The US veto on 8th December against a proposed UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza has triggered conversation and a call to action to use a rare United Nations resolution in efforts to stop Israel’s war on Gaza.
- Egypt and Mauritania on 11th December invoked Resolution 377A (V) to call for an emergency meeting of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) .
About Resolution 377A (V)
- The resolution says that if the UNSC is not able to discharge its primary responsibility of maintaining global peace due to lack of unanimity, the UNGA can step in.
- The UNGA recommendations, however, are legally nonbinding, which means its proposals can be ignored without any consequences.
- Section A of Resolution 377A (V) is also known as “Uniting for Peace”. It is aimed at resolving a situation in which the UN fails to exercise its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security because Security Council members can’t see eye to eye.
- It empowers the General Assembly, firstly, to convene an emergency meeting through the secretary-general.
- The assembly is meant to make recommendations to members for collective measures, including the use of armed force when necessary.
- At least one member of the UN Security Council or a group of General Assembly members will need to be in favour of convening the resolution for it to come into effect.
