Multilateralism / Comment
Right of veto in the Security Council: is it untouchable?
18/01/2005 By Carlos Espósito
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s High level Panel report on Threats, Challenges and Changes, published on December 2, 2004, under the heading “A more secure world: our shared responsibility” puts forward a Security Council expansion with a view to update a body that was entrusted by the founders of the United Nations with the primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security.
This report sets forth the reasons behind the need for such a reform as the nature of threats has changed since the United Nations was created in 1945, as well as the challenges to international peace and security and the distribution of power among the members of the Organization.
However, the need for this reform is also based on the fact that the Council has been accused of showing a lack of legitimacy, fairness and efficiency in its decisions. This has resulted in a decrease of confidence and credibility within the body.
Therefore the challenge lies in the creation of a Security Council “to increase both its effectiveness and credibility”, and “to enhance its capacity and willingness to act in the face of threats” (paragraph 248 of the Report).
What does the Secretary-General’s High-level Panel recommend?
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Keywords
Peacekeeping Security Council UNBio author: Carlos Espósito
Carlos Espósito is Professor of International Law and International Relations at the Law School of the Universidad Autonóma of Madrid (UAM). He was also Advisor and Deputy Director of the International Law Department, Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (2001-2004). Carlos Espósito holds a J.D. from the University of Buenos Aires (1989), PhD from the Universidad Autónoma of Madrid (1995) and a Certificate from the Centre for Studies and Research of the International Law Academy at The Hague (1997).
