Burial of 610 identified Bosniak civilians (July 11, 2005 The Srebrenica Massacre, also known as Srebrenica Genocide,[1] was the July 1995 killing of an estimated 8,000 Bosniak males, in the region of Srebrenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina by units... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Srebrenica (Cyrillic: Сребреница; IPA: /srÉ›.brÉ›.ni. ...

The most fundamental problem with the Security Council is that it freezes the power structure that existed in 1945 to perpetuity even though neither the Soviet Union nor the British and French Empires which warranted their respective seats exist today.

Other critics object to the idea that the U.N. is a democratic organization, saying that it represents the interests of the nations who form it and not necessarily the individuals within those nations.

Membership reform

The G4 nations (Brazil, Germany, India and Japan) support one another’s bid for permanent seats on the Security Council.

Main article: Reform of the United Nations Security Council

There has been discussion of an increase in the number of permanent members. The countries who have made the strongest demands for permanent seats are Brazil, Germany, India and Japan. Indeed, Japan and Germany are the UN's second and third largest funders, respectively, while Brazil, the largest South American nation, and India, the world's second most populous country and the world's largest democracy, are two of the largest contributors of troops to UN-mandated peace-keeping missions. This project has found opposition in a group of countries called Uniting for Consensus. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1357x628, 44 KB) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1357x628, 44 KB) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... G4 countries. ... Reform of the United Nations Security Council encompasses a variety of proposals, including procedural reforms, such as eliminating the veto held by the five permanent members, and expansion of the Council. ... “Coffee Club” redirects here. ...

Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan asked a team of advisors to come up with recommendations for revamping the United Nations by the end of 2004. A proposed solution is to increase the number of permanent members by five, which, in most proposals, would include Brazil, Germany, India, Japan (known as the G4 nations), one seat from Africa (most likely between Egypt, Nigeria or South Africa) and/or one seat from the Arab League.^[13] On 21 September 2004, the G4 nations issued a joint statement mutually backing each other's claim to permanent status, together with an African country. France and the United Kingdom declared that they support this claim. Currently the proposal has to be accepted by two-thirds of the General Assembly (128 votes). Kofi Atta Annan (born April 8, 1938) is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1, 1997 to January 1, 2007, serving two five-year terms. ... G4 countries. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... Headquarters Cairo, Egypt1 Official languages Arabic Membership 22 Arab states 2 observer states Leaders  -  Secretary General Amr Moussa (since 2001)  -  Council of the Arab League Sudan  -  Speaker of the Arab Parliament Nabih Berri Establishment  -  Alexandria Protocol March 22, 1945  Area  -  Total 13,953,041 (Western Sahara Included) = 13,687,041... is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• United Nations Security Council Resolution
• Reform of the United Nations
• United Nations
• United Nations Member States
• United Nations System
• United Nations General Assembly
• United Nations Economic and Social Council
• United Nations Trusteeship Council
• United Nations Secretariat
• International Court of Justice
• Military Staff Committee
• Kosovo Status Process
• United Nations Interpretation Service

A United Nations Security Council Resolution is voted on by the fifteen members of the United Nations Security Council, the most powerful organ of the United Nations. ... In recent years, there have been many calls for reform of the United Nations. ... UN and U.N. redirect here. ... A map of UN member states and their dependent territories as recognized by the UN. Regions excluded: Antarctica (regulated by the Antarctic Treaty System), Vatican City (the Holy See is a UN observer), the Palestinian territories (Palestine, represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization, is a UN observer), and Western Sahara... While the United Nations is an international organization, the United Nations System is the whole network of international organizations, treaties and conventions that were created by the United Nations. ... The United Nations General Assembly (GA) is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations. ... The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations assists the General Assembly in promoting international economic and social cooperation and development. ... The United Nations Trusteeship Council, one of the principal organs of the United Nations, was established to help ensure that non-self-governing territories were administered in the best interests of the inhabitants and of international peace and security. ... The United Nations Secretariat is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and it is headed by the United Nations Secretary General, assisted by a staff of international civil servants worldwide. ... The International Court of Justice (known colloquially as the World Court or ICJ; French: ) is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. ... An effectively defunct United Nations body, the Military Staff Committee (MSC) has been described by British naval historian, Dr. Eric Grove, as “a sterile monument to the faded hopes of the founders of the UN.” Established by articles 26 and 45-47, the MSC is the only subsidiary body of... Kosovo is the subject of a long-running political and territorial dispute between the Serbian (and previously, the Yugoslav) government and Kosovos largely ethnic-Albanian population. ... The United Nations Interpretation Service is a part of the Meetings and Publishing Division (MPD) of the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management(DGACM). ...

