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
Madagascar: Secretary-General concerned by latest electoral developments
20 May 2013 – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon shares the concerns expressed earlier by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union over the latest developments in the electoral process in Madagascar, according to the spokesperson for the world body’s chief.
DR Congo: UN voices concern as fighting resumes between Government and M23 forces
20 May 2013 – The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) today voiced its concern about renewed clashes between rebels from the 23 March Movement (M23) and the national armed forces in the eastern city of Goma.
