United Nation Security Council | Legal Reasoning for CLAT PDF Download

Introduction

• The primary responsibility of United Nation Security Council (UNSC) is to maintain peace and security at international level.
• There are a total of 15 members of UNSC.
• All the members of the United Nation (UN) are obliged to comply with the decisions taken by the council.

History of UNSC 

• In the year 1942 for the first time a declaration was signed which was later known as UN Declaration.
• After signing of the declaration by 26 countries the term “United nations” was officially used.
• On 24thOctober 1945 the UN officially came into existence.
• On 17 January 1946, the Security Council met for the first time in London, United Kingdom.
• The headquarters is in New York City.

What is UNSC? 

• The UNSC was established by the United Nations Charter.
• The main objective of the council is to maintain peace and security.
• As per the UN Charter it has four objectives:
  • to maintain international peace and security
  • to develop friendly relations among nations
  • to cooperate in solving international problems and in promoting respect for human rights
  • and to be a Centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
• The security council has the power to make decisions that have to abide by the states and to be implemented under the charter.

Salient Features of UNSC 

• To maintain international peace and security.
• To investigate any dispute or situation which can cause internal 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 the Secretary-General and, together with the Assembly, to elect the Judges of the International Court of Justice.

Current Members of UNSC

• Permanent
• Non- Permanent

• China
• France
• Russian Federation
• United Kingdom
• United States

• Algeria (2025)
• Ecuador (2024)
• Guyana (2025)
• Japan (2024)
• Malta (2024)
• Mozambique (2024)
• Republic of Korea (2025)
• Sierra Leone (2025)
• Slovenia (2025)
• Switzerland (2024)
• More than 50 members of United Nation are the non-council member.
• In June 2020, India was elected to the UNSC as a non-permanent member, winning 184 out of the 193 votes.