References

“PDF” redirects here. ... A kibibyte (a contraction of kilo binary byte) is a unit of information or computer storage, commonly abbreviated KiB (never kiB). 1 kibibyte = 210 bytes = 1,024 bytes The kibibyte is closely related to the kilobyte, which can be used either as a synonym for kibibyte or to refer to... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 14 is the 134th day of the year (135th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 251st day of the year (252nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 73rd day of the year (74th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For information on Wikipedia press releases, see Wikipedia:Press releases. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 73rd day of the year (74th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a standard for persistently identifying a piece of intellectual property on a digital network and associating it with related data, the metadata, in a structured extensible way. ... is the 224th day of the year (225th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 290th day of the year (291st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... “PDF” redirects here. ... A kibibyte (a contraction of kilo binary byte) is a unit of information or computer storage, commonly abbreviated KiB (never kiB). 1 kibibyte = 210 bytes = 1,024 bytes The kibibyte is closely related to the kilobyte, which can be used either as a synonym for kibibyte or to refer to... is the 317th day of the year (318th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 251st day of the year (252nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 193rd day of the year (194th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 251st day of the year (252nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 251st day of the year (252nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 251st day of the year (252nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• UN Security Council — official site
  • UN Security Council – Background
• Global Policy Forum – UN Security Council
  • Global Policy Forum – veto patterns of the Security Council
• Security Council Report — timely, accurate and objective information and analysis on the Council's activities
• Center for UN Reform Education - objective information on current reform issues at the United Nations
• Hans Köchler, The Voting Procedure in the United Nations Security CouncilPDF (238 KiB)
• Reform the United Nations website — tracking developments
• History of the United Nations — UK Government site
• Who will be the next Secretary General?
• The different projects of reform (G4, Africa Union, United for consensus) (French, 2006)
• UNSC cyberschool

v • d • e United Nations (UN)
History	United Nations Charter
Membership	Member states · Observers
UN System	General Assembly · Security Council · Economic and Social Council · Secretariat · Trusteeship Council · International Court of Justice
Programs, funds and agencies	FAO · ICAO · ILO · IPCC · ITU · UNCTAD · UNDCP · UNDP · UNEP · UNESCO  · UNFIP  · UNFPA · UNHCR · UNHRC · UN-HABITAT · UNICEF · UNRWA · UPU · WFP · WHO · WMO
Resolutions	General Assembly · Security Council

v • d • e Members of the United Nations Security Council
Permanent members	China · France · Russia · United Kingdom · United States
Term ends December 31, 2007	Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) · Ghana · Peru · Qatar · Slovakia
Term ends December 31, 2008	Belgium · Indonesia · Italy · Panama · South Africa

v • d • e United Nations Charter (UN)

