What are ‘non-permanent seats’ at the UNSC?

Background 

The UNSC is comprised of 15 members: 10 non-permanent members chosen by the General Assembly and five permanent members (China, France, Russian Federation, United States, and United Kingdom). Since the non-permanent members are elected for two-year terms, the General Assembly elects five of the total 10 non-permanent members each year.Among the 10 seats, five are allocated to countries in Africa and Asia, one to those in Eastern Europe, two to those in Latin America and the Caribbean, and two to those in Western Europe and other countries.

Three seats are allocated to Africa and two to Asia out of the five available. Additionally, there is a tacit agreement between the two groups to set aside one seat for an Arab nation. Every two years, the groups from Africa and the Asia-Pacific region alternately nominate an Arab candidate.

Two members from Africa, one from Eastern Europe, one from the Asia-Pacific region, and one from Latin America and the Caribbean are chosen in elections for terms starting in even-numbered years. Two members from Western Europe and Other are included in terms that start in odd-numbered years, along with one representative from each of Asia Pacific, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

The terms of Belgium, the Dominican Republic, Germany, Indonesia, South Africa, and the United States all end this year. The terms of Estonia, Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia, and Vietnam expire in 2021.India takes office at the start of 2021 and will remain in office through the end of 2022.

What resulted during India's victory in the election?

The only applicant from the Asia Pacific region was India. Last year, the Asia Pacific group, which consists of 55 nations, including Pakistan and China, unanimously endorsed its bid for the seat.

"A unanimous decision. India's application for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for a two-year term in 2021/22 has received unanimous support from the Asia-Pacific Group @ UN. Syed Akbaruddin, India's Permanent Representative to the UN at the time, tweeted on June 26, 2019, "Thanks to all 55 members for their support.

With an assured victory, India would be the only candidate with a "clean slate" in the elections as a result of that endorsement.

In addition to India, China, and Pakistan, the 55-nation Asia-Pacific region also consists of Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Cyprus, North Korea, South Korea, Fiji, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Oman, Palau, Papu

Has India went on to serve on the UNSC?

In the years 1950–51, 1967–68, 1972–73, 1977–78, 1984–85, 1991–92, and 2011–12, India served as a non–permanent member of the Security Council. India received 187 out of 190 votes for the 2011–12 term after Kazakhstan withdrew its name from consideration.

The Asia Pacific region has frequently seen competition for seats, unlike Africa, which has formalized a system of rotating its three seats. There was a competition between Indonesia and the Maldives in 2018. Elections for non-permanent seats can continue for several rounds when there is a contest. Pakistan eventually won the seat in the 1975 contest between India and Pakistan after eight rounds of competition. And India lost a match to Japan in 1996.

Question and Answer 

1-How many people make up the UN Security Council's non-permanent members?

Ans-10 temporary member nations

Currently, the UNSC is made up of 10 non-permanent member nations that the UN General Assembly elects for a two-year term as well as five permanent member nations. Russia, the United Kingdom, China, France, and the United States are the five permanent members, and they have the power to veto any substantive resolution.

2-How are Security Council non-permanent members selected?

Ans-The United Nations General Assembly elects these ten non-permanent members for two-year terms beginning on January 1 and five replacements each year.

3-What distinguishes Security Council members who are permanent from those who are not?

Ans-The General Assembly elects non-permanent members to two-year terms. China, France, the Russian Federation, the UK, and the US are all permanent members. These permanent members have the power to veto any decisions made by the Council.

Comments

Thank You

Find your topic