The role of the United Nations Security Council is to ensure world peace. (Photo: Reuters)
The idea of reducing the power of the five permanent members of the Security Council has been around for a long time, but this time it was revived because of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
As a country directly involved in the conflict, Russia used its veto power to prevent the Security Council (SC) from taking any action when the conflict broke out between Moscow and Kiev.
Liechtenstein’s proposal is co-sponsored by 50 countries, including the US, but absent the remaining 4 members including Russia, China, France and the UK. The Security Council also has 10 non-permanent members, but has no veto power.
The draft proposal calls for convening the 193 members of the General Assembly “within 10 working days after at least one member of the Security Council used a veto to explain the use of this ballot”.
Among the co-sponsors of this draft resolution are Ukraine, Japan and Germany. Japan and Germany have long hoped to become permanent members of the Security Council if the body expands. It is not known what the views of India, Brazil, South Africa or other potential permanent members will be. Even without sponsoring the text, France will still vote in favor, a diplomat revealed.
It is not yet known how Britain, China and Russia will vote.
Since the first veto was used by the Soviet Union in 1946, Moscow has used it 143 times, the US 86 times, the UK 30 times, and China and France both 18 times.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that this resolution “will be an important step to improve accountability, transparency and accountability of all members of the Security Council”.
In 2013, France proposed that the permanent members of the Security Council voluntarily limit their veto power in the event of mass murder of civilians. That bill was supported by 100 countries, but so far has not been passed.
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