Significance of UNSC membership for India GS: 2 "EMPOWER IAS"

In news:

• India gets re-elected as Non-permanent Members of UNSC with 184 out of the 192 valid votes polled in its favour.

 

 

What are ‘non-permanent seats’ at the UNSC?

• The UNSC is composed of 15 members: five permanent members — China, France, Russian Federation, the US, and the UK — and 10 non-permanent members who are elected by the General Assembly.
• The non-permanent members are elected for two-year terms — so every year, the General Assembly elects five non-permanent members out of the total 10.
• Even if a country is a “clean slate” candidate and has been endorsed by its group, it still needs to secure the votes of two-thirds of the members present and voting at the General Assembly session — which is a minimum of 129 votes, if all 193 member states participate.

 

 

 

Sharing of seats

• These 10 seats are distributed among the regions of the world: five seats for African and Asian countries; one for Eastern European countries; two for Latin American and Caribbean countries; and two for Western European and Other Countries.
• Of the five seats for Africa and Asia, three are for Africa and two for Asia.
• Also, there is an informal understanding between the two groups to reserve one seat for an Arab country.
• The Africa and Asia Pacific group takes turns every two years to put up an Arab candidate.
• Elections for terms beginning in even-numbered years select two African members, and one each within Eastern Europe, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Terms beginning in odd-numbered years consist of two West European and Other members, and one each from the Asia Pacific, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

 

Current members :

• The current non-permanent members of the Security Council are Belgium, Dominican Republic, Germany, Indonesia, and South Africa, all of whose terms end this year; and Estonia, Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia, and Vietnam, whose terms end in 2021.
• India begins its term at the beginning of 2021 and will hold the position until the end of 2022.

 

Has India been in the UNSC earlier?

• India’s term on the 15-member Council will be it’s eighth.
• India has earlier been a non-permanent member of the Security Council in 1950-51, 1967-68, 1972-73, 1977-78, 1984-85, 1991-92 and 2011-12.
• For the 2011-12 terms, India won 187 of 190 votes after Kazakhstan stood down from its candidacy.
• Unlike Africa, which has formalized a system of rotation of its three seats, the Asia Pacific grouping has often seen contests for seats. In 2018, there was a contest between the Maldives and Indonesia.
• On the occasions when there is a contest, the elections for non-permanent seats can go on for several rounds.
• Back in 1975, there was a contest between India and Pakistan, which went into eight rounds, with Pakistan finally winning the seat. And in 1996, India lost a contest to Japan.

 

Significance

• Terming India’s winning of a non-permanent seat of the UN Security Council one of its best performances” ever, the Union government said.
• The strong support by almost the entire U.N. membership demonstrates the goodwill that India enjoys in the U.N. and the confidence that the international community has reposed in India.
• India’s EAM gave India’s overall objective during its forthcoming UNSC tenure as an acronym ‘NORMS’ — New Orientation for a Reformed Multilateral System.
• NORMS includes the push for expanding the UNSC permanent membership.

 

United Nations Security Council

• Established by the United Nations charter in 1945, the Security Council has primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security.
• The Security Council has 15 members.
  • There are five permanent members: the United States, the Russian Federation, France, China and the United Kingdom.
  • The non-permanent members of the Security Council are elected for a term of two years.
• Each member of the Security Council has one vote. Decisions of the Security Council on matters are made by an affirmative vote of nine members including the concurring votes of the permanent members. A "No" vote from one of the five permanent members blocks the passage of the resolution.
• Any member of the United Nations which is not a member of the Security Council may participate, without vote, in the discussion of any question brought before the Security Council whenever the latter considers that the interests of that member are specially affected.

 

How are non- permanent members elected?

• Each year, the General Assembly elects five non-permanent members out of a total of 10, for a two-year term.
• Distribution of seats: These 10 seats are distributed among the regions thus: five for African and Asian countries; one for Eastern European countries; two for Latin American and Caribbean countries; two for Western European and other countries.
• Of the five seats for Africa and Asia, three are for Africa and two for Asia; there is an informal understanding between the two groups to reserve one for an Arab country. The Africa and Asia Pacific group takes turns every two years to put up an Arab candidate.
• Elections for terms beginning in even-numbered years select two African members, and one each within Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Terms beginning in odd-numbered years consist of two Western European and Other members, and one each from Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Votes: Irrespective of whether a country is a “clean slate” candidate and has been endorsed by its group, it needs to secure the votes of two-thirds of the members present and voting at the General Assembly session (a minimum of 129 votes if all 193 member states participate). When contested, the elections for non-permanent seats can be fraught and can go on for several rounds, In 1975, there was a contest between India and Pakistan, which went to eight rounds. Pakistan won the seat that year. In 1996, India lost a contest to Japan.

 

Role and powers

• The Security Council is the United Nations' most powerful body, with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.
• Its powers include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of international sanctions, and the authorization of military action through Security Council resolutions.
• It is the only UN body with the authority to issue binding resolutions to member states.
• Under the UN Charter, all Member States are obligated to comply with Council s decisions.

 

Functions and powers of UNSC

Under the United Nations Charter, the functions and powers of the Security Council are:

• To maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations
• To investigate any dispute or situation which might lead to international 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 theSecretary-General and, together with the Assembly, to elect the Judges of the Internal Court of Justice.

 

 

Source)

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/what-are-non-permanent-seats-in-the-un-security-council-and-how-are-they-filled-6465539/