The UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution to automatically meet within 10 days, if the veto is used in the UN Security Council (UNSC) by one of its five permanent members.
- China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States have the power to veto Security Council resolutions.
- On behalf of 83 cosponsors, Liechtenstein introduced the draft entitled Standing mandate for a General Assembly debate when a veto is cast in the Security Council.
- The draft was adopted without a vote.
- The resolution comes in the wake of Russia’s use of the veto in the Council, the day after it invaded Ukraine, calling for it’s unconditional withdrawal from the country.
India raises concerns
- India raised concern on this draft resolution.
- India’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador R Ravindra raised doubts about the efficacy of the resolution, saying that mechanisms are already in place enabling the members of the UNGA to convene on an “emergency basis” to discuss or even take action on issues that reach a stalemate in the UNSC.
- He further said ‘either all nations are treated equally in context of voting rights or else the new permanent members must also be given the veto.’
Veto power
- The veto as a matter of principle should be abolished. However, as a matter of common justice, it should be extended to new permanent members so long as it continues to exist.
- The word veto is not used in the UN Charter.
- Article 27 (3) of the Charter establishes that decisions of the Security Council on procedural matters shall be made by an affirmative vote of nine members.
- The article further says that decisions of the Security Council on all other matters shall be made by an affirmative vote of nine members including the concurring votes of the permanent members.
- China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States are permanent members.
- As per the United Nations, the veto is accorded to them because of their key roles in establishing the United Nations.
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