Complete text at WikiSource • United Nations Portal Hans Köchler (born October 18, 1948 in Schwaz, Tyrol, Austria) is Full Professor of Philosophy and Chairman of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Innsbruck, Austria. ... “PDF” redirects here. ... A kibibyte (a contraction of kilo binary byte) is a unit of information or computer storage, commonly abbreviated KiB (never kiB). 1 kibibyte = 210 bytes = 1,024 bytes The kibibyte is closely related to the kilobyte, which can be used either as a synonym for kibibyte or to refer to... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Nations. ... UN and U.N. redirect here. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Nations. ... A map of UN member states and their dependent territories as recognized by the UN. Regions excluded: Antarctica (regulated by the Antarctic Treaty System), Vatican City (the Holy See is a UN observer), the Palestinian territories (Palestine, represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization, is a UN observer), and Western Sahara... In addition to the current 191 member states, the United Nations welcomes several other international agencies, entities, and one non-member state (for several years prior to their admission after a referendum in 2002, Switzerland was also an observer state). ... While the United Nations is an international organization, the United Nations System is the whole network of international organizations, treaties and conventions that were created by the United Nations. ... The United Nations General Assembly (GA) is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations. ... The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations assists the General Assembly in promoting international economic and social cooperation and development. ... The United Nations Secretariat is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and it is headed by the United Nations Secretary General, assisted by a staff of international civil servants worldwide. ... The United Nations Trusteeship Council, one of the principal organs of the United Nations, was established to help ensure that non-self-governing territories were administered in the best interests of the inhabitants and of international peace and security. ... The International Court of Justice (known colloquially as the World Court or ICJ; French: ) is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. ... The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. ... The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), an agency of the United Nations, codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth. ... The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that deals with labour issues. ... IPCC is the science authority for the UNFCCC The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was established in 1988 by two United Nations organizations, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), to evaluate the risk of climate change brought on by humans, based mainly on... The International Telecommunication Union (ITU; French: Union internationale des télécommunications, Spanish: Unión Internacional de Telecomunicaciones) is an international organization established to standardize and regulate international radio and telecommunications. ... The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) was established in 1964 as a permanent intergovernmental body, UNCTAD is the principal organ of the United Nations General Assembly dealing with trade, investment and development issues. ... The United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) and the United Nations Centre for International Crime Prevention (CICP) are part of the United Nations Office for Drug Control & Crime Prevention (ODCCP). ... The United Nations Development Programe (UNDP), the United Nations global development network, is the largest multilateral source of development assistance in the world. ... Klaus Töpfer, former UNEP Exec. ... UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945. ... The United Nations Fund for International Partnerships (UNFIP) was established in March 1998 by then United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. ... The United Nations Fund for Population Activities was started in 1969 and renamed the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in 1987. ... Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (established December 14, 1950) protects and supports refugees at the request of a government or the United Nations and assists in their return or resettlement. ... The United Nations Human Rights Council is an international body within the United Nations System. ... is the United Nations agency for human settlements. ... UNICEF Flag The United Nations Childrens Fund (or UNICEF) was created by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946 to provide emergency food and healthcare to children in countries that had been devastated by World War II. In 1953, UNICEF became a permanent part of the UN... The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is a controversial relief and human development agency, providing education, healthcare, social services and emergency aid to over four million Palestinian refugees living in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. ... The Universal Postal Union (UPU, French: Union postale universelle) is an international organization that coordinates postal policies between member nations, and hence the world-wide postal system. ... Italian €2 commemorative coin of 2004 celebrating the WFP The World Food Programme (WFP), the worlds largest humanitarian agency, provides food to more than 90 million people in 80 countries. ... “WHO” redirects here. ... The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 187 Member States and Territories. ... A United Nations resolution (or UN resolution) is a formal text adopted by a United Nations (UN) body. ... A United Nations General Assembly Resolution is voted on by all member states of the United Nations in the General Assembly and requires a simple majority (50% of all votes plus one) to pass (with the exception of important questions which require two-thirds majority). All General Assembly resolutions are... A United Nations Security Council Resolution is voted on by the fifteen members of the United Nations Security Council, the most powerful organ of the United Nations. ... UN and U.N. redirect here. