Reforming UN Security Council

Reforming UN Security Council

By Dr Arvind Kumar

Under the prevailing global developments, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), founded in 1946, has seemingly outlived its utility and there is a need for introducing thorough reforms in the powers and functions of this world body. Paradoxically, the Security Council can no more be trusted as a podium of justice for the world countries, specially the oppressed and defenseless nations which eye the assistance and patronage of the powerful and economically influential nations for tackling their political predicaments and crises, and showed that it merely pursues the interests of its small bloc of five permanent members and undemocratically discriminates against a multitude of countries who don't have a say in the policies which directly affects them. The UNSC has five permanent members – China, Russia, Britain, France and the United States – and 10 non-permanent members which are elected on a rotating basis and through the vote of the members of United Nations General Assembly. However, only the permanent members enjoy ‘Veto Power’, a discriminatory and biased privilege given to five countries to dictate their own will to some 200 countries as they wish.

UNSC needs a drastic reformation. The veto power should be dissolved as soon as possible. The number of permanent members should be increased from present five to ten with emerging great powers like Brazil, Japan, India, Germany and South Africa as new permanent members. The important decisions should be taken by majority. Only by reforming the UNSC, the eroding credibility of the UN can be restored.