United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

• The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations established in January 1947 and plays a crucial role in maintaining international peace and security.

• The Security Council consists of 15 member states. Five of these are permanent members, often referred to as the “P5”: the United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom.

• The remaining ten members are elected by the UN General Assembly for two-year terms.

• The Security Council’s decisions are binding on all UN member states, and its actions can have far-reaching implications for global stability.

• However, the effectiveness of the Security Council can be influenced by the political dynamics among its member states, especially the five permanent members with veto power

Responsibilities and Functions

I. Veto Power

• The permanent members have veto power over substantive resolutions (Resolutions related to matters of legal principle and rules of rights, laws which define rights and duties, crimes and punishments,etc).

II. Peacekeeping Operations

• The Security Council has the authority to establish and deploy UN peacekeeping missions to conflict zones in order to help maintain or restore peace.

III. Actions and Sanctions

• It can take a range of actions, from imposing sanctions and authorizing the use of force to mediating conflicts.

IV. Monitoring of Armistice Agreements

• It monitors armistice agreements (agreement to stop fighting) and peace treaties to ensure that parties comply with their terms.

V. Non-Proliferation and Disarmament

• The UNSC addresses issues related to nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction (e.g., nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons) and encourages disarmament efforts.