United Nation Security Council

Introduction 

• The primary responsibility of United Nation Security Council (UNSC) is to maintain peace and security at international level. 
• There are a total of 15 members of UNSC. 
• All the members of the United Nation (UN) are obliged to comply with the decisions taken by the council. 

History of UNSC 

• In the year 1942 for the first time a declaration was signed which was later known as UN Declaration. 
• After signing of the declaration by 26 countries the term “United nations” was officially used. 
• On 24th October 1945 the UN officially came into existence. 
• On 17 January 1946, the Security Council met for the first time in London, United Kingdom. 
• The headquarters is in New York City. 

What is UNSC? 

• The UNSC was established by the United Nations Charter. 
• The main objective of the council is to maintain peace and security. 
• As per the UN Charter it has four objectives: 
  • to maintain international peace and security 
  • to develop friendly relations among nations 
  • to cooperate in solving international problems and in promoting respect for human rights 
  • and to be a Centre for harmonizing the actions of nations. 
• The security council has the power to make decisions that have to abide by the states and to be implemented under the charter. 

Salient Features of UNSC 

• To maintain international peace and security. 
• To investigate any dispute or situation which can cause internal 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. 

Current Members of UNSC 

• The council has two types of members 
  • Permanent 
  • Non- Permanent 
• Following are the permanent members of the council: 
  • China 
  • France 
  • Russian Federation 
  • United Kingdom 
  • United States 
• The following are the non-permanent member of the council: 
  • Algeria (2025) 
  • Ecuador (2024) 
  • Guyana (2025) 
  • Japan (2024) 
  • Malta (2024) 
  • Mozambique (2024) 
  • Republic of Korea (2025) 
  • Sierra Leone (2025) 
  • Slovenia (2025) 
  • Switzerland (2024) 
• More than 50 members of United Nation are the non-council member. 
• In June 2020, India was elected to the UNSC as a non-permanent member, winning 184 out of the 193 votes.