The Security Council
In Brief...
- 15 members: five permanent members with veto power and ten non-permanent members, elected by the General Assembly for a two-year term.
- Meetings are called at any given time when the need arises.
- Rotating presidency: Members take turn at holding the presidency of the Security Council for one month.
Under the Charter, the Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. It has 15 Members, and each Member has one vote. Under the Charter, all Member States are obligated to comply with Council decisions.
The Security Council takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression. It calls upon the parties to a dispute to settle it by peaceful means and recommends methods of adjustment or terms of settlement. In some cases, the Security Council can resort to imposing sanctions or even authorize the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security.
The Security Council also recommends to the General Assembly the appointment of the Secretary-General and the admission of new Members to the United Nations. And, together with the General Assembly, it elects the judges of the International Court of Justice.
Latest News
Libya’s democratic transition can benefit from national political dialogue, says UN envoy
18 June 2013 – Managing Libya’s democratic transition is bound to be difficult given the legacy of decades of brutal rule, a senior United Nations envoy told the Security Council today, adding that the country could benefit from a national political dialogue on the way forward.
Ban appoints Rwandan General as military chief of UN integrated Mali mission
17 June 2013 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Major General Jean Bosco Kazura as Force Commander for the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).
