United Nations Security Council

The United Nations Security Council is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, and approving any changes to the UN Charter. Established in 1945 under the UN Charter, the Council is headquartered at UN headquarters in New York City. It consists of 15 members: five permanent members (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States) with veto power, and ten non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms. The Council's powers include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the imposition of international sanctions, and the authorisation of military action through Security Council resolutions. Decisions on procedural matters require an affirmative vote of at least nine of the 15 members, while decisions on substantive matters require nine votes including the concurring votes of all five permanent members, giving each permanent member an effective veto. The Council meets year-round, with each member state represented at all times at UN headquarters. The presidency of the Council rotates monthly among its members in alphabetical order. African nations have long advocated for reform of the Council's composition, arguing that the continent is underrepresented given its 54 member states and significant global population. South Africa and Kenya have both served as non-permanent members in recent years, using their positions to advance African priorities on peace, security and development issues.