In News:

• The UN General Assembly adopted by consensus a resolution requiring the five permanent members of the Security Council to justify their use of the veto.
  • United States, China, Russia, France and the UK are the five members with veto power.
    
    
  
  
  
• The measure is intended to make veto-holders more accountable while exercising their power.
  
  

What’s in Today’s Article:

• News Summary
  
  

News Summary

• The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution that would require the five permanent members of the Security Council to justify their use of the veto in future.
  
  

Key highlights of the resolution

• The resolution was titled - ‘Standing mandate for a General Assembly debate when a veto is cast in the Security Council’.
  
  
• The measure provides for the General Assembly to be convened within 10 working days after a veto “to hold a debate on the situation as to which the veto was cast”.
  
  
• The assembly is not required to take or consider any action, but the discussion could put veto-wielders on the spot and let other countries be heard.
  
  

Advantages

• The application of this resolution will shed light on the use of the veto and on the blockages within the Security Council.
  
  
• The measure is intended to make veto-holders pay a higher political price, when they use the veto to strike down a Security Council resolution
  
  

Criticism

• Possible misuse
  • It is highly likely that countries could propose controversial texts they know their rivals will veto only to force them to justify their stance publicly.
    
    
  • If this happens, the move will divide the UN even further.
    
    
  
  
  
• Directed against Russia
  • Many analysts feel that it is directed against Russia.
    
    
  • This is due to the fact that the proposal’s revival came as the Security Council has proven incapable of condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine because of Moscow’s veto power.
    
    
  
  
  
• Non-binding nature
  • The text is non-binding and nothing prevents a country that has used its veto from declining to explain its actions to the General Assembly.
    
    
  
  
  
• Piecemeal reform
  • Critics have termed this as a piecemeal reform. UNSC at present requires a reform to address the concerns for developing countries like India and Brazil.
    
    
  • There is widespread support for revamping the UN’s most powerful organ to reflect current global realities.