Stalled UNSC Reform and Expansion Efforts
Context:
Despite consistent efforts by India and other countries, the move for United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reform and expansion has made “no progress” so far, according to former Indian Ambassadors to the United Nations.
Relevance:
GS-02 (International Organisations)
Key Highlights
- Frustration Ahead of UN Summit of the Future: The lack of progress has led to considerable frustration ahead of this year’s Summit of the Future at the UN (September 22-23), where over 150 world leaders will discuss plans to “reboot” the UN.
- G-4 Criticism of Proposed “Pact of the Future”: India and its G-4 partners (Brazil, Germany, and Japan) have criticized the proposed “Pact of the Future” that will be released at the summit, as they all seek a permanent seat at the UNSC.
- IGN Process Transparency: Since 2023, there has been movement towards making the Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN) process on UN reforms more transparent, including live broadcasts and a digital repository for proposals.
- India’s Sharp Address at UNSC Debate: India’s Acting Permanent Representative R. Ravindra criticized the multilateral system’s failure, attributing it to the “1945-vintage binary outlook” of the Security Council’s composition, dominated by the P5.
- Call for Continued Push for Inclusion: Despite the lack of progress, former Indian diplomats stress the importance of India continuing to push its demand for inclusion in the top global decision-making body.
About the UNSC:
- Establishment and Primary Role: The Security Council was established by the UN Charter in 1945 as one of the six principal organs of the United Nations. Its primary responsibility is to maintain international peace and security. The council is headquartered in New York.
- Membership: The council consists of 15 members: five permanent members (United States, Russia, France, China, and the United Kingdom) and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms. India, currently a non-permanent member, joined in 2021 and will serve until 2022.
- Election and Rotation: Each year, the General Assembly elects five non-permanent members for a two-year term. The ten non-permanent seats are distributed regionally. The council’s presidency rotates monthly among its 15 members.
- Voting Powers: Each member has one vote. Decisions require an affirmative vote from nine members, including the concurrence of all five permanent members. A “No” vote from any permanent member blocks the resolution.
- India’s Role and Contributions: India has significantly contributed to the UNSC, including participation in 43 Peacekeeping missions and formulating key decisions like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. India’s substantial contributions and global standing justify its demand for a permanent seat in the UNSC.
