United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

Why in news?

• United Nations Security Council (UNSC), under the presidency of India, adopted the resolution 2593, which called on the Taliban to keep its commitments on preventing terror groups in Afghanistan and urged them to assist the safe evacuations of all Afghan nationals wishing to leave the country.

About UNSC

• The UNSC Security Council was established by the UN Charter in 1945. It is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations.
  • The other 5 organs of the United Nations are:
    • General Assembly
    • Trusteeship Council
    • Economic and Social Council
    • International Court of Justice
    • Secretariat.
• It is primarily responsible for maintaining international peace and security.
• The UNSC headquarters is in New York City.

Members

• It consists of 15 members — five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members.
• The five permanent members are the US, UK, Russia, China and France.
• Every year, five non-permanent members are elected for a tenure of two years.
• To be elected as a non-permanent member of the council, each member-country requires a two-third majority of the entire assembly.
• The council's presidency rotates every month among its 15 members.

Voting:

• The permanent members of the UNSC have a veto power. This veto allows any of these five countries to block the adoption of a resolution
• Unlike permanent members of the council, the non-permanent members do not have veto power. However, they have “collective right of veto” — any resolution of the UNSC has to be passed by at least seven non-permanent members even if all the permanent members support it.

India and UNSC

• Recently, India assumed the presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the month of August 2021.
• This will be the country’s first presidency during its 2021-22 tenure as a non-permanent member of the Security Council.
• India has been elected as a non-permanent member of the UNSC eight times since 1950-51 (including the current term).

Responsibilities and Powers of the UNSC:

• If there is a security crisis anywhere in the world, the matter is brought before the UNSC and they try to reach an agreement either through mediation, appointing special envoys, dispatching a UN Mission or requesting the UN Secretary-General to settle the dispute.
• If the matter escalates, ceasefire directives are issued and peacekeeping forces and military observers dispatched.
• Furthermore, if the circumstances are very dire then sanctions and financial penalties are imposed, arms embargoed, and travel bans can also be issued.
• It is the only UN body with the authority to issue binding resolutions to member states.
• Under the UN Charter, all Member States are obligated to comply with Council s decisions.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Consider the following statements regarding ‘United Nations Security Council’:

1. It is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations.

2. A resolution of the UNSC has to be passed by at least seven non-permanent members even if all the permanent members support it.

3. To be elected as a non-permanent member of the council, each member-country requires a two-third majority of the entire assembly

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer