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General Studies 2 >> International Relations

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UNITED NATION SECURITY COUNCIL (UNSC)

 

UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL(UNSC)

Source: indianexpress

 

CONTEXT

India is elected to the non-permanent seat of the Security Council for the term 2021-22 with overwhelming support. India gets 184 out of the 192 valid votes polled

CONSTITUTION OF UNSC

  • The UNSC is composed of 15 members-five permanent members - China, France, Russian Federation, the United States, and the United Kingdom - and 10 non-permanent members who are elected by the General Assembly.
  •  The non-permanent members are elected for two-year terms - so every year, the General Assembly elects five non-permanent members out of the total 10.
  • These 10 seats are distributed among the regions of the world- five seats for African and Asian countries, one for Eastern European countries, two for Latin American and Caribbean countries, and two for Western European and Other Countries
  • Of the five seats for Africa and Asia, three are for Africa and two for Asia. Also, there is an informal understanding between the two groups to reserve one seat for an Arab country. The Africa and Asia Pacific group takes turns every two years to put up an Arab candidate.
  • Elections for terms beginning in even-numbered years select two African members, and one each within Eastern Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Terms beginning in odd-numbered years consist of two Western European and Other members, and one each from the Asia Pacific, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean

INDIA AND UNSC

  • The presidency of the UNSC was passed to India in Aug 2021 and Ireland will take over the role from India in September. India is set to take over the presidency of the council again in Dec 2022.
  • India begins its term at the beginning of 2021 and will hold the position until the end of 2022
  • India has earlier been a non-permanent member of the Security Council in 1950-51, 1967-68, 1972-73, 1977-78, 1984-85, 1991-92, and 2011-12
  • India was the only candidate for the vacancy from the Asia Pacific. Its candidature for the seat was endorsed unanimously by the Asia Pacific group, which comprises 55 countries, including Pakistan and China, last year.

ASIA PACIFIC SEAT

Besides India, China, and Pakistan the 55-country Asia Pacific group includes Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Cyprus, North Korea, South Korea, Fiji, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, UAE, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, and Yemen

CRITERIA FOR ELECTION

If a country has been endorsed by its group, it still needs to secure the votes of two-thirds of the members present and voting at the General Assembly session, which is a minimum of 129 votes, if all 193member states participate

ABOUT UNSC

  • The UNSC has 15 members and five of them - the US, UK, Russia, China, and France are permanent members, who have veto rights. The ten elected or non-permanent members have a tenure of two years. At present, the non-permanent members are Estonia, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Niger, Norway, Saint Vincent, the Grenadines, Tunisia, and Vietnam.
  • Non-permanent members of the Security Council, however, do not have veto rights. This, in the eyes of several observers, makes them a toothless grouping because they cannot assert their will on any matter of international concern, merely persuade or dissuade other member states from acting in a certain way.
  • The council responds to crises around the world on a case-by-case basis and takes action based on options that do not involve armed force. For instance, economic and trade sanctions, arms embargoes, travel bans, and financial or commodity restrictions.
  • However, Chapter VII of the UN charter allows the council to authorize the use of force “to maintain or restore international peace and security”.
  • A peace operation by the council is first adopted with a resolution. Each member of the Security Council has one vote. On issues of procedure (about the workings of the council), a resolution requires the assent of at least nine members. On substantive matters (that have major political consequences), a resolution requires the assent of nine members, including the concurring votes of the permanent members.
  • However, any member must abstain from voting if they are involved in the dispute.

 

 

MAINS QUESTION

1) Discuss the role of the UNSC in ensuring peace.

2) How do non-permanent members are elected in UNSC?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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