U.N. adopts resolution seeking Security Council veto accountability

The U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday adopted a resolution to seek accountability from veto-wielding members in the U.N. Security Council after Russia exercised the right to block a motion against its invasion of Ukraine.

According to Liechtenstein, which initiated the resolution, over 80 countries signed on as co-sponsors including three of the five permanent members of the Security Council — Britain, France and the United States — as well as Japan and Germany.

The results of the vote on a resolution that condemns Russia for the violence in Ukraine and demands an immediate withdrawal appear on the big screens in United Nations General Assembly Hall during an emergency special session at the U.N. headquarters in New York on March 2, 2022. (UPI/Kyodo)

The other permanent member is China. All five are nuclear-weapons states.

The resolution was adopted by consensus, without voting.

The effectiveness of the Security Council has been in question over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with the panel failing to take any action due to Moscow’s veto.

In February, Russia vetoed a Security Council resolution that would have demanded it immediately stop its attack on Ukraine and withdraw all troops.

Liechtenstein had been working toward the current resolution for over two years, starting the effort in response to Russia’s repeated vetoes in the council over the civil war in Syria.

Although the resolution does not seek changes to the veto mechanism of the Security Council itself, it is aimed at enhancing the transparency of the council and urging caution in exercising veto rights.

According to the resolution, the president of the General Assembly will convene a formal meeting “within 10 working days of the casting of a veto by one or more permanent members of the Security Council, to hold a debate on the situation as to which the veto was cast, provided that the Assembly does not meet in an emergency special session on the same situation.”

Since representatives of the Security Council member which exercised the veto would not be required to attend the General Assembly meeting, it would be up to the member whether to provide an account of its reasoning to the international body.