Security Council Subsidiary Bodies:
- Article 29 of the United Nations Charter sets out that the Security Council may establish subsidiary bodies (committees or working groups) as needed for the performance of its functions.
- Mandate: The mandate of subsidiary organs can range from procedural matters (e.g. documentation and procedures) to substantive issues (e.g. sanctions regimes, counter-terrorism, peacekeeping operations).
- Composition:
- All subsidiary bodies are comprised of the 15 members of the Council.
- While standing committees are chaired by the President of the Council other subsidiary bodies are chaired or co-chaired by designated members of the Council.
- Types of subsidiary bodies:
- Committees: Counter-Terrorism Committee, Sanctions Committees, Standing Committees and Ad Hoc Bodies
- Peacekeeping Operations and Political Missions
- International Courts and Tribunals
- Advisory Body: The Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) is an Advisory Subsidiary Body of both the Security Council and the General Assembly.
Sanctions Committees:
- The use of mandatory sanctions is intended to apply pressure on a State or entity to comply with the objectives set by the Security Council without resorting to the use of force.
- The range of sanctions has included comprehensive economic and trade sanctions and/or more targeted measures such as arms embargoes, travel bans, financial or diplomatic restrictions.
Criticism by India:
- India has criticised the UNSC's Sanctions Committees, saying they lack accountability and never inform the reason for not acceding to requests for sanctioning terrorists.
- India's criticism is in an apparent reference to China repeatedly blocking India’s bid to list Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.
