United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter, in a rare move aimed at formally warning the Security Council of the global threat from Israel’s war on Gaza.
About Article 99 of the UN charter
- According to the Article 99 of the UN charter, the Secretary-General may bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.
- The UN Charter is the founding document of the United Nations. Based on the powers conferred through it, the UN can take action on a wide variety of issues.
- The Charter is considered an international treaty, meaning UN Member States are “bound by it”. However, in practice, there is little that member countries can be forced to do.
- According to the UN, the President of the Security Council is under the obligation to call a meeting of the Council if the Secretary-General brings to the attention of the Council any matter under Article 99.
- The provision (Article 99) has been rarely invoked. It’s only been invoked four times in the past — in the Congo (1960), East Pakistan (1971), Iran (1979) and Lebanon (1989).
