About The Reforming UN Security Council

Context:

As the United Nations nears its 80th anniversary in 2025, the G4 nations (India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan) have renewed their push for significant reforms of the UN Security Council (UNSC). Their call for change is backed by other plurilateral groups, including the L69 and C-10, which supports broadening the representation and improving the effectiveness of the UNSC.

Relevance:

GS II: International Relations

Dimensions of the Article:

1. G4, L69, and C-10 Groups Overview
2. United Nations Security Council

G4, L69, and C-10 Groups Overview:

L69 Group:

• The L69 Group consists of 42 developing nations from Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, including India.
• Its primary goal is to advocate for the expansion of both permanent and non-permanent UNSC membership, ensuring the Security Council reflects global realities and enhances accountability.
• The group calls for a review of the permanent membership composition every 15 years to adapt to changing global dynamics.
• Named after the “L.69” draft document introduced in 2007-08, the group initiated the Intergovernmental Negotiation (IGN) process to facilitate UNSC reforms.

C-10 Group:

• The Committee of Ten (C-10) consists of 10 African nations representing the African Union.
• Its main objective is to reform the UNSC, focusing on increasing African representation in line with the Common African Position based on the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.
• The Ezulwini Consensus (2005) proposed 2 permanent seats with veto power and 5 non-permanent seats for Africa, aiming to ensure more democratic and representative UNSC processes.
• The Sirte Declaration (1999) established the African Union to address peace and security across the African continent, further strengthening Africa’s voice in global governance.

G4 Group:

• The G4 Group comprises Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan—countries aspiring to become permanent UNSC members.
• Formed in 2004, the group promotes UN Security Council Reforms to expand its permanent membership.
• The G4 members support each other’s bid for permanent UNSC membership, emphasizing mutual cooperation in the global diplomatic arena.

United Nations Security Council

• The Security Council is one of the six main organs of the United Nations.
• The Permanent Residence of UNSC in the UN Headquarters New York City, USA.
• Its primary responsibility is the maintenance of international peace and security.
• While other organs of the United Nations make recommendations to member states, only the Security Council has the power to make decisions that member states are then obligated to implement under the Charter- Hence, it is the only body of the UN with the authority to issue binding resolutions to member states.
• Resolutions of the Security Council are typically enforced by UN peacekeepers, military forces voluntarily provided by member states and funded independently of the main UN budget.

Membership

• It has 15 Members (5 as Permanent Members and 10 as Non- Permanent Members), and each Member has one vote.
• The Five permanent members are: China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Each of the Permanent Members has Veto Power over every decision of UNSC.
• The Ten non-permanent members are Elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly.
• Each year, the General Assembly elects five non-permanent members (out of ten in total) for a two-year term. The ten non-permanent seats are distributed on a regional basis.
• As per the rules of procedure, a retiring member is not eligible for immediate re-election and the election is held by secret ballot and there are no nominations.
• The presidency of the Council rotates monthly, going alphabetically among member states.

Functions and Powers of UNSC

Under the United Nations Charter, the functions and powers of the Security Council are:

• to maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations;
• to investigate any dispute or situation which might lead to international friction;
• to recommend methods of adjusting such disputes or the terms of settlement;
• to formulate plans for the establishment of a system to regulate armaments;
• to determine the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression and to recommend what action should be taken;
• to call on Members to apply economic sanctions and other measures not involving the use of force to prevent or stop aggression;
• to take military action against an aggressor;
• to recommend the admission of new Members;
• to exercise the trusteeship functions of the United Nations in “strategic areas”;
• to recommend to the General Assembly the appointment of the Secretary-General and, together with the Assembly, to elect the Judges of the International Court of Justice.

-Source: The Hindu