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Nations. ... is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Motto Unité, Travail, Progrès(French) Unity, Work, Progress Anthem La Congolaise Capital (and largest city) Brazzaville Official languages French Government Republic  -  President Denis Sassou Nguesso  -  Prime Minister Isidore Mvouba Independence from France   -  Date 15 August 1960  Area  -  Total 342,000 km² (64th) 132,047 sq mi   -  Water (%) 3. ... is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Text of the Charter: Preamble • Chapter I • Chapter II • Chapter III • Chapter IV • Chapter V • Chapter VI • Chapter VII • Chapter VIII • Chapter IX • Chapter X • Chapter XI • Chapter XII • Chapter XIII • Chapter XIV • Chapter XV • Chapter XVI • Chapter XVII • Chapter XVIII • Chapter XIX Amendments to the United Nations Charter The Preamble to the United Nations Charter is the opening of the United Nations Charter. ... ... Chapter II of the United Nations Charter deals with membership of the United Nations organization. ... Chapter III of the United Nations Charter summarizes the principal organs of the United Nations. ... Chapter IV of the United Nations Charter contains the Charters provisions dealing with the UN General Assembly, specifically its composition, functions, powers, voting, and procedures. ... Chapter V of the United Nations Charter contains its provisions establishing the UN Security Council. ... Chapter VI of the United Nations Charter deals with peaceful settlement of disputes. ... Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter sets out the UN Security Councils powers to maintain peace. ... Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter deals with regional arrangements. ... Chapter IX of the United Nations Charter deals with international economic and social cooperation. ... Chapter X of the United Nations Charter deals with the Economic and Social Council. ... Chapter XI of the United Nations Charter deals with non-self-governing territories. ... Chapter XII of the United Nations Charter deals with the international trusteeship system. ... Chapter XIII of the United Nations Charter deals with the UN Trusteeship Council. ... Chapter XIV of the United Nations Charter deals with the International Court of Justice. ... Chapter XV of the United Nations Charter deals with the UN Secretariat. ... Chapter XVI of the United Nations Charter contains miscellaneous provisions prohibiting secret treaties, establishing the UN Charter as supreme over any other treaties, and providing for privileges and immunities of UN officials and representatives. ... Chapter XVII of the United Nations Charter deals with transitional security arrangements related to World War II, which was drawing to a close at the time of the Charters promulgation. ... Chapter XVIII of the United Nations Charter deals with amendments. ... Chapter XIX of the United Nations Charter deals with ratification and signature of the UN Charter. ... Amendments to the United Nations Charter can be made by a procedure set out in Chapter XVIII of the UN Charter. ... History of the Charter (History of the UN): Paris Peace Conference of 1919 • Treaty of Versailles • Covenant of the League of Nations • Moscow Conference of 1943 • Tehran Conference of 1943 • Dumbarton Oaks Conference • San Francisco Conference • Signatories New countries joined the United Nations during the twentieth century The United Nations as an international organization has its origins in World War II. Since then its aims and activities have expanded to make it the archetypal international body in the early 21st century. ... Map of the World with the Participants in World War I. The Allies are depicted in green, the Central Powers in orange, and neutral countries in grey. ... This article is about the Treaty of Versailles of June 28 1919, which ended World War I. For other uses, see Treaty of Versailles (disambiguation) . The Treaty of Versailles (1919) was a peace treaty which officially ended World War I between the Allied and Associated Powers and Germany. ... ... Three Moscow conferences took place during the course of World War II. Government leaders or senior representatives of the three leading Allies of World War II, Great Britain, the United States of America, and the Soviet Union took part in each conference. ... Left to right: General Secretary of the Communist Party Joseph Stalin, President Franklin D. Roosevelt of the United States, and Prime Minister Winston Churchill of the United Kingdom . ... The Dumbarton Oaks Conference (or Washington Conversations on International Peace and Security Organization) held beginning in August 1944 in a Washington, DC mansion (Dumbarton Oaks), was where the United Nations was formulated and negotiated. ... The United Nations Conference on International Organization was a convention of delegates from 50 nations that took place from April 25, 1945 to June 26, 1945 in San Francisco. ... A map of UN member states and their dependent territories as recognized by the UN. Regions excluded: Antarctica (regulated by the Antarctic Treaty System), Vatican City (the Holy See is a UN observer), the Palestinian territories (Palestine, represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization, is a UN observer), and Western Sahara... Created Organs: Security Council • General Assembly • Economic and Social Council • Trusteeship Council • International Court of Justice • Secretariat • Military Staff Committee The United Nations General Assembly (GA) is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations. ... The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations assists the General Assembly in promoting international economic and social cooperation and development. ... The United Nations Trusteeship Council, one of the principal organs of the United Nations, was established to help ensure that non-self-governing territories were administered in the best interests of the inhabitants and of international peace and security. ... The International Court of Justice (known colloquially as the World Court or ICJ; French: ) is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. ... The United Nations Secretariat is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and it is headed by the United Nations Secretary General, assisted by a staff of international civil servants worldwide. ... An effectively defunct United Nations body, the Military Staff Committee (MSC) has been described by British naval historian, Dr. Eric Grove, as “a sterile monument to the faded hopes of the founders of the UN.” Established by articles 26 and 45-47, the MSC is the only subsidiary body of...