5 Countries are elected as Non-Permanent members in UN Security Council for a period of two years term

Bolivia, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Netherlands and Sweden left the Security Council

• The UN Security Council has accommodated five new members into the non permanent membership. As per the UN council report, Belgium, Dominican Republic, Germany, Indonesia and South Africa have begun to assume responsibilities as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council.
• The five countries hold a two-year term while Bolivia, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Netherlands and Sweden have just left the Security Council as per the UN Security Council report.
• The council is the only U.N. body that can make legally binding decisions and has the power to impose sanctions and authorize the use of force as it is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, charged with the maintenance of international peace and security.
• Indonesia drew more votes than the Maldives in the contested election for one Asia-Pacific seat by 144 to 46, while the other four candidates ran unopposed. Germany received 184 votes, Belgium had 181, and South Africa got 183 and the Dominican Republic secured 184 after one round of voting.

What is UN’s Security Council?

• The Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. It has 15 Members, and each Member has one vote. Under the Charter of the United Nations, all Member States are obligated to comply with Council decisions.
• 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.

Article – 23 of Charter – Amendment 1963

Background of Election for Non-Permanent Members

• In accordance with Article 23 of the Charter, as amended, [By an amendment dated 17 December 1963 (resolution 1991 A (XVIII)), which came into force on 31 August 1965, the General Assembly increased the number of non-permanent members of the Security Council from 6 to 10.
• The Security Council consists of five permanent members – China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America with 10 non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for a term of two years.
• Assembly decided that the non-permanent members of the Council should be elected according to the following pattern.

1. Five from African and Asian States;
2. One from Eastern European States;
3. Two from Latin American States;
4. Two from Western European and other States.

• As stipulated in rule 144 of the rules of procedure, a retiring member is not eligible for immediate re-election. In accordance with rule 92 of the rules of procedure, the election is held by secret ballot and there are no nominations.
• Under rule 83 of the rules of procedure, the non-permanent members of the Security Council are elected by a two-thirds majority.

Pic courtesy:IndiaToday