Calls for Action
Membership to the Security Council should include emerging global powers like India, Brazil, and Germany (see Appendix i. With an additional Security Council seat, would Europe not be over represented?)
UN Member states should propose amendments to relevant international agreements or create new protocols within international organizations (see Appendix i. Can Security Council reform be prevented by a veto?)
a. Amendments to protocols have proven effective for initiatives like the creation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and conventions like the Geneva Conventions or the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
b. Member states can advocate for and adopt rules that necessitate a supermajority vote for crucial decisions concerning humanitarian crises or global security threats. This ensures that decisions are not easily swayed by individual veto powers, promoting fair and inclusive decision-making processes on critical global issues.
The Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) should conduct a comprehensive review of national conflict prevention strategies of member states (see Appendix i. Why should member states boost the PBC to intervene?)
a. The UN bolsters the resources and authority of the Peacebuilding Commission to intervene effectively in conflict-prone regions for timely interventions. Ensuring coherence and coordination with other relevant UN entities such as the Department of Political Affairs (DPA), Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO), and specialized agencies involved in peace and security.
b. The Security Council collaborates among nations to share resources and expertise, while capacity-building efforts target nations lacking in conflict prevention capabilities, such as the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council
For example, the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council collaborates with regional partners, such as the Economic Community of West AfricanStates (ECOWAS), to establish joint training programs on conflict prevention, mediation, and peacebuilding.
The UNSC should eliminate the use of veto power in cases of mass atrocities or humanitarian emergencies (see Appendix i. Can this kind of power by the Council be misused?)
Collective global efforts are needed to uphold international agreements such as the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Diplomatic initiatives and strengthened international cooperation are crucial to mitigate the risks associated with nuclear proliferation and ensure global security. (see Appendix i. What specific diplomatic approaches and strategies can be employed to reinvigorate global disarmament negotiations, considering the complex interests and concerns of nuclear-armed states?)
An Overview of Existing Initiatives
Main Outcomes
1. A recalibration of global power dynamics is needed to encourage restraint in veto usage by the Permanent Five members of the Security Council, highlighting the urgent need for systemic changes within the UNSC to tackle current global challenges effectively.
2. The dysfunctionality of the Security Council necessitates reforms, including measures to limit veto power and conduct a thorough review of the UN Charter. Structural changes should prioritize improving representation, transparency, and accountability across the UN system.
3. The General Assembly needs to address the Security Council's alternative approaches to strengthen democratic oversight and accountability within the UN system.
4. Urgent systemic changes within the UNSC are needed as crucial to effectively tackle global challenges like conflict prevention, nuclear risks, and environmental crises.
Panel Discussion Summary
This Panel explores key insights and recommendations presented by distinguished panelists Prof Hans Corell, Alex Salmond, Melissa Parke, Ivan Simonovic, Prof. Jennifer Walsh, and Prof. Hans Köchler during a thought-provoking discussion on the challenges facing the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
The panel, held under the theme of “UN’s Responsibility to Protect and Reformation of Security Council," provided a comprehensive examination of critical issues and proposed solutions to enhance the effectiveness and representativeness of the UNSC.
Professor Hans Corell, former Undersecretary General for legal affairs and legal counsel of the United Nations, as a first panelist to speak began his address by reflecting on a positive period in the organization during his tenure. He highlighted significant legal achievements, such as the establishment of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Corell delved into the UN's Responsibility to Protect (R2P), rooted in the 2005 General Assembly resolution, emphasizing the five criteria for legitimacy when considering the use of military force by the Security Council.
Shifting to the topic of UN Security Council reform, Corell underscored the critical role of the rule of law. He questioned whether the need for reform lies more with the United Nations itself or its member states. Advocating for statesmanship among the Council's permanent members, he called for a deeper understanding of their responsibility to address current global challenges, such as climate change and transboundary criminality. While recognizing the potential necessity of additional Security Council members, Corell cautioned against an overly large council.
Alex Salmond, a practicing politician with a less intimate knowledge of the UN structure, approached the issue of Security Council reform from a pragmatic standpoint. He acknowledged the inherent challenge of persuading an organization to reform when its structure provides vested interests in avoiding such changes. Salmond proposed practical initiatives to mobilize popular support for the UN globally, suggesting the inclusion of UN studies in school curricula as a condition for General Assembly membership.
Drawing an analogy with a bicameral parliament, Salmond proposed a mechanism where a proposal could override a veto with a substantial majority in the General Assembly. He stressed the need for essential progress in reform, recognizing the difficulties of achieving perfection. Salmond also criticized the misconception that the UN is a globalist organization and argued for aligning global actions with the organization's principles through mechanisms that reflect the UN's international and sovereign nature.
Melissa Parke highlighted the issue of impunity in Gaza and criticized the dysfunction of the UN Security Council (UNSC). She called for reforms in representation and veto power, suggesting a review of the UN Charter using Article 109. Commending initiatives by some countries, she proposed discussing this at the UN Summit of the Future in September. Parke expressed concerns about the UNSC's failures due to the veto power of the Permanent Five, mentioning challenges to the international rule of law. She noted the General Assembly's potential role in peace and security and discussed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) as a democratic approach led by countries outside the Permanent Five.
Highlighting the TPNW's inclusivity and 93 supporting states, she stressed the urgency of addressing nuclear threats amid global conflicts. Parke mentioned the doomsday clock's alarming update to 90 seconds to midnight, emphasizing the need to tackle nuclear and environmental crises simultaneously.
Building on Parke's insights, Ivan Simonovic delved into the complexities of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and the escalating challenges in conflict prevention. Simonovic stressed the necessity of comprehensive UN reforms, proposing practical measures such as pressuring the UNSC and enhancing the Peace Building Commission's role. The prevention of conflicts took center stage in Simonovic's recommendations, with a specific focus on reviewing national prevention strategies.
Professor Jennifer Walsh continued the exploration by addressing challenges in UNSC reform, with a specific focus on capacity, representativeness, and transparency. Walsh critically examined the issue of veto power, citing various initiatives aimed at its restraint. The concept of "Light Footprint Missions" and the advocacy for a UN Parliamentary Assembly emerged as key proposals from Walsh, offering alternative approaches to enhance democratic oversight and accountability within the UN system.
In a thought-provoking critique, Professor Hans Köchler analyzed the fundamental flaw in the UN Charter, pinpointing Article 27 and the inherent loophole in veto power. Köchler called for a recalibration of the global power balance to encourage restraint in the use of the veto. Despite audio constraints, Köchler raised significant concerns about impunity for atrocity crimes, contributing to the overarching narrative of the imperative need for systemic change within the UNSC.