[FEMUN 2018]: UN Security Council

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of six main United Nations’ (UN) bodies that was established with the signing of the UN Charter in 1945 which has the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.

“The Security Council takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression. It calls upon the parties to a dispute to settle it by peaceful means and recommends methods of adjustment or terms of settlement. In some cases, the Security Council can resort to imposing sanctions or even authorize the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security.”

The Security Council has a lot of distinguishing features in frames of the UN which make its work more efficiently.

The UNSC consists of 15 Member States: 5 permanent and 10 non-permanent states. The Permanent Members which do never change are the Russian Federation, United States of America, French Republic, United Kingdom and the People's Republic of China. They are also called P5 Members (Permanent-5).

To provide regional representation, Non-Permanent States are elected by the UN General Assembly for two-year terms, that is why they are also called E10 (Elected-10).

Moreover, the SC has another right – to establish subsidiary organs to develop its effectiveness. They are:
— Committees (e.g. Counter-Terrorism Committee);
— Standing and Ad hoc bodies (e.g. Committee of Experts on Rules and Procedures);
— Peacekeeping Operations and Political Missions (e.g. United Nations Truce Supervision Organization);
— International Courts and Tribunals (e.g. International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda).

The SC Presidency is also a remarkable feature of the Council. It is taken by all SC Member States by turns for a month following the alphabetical order. Moreover, the SC President can be the President and the delegate simultaneously, they can both make presidential statements and speak on behalf of its nation.

Firstly, it has a unique voting system: while each member has one vote, P5 Members have a special right of VETO. The decision-making on substantive matters requires 9 votes in favor with none negative vote by any of permanents.

Secondly, all the decisions made by the Security Council are obligatory for all UN Member States, thus, each of them must implement the Council’s decisions.

Thirdly, the Security Council works continuously, so the representatives of all its members must always be present in the UN Headquarters. The SC can meet whenever the request from any of its members comes. Remarkably, the SC has also had meetings out of New York, for instance, on November 18-19, 2004, the SC meeting was conducted in Nairobi, Kenya.

Furthermore, in order to deal with arms conflicts, the Security Council has a power to:
— Dispatch military observers in conflict areas;
— Issue the ceasefire directives;
— Impose economic sanctions, arms embargoes, financial penalties and restrictions, and travel bans;
— Opt for blockades or even collective military actions.

The agenda item at the Security Council in frames of FEMUN 2018 is

This issue has deteriorated after the World War II when thousands of Jews migrated to the territory of Palestine without the recognition of Arab states. Nowadays this conflict is very complex – it includes the refugee crisis, the issue of the settlements, the status of Jerusalem, and others.

Find the solution the United Nations still cannot find – be the change.
Make this world a better place to live in – take the challenge.

More detailed information can be found at the website:
http://www.munrfe.ru/femun-committees-agenda

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