17 February 2015
On 11 and 12 February 2015, an impressive number of Member States provided input on how they would like the slow-going negotiations on Security Council reform to proceed, with most statements focussing on the notion of text-based negotiations. However, during this meeting, no obvious agreement seems to have emerged on what kind of text the Chair should produce. Should it be a text in the form of a draft resolution, or a somewhat shortened version of previous texts and new information received?

12 January 2015

The Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on reforming the Security Council (SC) have not led to any significant results on SC expansion since the IGN officially began in 2009. Procedural maneuvering by those who oppose adding new permanent seats is often blamed for this vexing standstill. However, sufficient political will to compromise among some of the key players may be equally, if not more, responsible for the lack of progress. And while the main focus has been on changing the composition of the Council to make it more representative of contemporary realities, efforts to make the Council more accountable, effective, and transparent are of equal or greater importance to a large section of UN Member States.

5 November 2014

On the 23rd of October, the Security Council held an open debate on working methods. More than forty member states addressed topics ranging from initiatives to ensure due process under UN sanctions regimes, to a Security Council mechanism for follow-up on referrals to the International Criminal Court, to the use of the veto power and the selection process for the UN Secretary-General.

24-30 September 2014

The need to reform the United Nations and in particular the UN Security Council was raised throughout the General Debate this year. Many delegations seemed to feel that the upcoming 70th anniversary of the UN in 2015 provided an opportunity to push forward on the reform agenda and evaluate the way forward for the Organization.

By Alex Maresca
September 2014

The draft resolution recommended by the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly was adopted on the 10th of September, 2014 in the General Assembly. The resolution was adopted by consensus.