India on UNSC reform

Context- India’s Permanent Representative at the UN, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, speaking at the Inter-Governmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform emphasized on the need for comprehensive reform of the Security Council.

Key Highlights

• India has questioned how much longer can the need of five permanent members of the UNSC maintain to override the collective voice of the world organisation’s 188 member states.
• India additionally stressed that equity should be the cornerstone of global efforts to reform the 15-nation UN body.
• Equity needs that each state, regardless of its size or power, be given an equal opportunity to form global decision-making.
• India highlighted that increasing only the non-permanent members of the Council will not remedy the issue.
• It will in reality widen the distinction between permanent and non-permanent members even greater, thereby perpetuating inequities rather than putting off.

United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

• About

• • • The United Nations Charter established six primary organs of the United Nations, inclusive of the UN Security Council (UNSC).
    • UNSC has the first responsibility for the preservation of global peace and security.
    • Under the UN Charter, all Member States are obligated to comply with Council decisions.
    • The Security Council has a permanent residence on the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

• Powers:

• • • Establishment of peacekeeping operations.
    • Establishment of international sanctions.
    • Authorisation of military action by Security Council resolutions.

• Members:

• • The U.N. Charter presents for 15 members of the UNSC:
    • Five permanent members are referred to as P5, which include the United Kingdom, China, France, Russia and the US.
    • They have veto power over decisions of the UNSC.
    • 10 non-permanent members. Each 12 months the 193-member General Assembly elects 5 non-permanent members for a two-year term at the UNSC.

UNSC Reform

• • UNSC reform refers to the process of revising and updating the shape, composition, and functioning of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
  • The UNSC is one of the six foremost organs of the United Nations and is frequently liable for retaining global peace and security.
  • However, its modern configuration and decision-making processes is not representative of the cutting-edge geo-political realities.
  • Hence, there is a need for reform within the UNSC.

• Reforms in regions

• • • The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reform consists of five key issues:
      • Categories of membership
      • The veto held by the five permanent members
      • Regional representation
      • The size of an enlarged Council and its working methods
      • The Security Council-General Assembly relationship

• Challenges faced

• • • Resistance from Current Permanent Members (P5)
    • Lack of Consensus amongst Member States
    • Different countries have numerous pastimes, priorities, and visions for the way the council must be reformed.

• Complexity of Reform Proposals

• • • There are various proposals for reforming the UNSC, which includes the ones associated with the expansion of permanent and non-permanent membership, the question of veto power, and nearby illustration.
    • Finding a consensus on those complicated issues calls for diplomatic negotiation and compromise among member states.

• Slow Pace of Negotiations

• • The manner of UNSC reform has been characterised by slow development and incremental adjustments.
  • Negotiations inside forums just like the Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN) have frequently been protracted, with divergent perspectives among member states impeding substantial reform efforts.

Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN)

• • IGN is a series of discussions and negotiations amongst member states of the United Nations aimed toward reforming the structure and functioning of the UN.
  • The IGN procedure was initiated to deal with the perceived need for the growth of the Security Council’s membership to better replicate current geopolitical realities and to decorate its legitimacy and effectiveness.
  • IGN was formally recognized by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2008 as a platform for member states to have interaction in discussions and negotiations regarding the reform of the USA.
  • However, the diplomatic deadlock persists in component because member states have never agreed to negotiate on.

• Composition

• • • The IGN consists of several different international organisations, specifically:
      • The African Union;
      • The G4 countries (India, along side Brazil, Japan and Germany are urgent for a permanent seat inside the reformed UNSC);
      • The Uniting for Consensus Group (UfC), additionally known as the “Coffee Club”;
      • The L.69 Group of Developing Countries;
      • The Arab League; and
      • The Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

• Features

• • Each institution represents a different set of positions vis-a-vis reforming the UNSC.
  • The organization’s conversations are taken into consideration “informal” in nature due to the shortage of single text, and as a consequence, UNGA regulations of process do not follow.
  • But in 2015, a framework document was agreed in relation to the reform, which can be the basis for future talks.

Source: The Indian Express

UPSC Prelims Practice Question:

Q.With reference to the “United Nations Credentials Committee”, consider the following statements:

1. It is a committee set up by the UN Security Council and works under its supervision.
2. It traditionally meets in March, June and September every year
3. It assesses the credentials of all UN members before submitting a report to the General Assembly for approval.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (2022)

a.3 only

b.1 and 3

c.2 and 3

c.1 and 2

Ans: “a”

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