Living with the Veto
To read the full report, please download the PDF here.
Since the founding of the United Nations over 80 years ago, few issues have generated as much controversy among the world body’s membership, or so affected the Security Council’s work, as the veto accorded to the Council’s five permanent members (P5). Concerns among UN member states about the adverse effects of the veto (and the threat of the veto) remain intense and may even be on the rise. P5 disagreements that blocked effective Council action for well over a decade on Syria have also hindered meaningful engagement on issues such as Myanmar, Sudan, Ukraine and “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”.
Living with the Veto provides background on the history of the veto, and describes initiatives pursued over the years to restrain and promote accountability for its use. The report maintains that veto reform that requires amending the UN Charter is unlikely in the near term. As such, it explores options for action that the General Assembly, member states and other actors can take, without amending the Charter, to help promote international peace and security when the Council is hamstrung by the veto or the threat of veto.
