2 Minutes Explanation Of Why The UN Security Council’s Attempt to Stop Russia Failed
Veto Power
On Friday 25 February 2022, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) published an article, stating that the United Nations Security Council rejected a draft proposal aimed at stopping Russia from carrying on military offensive acts against Ukraine owing to Russian veto power.
What Is The UNSC?
The UNSC is an abbreviation of The United Nations Security Council and it is arguably, one of the most important organs of the United Nations as its’ primary responsibility is the maintenance of International peace and security.
The Council has five (5) Permanent members (referred to as P5) who are supposedly expected to play their roles in maintaining peace and prosperity in the world.
Over time, the number of elected members of the Council has evolved and presently, the Council has ten (10) elected members.
P5 consist of Russia, France, China, the United Kingdom and the United States and all five of them have veto power. That is, they can prevent the Council from adopting draft resolutions or proposals by voting negative.
Scope of The UNSC Veto Power —
The provision in Article 27 (3) of the UN Charter allows permanent members to stop the adoption of a draft proposal through negative voting (veto power). However permanent members who are absent or abstain from voting will not obstruct the resolution from being passed.
If you’re still wondering what the above sentence completely means, this might help —
A negative vote from one of the five permanent members of the Council puts an end to action on any proposal put before it.
Which is why, just one negative vote from the Russian delegate was enough to put an end to the proposal on ending Ukraine crisis regardless of the affirmative votes.
