Article shared by Robert Cohen
Summary
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Summary
The UN has often failed to achieve its goal in stopping and preventing armed conflicts due to paralysis of the Security Council. The Security Council's permanent members (US, Russia, UK, China, France) have veto power over resolutions, which they have frequently exercised to block action.
This weakness was inherited from the League of Nations, which required unanimity to take action. The UN Charter tried to mitigate this by limiting veto power to the 5 major military powers at the time.
Over time, the frequent use of vetoes shifted power to the General Assembly, which can pass non-binding resolutions without risk of veto.
Numerous nations have been working to restrict the veto in specific situations. In July 2015, the UN Accountability, Coherence, and Transparency Group proposed a Code of Conduct against “genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes” that called upon all Security Council members to avoid voting to reject any credible draft resolution intended to prevent or halt mass atrocities. By 2022, the Code had been signed by 121 member nations. France and Mexico have taken the lead in proposing the renunciation of the veto in these situations.
These reform initiatives are likely to be addressed at the September 2024 UN Summit of the Future.
This weakness was inherited from the League of Nations, which required unanimity to take action. The UN Charter tried to mitigate this by limiting veto power to the 5 major military powers at the time.
Over time, the frequent use of vetoes shifted power to the General Assembly, which can pass non-binding resolutions without risk of veto.
Numerous nations have been working to restrict the veto in specific situations. In July 2015, the UN Accountability, Coherence, and Transparency Group proposed a Code of Conduct against “genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes” that called upon all Security Council members to avoid voting to reject any credible draft resolution intended to prevent or halt mass atrocities. By 2022, the Code had been signed by 121 member nations. France and Mexico have taken the lead in proposing the renunciation of the veto in these situations.
These reform initiatives are likely to be addressed at the September 2024 UN Summit of the Future.
Thanks for sharing, time to expedite the process of change allowing aggression to continue if perpetrated by one of the countries with veto powers. Baquer
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