The UK Remains a Strong Supporter of UN Security Council Reform: UK Statement in the UN General Assembly
The United Kingdom remains a strong supporter of reforming the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to make it more representative, accountable, and effective in addressing global challenges.
In a statement delivered to the UN General Assembly on November 11, 2024, the UK’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Barbara Woodward, outlined the UK’s vision for a reformed UNSC.
“The Security Council is the primary body responsible for maintaining international peace and security,” Woodward said. “But its current composition does not reflect the realities of the 21st century. We need a Security Council that is more representative of the global community, and one that is equipped to deal with the challenges of today and tomorrow.”
The UK supports a modest expansion of the permanent membership of the UNSC, to include countries from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The UK also believes that the veto power of permanent members should be reformed, to prevent it from being used to block action on critical issues.
“The veto power is an anachronism that gives a small number of countries the ability to override the will of the international community,” Woodward said. “We believe that the veto should be used sparingly, and only in cases of the gravest importance.”
In addition to expanding the permanent membership and reforming the veto, the UK also supports other reforms to the UNSC, such as:
- Increasing the transparency and accountability of the Council’s decision-making process
- Strengthening the role of the General Assembly in overseeing the Council’s work
- Improving the Council’s ability to address emerging threats, such as climate change and terrorism
The UK is committed to working with other member states to achieve meaningful reform of the UNSC.
“We believe that a reformed Security Council would be a more effective and legitimate body,” Woodward said. “It would be better equipped to address the challenges of the 21st century, and to ensure that the voices of all countries are heard.”
The UK’s statement was welcomed by many other member states, who share the view that the UNSC needs to be reformed. However, there is still significant disagreement among member states about the specific details of reform.
The UK is committed to continuing to engage with other member states to build consensus on a package of reforms that can be adopted by the General Assembly. The UK believes that a reformed UNSC is essential for the future of the United Nations and for the maintenance of international peace and security.
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