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
Security Council extends UN political mission in Guinea-Bissau
22 May 2013 – The United Nations Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations political mission in Guinea-Bissau to assist in finding solutions to the political and economic crisis being exacerbated by additional challenges posed by transnational crime, in particular drug trafficking and money laundering.
Amid turmoil in Mideast, UN envoy urges ‘concerted action’ to resume Israeli-Palestinian talks
22 May 2013 – While international attention is understandably on the tragedy that continues to unfold in Syria, it is equally important to ensure the resumption of negotiations aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a senior United Nations envoy stressed to the Security Council today.
