The Security Council is the most controversial organ of the United Nations, the right of Veto is controversial and sensitive. The united nations accord some extra privileges to some of the members of the Security Council which are referred to as the Permanent members of the Security Council. There has since developed a tussle among the P5 members between the principles of sovereign equality of states and power. The veto power nations have focused on pursuing their own interests using the powers accorded to them by the United Nations. It has been widely criticized d by other member states on the reasons why the permeant five nations keep on using the Veto powers instead they should drop the veto power due to the fact that it is used for the benefits of the those Nations. The veto powers have the ability to block resolutions made by the United Nations Security Council. The main objective of the United Nations Security Council was to foster peaceful resolutions and to other nations from taking direct actions against members if the permanent five. The permanent five nations include the U.S.A, U.K, Russia and China; these Countries have veto powers, which enables them to block resolutions. The U.S, A has the leading number of blocked resolutions, and all the blocked resolutions were to protect Israel. The U.S.A has always protected Israel from United Nations actions towards Israel
It has been seen that the permanent five members exercise their veto powers when fulfilling their interests to the expense of other non-permanent members. Russia has in the past vetoed more 50 resolutions, it has also vetoed on three resolutions that were planned on the Syrian war. Both Russia and China have interested in Syria and they all use their veto powers to block resolutions that are aimed at Syria. This is the major challenge that the Security Council faces, and hence hinders it form fulling its main objectives. This has been a difficult case especially when it comes to the in the war in Syria. Russia and the USA both have different interests in Syria, with Russia supporting the current president and the USA is against the president and supports the rebels. The Rwandan genocide in 1994 happened and the United Nations Security Council was powerless to act and stop the war, it failed to address the situation. In order for resolutions to be carried out, all the permanent five members of the United Nations Security Council need to have a unanimous vote, then and only then a resolution can be passed. It is therefore not necessary to have the veto powers, a majority vote seems to be a good way in coming up with resolutions in war torn countries to bring about peace building and foster peace.
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The Veto powers by the P5 members have caused the Security Council to be quiet about international conflicts, which keep on happening, the Security Council failed to settle the Iraq war of 2003, and it has failed to stop the war that exist in Syria. The United Nations Council has deemed powerless and in resolving prolonged conflicts due to different interests that states develop towards the war-torn countries. The use of the veto in past years shows that it is exercised for self-gain and protecting the interests of their allies. The Permanent five members have hence exploited their power that the United Nations has accorded to them. This power has been the main reason why the much-needed reforms of the Security Council do not happen 1 .
Critics have urged that the veto power nations block resolutions that have the ability to affect their interests, thus hindering efforts at maintaining international peace and security, which is the main aim of the United Nations Security Council. The failures of the Security Council in recent times in protracted war in Nations including Rwanda genocide and the Syrian war have led people to believe that the United Nations Security Council is powerless in maintaining peace and averting war. The UNSC is not powerless but rather political differences and desire to promote self-interests among the permanent five nations 2 . Though the United Nations has since enjoyed major success in the trade-economic and social development, they have been a vast failure due to numerous challenges in maintaining international peace and security. Its member’s lack of power unanimity has reflected the main challenge in the application of veto power. Issuance of power and protection of the national interest of states also remains a major challenge in achieving its role. It is said that by issuing a threat of using a veto power has the ability to block a resolution from being presented to the Security Council. This has been experienced before when Russia threatened to veto any resolution against calling for military action in the Kosovo war 3 .
The same has happened where China and Russia have maintained opposition towards military action in Assad Regime in Syria. This action makes it difficult for other permanent members to implement decisions that are aimed at resolving the war and attaining peace in Syria. Russia and China have both blocked six resolutions in recent times, meaning that the Security Council has had to stop any resolutions that were aimed at maintaining national peace. In 2012, China blocked a resolution, which condemned human rights violation in Zimbabwe due to fact that China had her own economic interest in the region. The veto is used for self-interests of Nations, rather than for attaining and maintaining international peace and averts any wars. The United States, on the other hand, has used 14 resolutions and almost all of them were related to Israel. Critics have always argued that Israel is a proxy member in the United Nations Security Council and the United States has always had the mandate to protect her Interests within the Council 4 .
The Syrian war has been one of the most dynamic and complex issues the Security Council has experienced in its agenda. It has proved to be a divisive issue with the United Nations Security Council, with each of its members developing and having self-interest in the war. With China and Russia, having the same interests in the Syrian war the United Nations and the United Kingdom has different interests. These alone has rendered the Security Council ineffective in dealing with the Syria crisis, Russia and China have used their Veto to block any actions by the Security Council. The UNSC had passed a resolution to sanction Syria and bring military intervention to it, eleven of the members voted in favor of it when Russia and China vetoed against the resolution, this is due to the military intervention by the United Nations would affect Russia’s economic interest in the war tone country. The military intervention will too, jeopardize China’s economic activities due to its bilateral trade agreements with Syria 5 .
There has been calls on reforming the United Nations due to the negative publicity the organization has received in recent years. Reforms have been implemented in recent times, reforms like having the membership elected in the Council increase from six to ten. The United Nations ought to come up with other reforms to reduce the criticism that it faces .Reforms like doing away with veto powers are yet to be implemented, and this can only be achieved if the permanent members voluntarily do away with their powers in order to agree on a common level.
Issues addressing to development and economic stability among member states of United Nations have been handled well since the Inception of United Nations Assembly. The Assembly has prospered in matters of economic integration in states all over the world; the United Nations Assembly has established a Peace and Peace building resolutions and organizations. The indifference in political views among members Nations has since poised has a big threat to the United Nations in Achieving Peace and International peacebuilding. Thus, the United Nations Security Council main objective is to avert war and promote peaceful coexistence in the world. The United Nations Assembly has widened its membership welcoming other Nations to join the organization to help each other in maintaining peace.
In the old testament times in the bible war was seen as holy and was called holy war, conflicts were usually initiated and led by God, every aspect during the war had a religious significance in them. Later the prophets saw war as the way God punished and passed judgment to people and the glory and enthusiasm of war faded away as times moved on. In the New Testament times, war is seen to be evil and once it arises, it must be resolved and settled between the conflicting parties. In the book of Matthew 18:15-17 the Bible urges people to always resolve their differences and not resort to war or any kind of conflict. The same concept should be applied in current times, the United Nations need to realize that peace is far more important than war. War has led to humanitarian crises all over the world. It is through the Bible that love is preached and encouraged among others; it is also wise to embrace love for each other and avoid hatred and other kinds of conflicts. Through the teachings of the Bible, the world can become a better place where conflicts are resolved in peaceful ways.
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1 Idris Erameh, Nicholas. 2017. "Humanitarian intervention, Syria and the politics of human rights protection". The International Journal of Human Rights. 21 (5): 520.
2 Laura Shepherd, J. 2008. "Power and Authority in the Production of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325". International Studies Quarterly. 52 (2): 390.
3 Fakiha, Manhood. 2013. "Power Versus the Sovereign Equality of States: The Veto, the P-5 and United Nations Security Council Reforms." Perceptions, Winter 2013. 28 (4): 120.
4 Michael Reisman, W. 1993. "The Constitutional Crisis in the United Nations". Le Développement Du Rôle Du Conseil De Sécurité : Colloque, La Haye, 21-23 Juillet 1992 : Workshop, The Hague, 21-23 July 1992 : Peace-Keeping and Peace-Building/ Prép. Par/Ed. by Jean Dupuy. 399-423.
5 Barry O'Neill. 1996. "Power and satisfaction in the United Nations Security Council". Journal of Conflict Resolution. 40(2): 225.
