Global Policy Forum

The Small Five (S5) introduced a new resolution aimed at reforming Security Council working methods. It is an updated version of the draft resolution from 2005. (Permanenet Mission of Switzerland to the UN)

Ambassador Tanin presents the most up to date revisions on the working paper for Security Council reform. It includes the incorporated changes proposed by member-states up to the deadline of February 15, 2011. (Center for UN Reform Education)

This letter from Ambassador Tanin gives an update on the status of the text based negotiation on Security Council reform. (United Nations)

This letter from Ambassador Tanin gives an overview for the next round of negotiations on Council reform and provides the revised text based on member state input on the original text. (United Nations)

The letter explains the included text, which was constructed based on input submitted by member states, and that the process of Council reform will continue based upon this text. (United Nations)

This letter from Ambassador Tanin states that he has received opinions from a large number of member states on Security Council reform and is willing to continue meeting with them while preparing the negotiating text. (United Nations)

This letter describes that the next step in the process is transparent text based negotiations. Included with the letter are the texts available on positions and proposals for Council reform. Ambassador Tanin also invites that all member states to submit proposals by writing to be used for the negotiation text. (United Nations)

Following the first round of talks in the intergovernmental negotiations, this letter summarizes the progress made and the intent of a second round of talks focusing on convergences. It also includes the letter signed by 138 member states to demonstrate their “active and constructive engagements with the process.” (Permanent Mission of Afghanistan to the United Nations)

This letter from Afghan Ambassador Zahir Tanin explains that the fourth round of negotiations on Security Council reform will focus on positions and proposals “on the table” in December 2009. (Permanent Mission of Afghanistan to the United Nations)

A third round of negotiations on Security Council reform is scheduled to begin on August 27, 2009. Zahir Tanin, the ambassador of Afghanistan and facilitator of the negotiations, has presented an overview. He announced that there is a consensus among all states on continuing the process. Tanin said that he saw "a light at the end of tunnel" after the first two sessions, but "there is a long way to go." (United Nations)

In their report to the President of the General Assembly, the facilitators, Ambassadors Heraldo Muñoz of Chile and Christian Wenaweser of Liechtenstein, propose a temporary approach to expedite Security Council reform. This transition period should include a new category of membership with longer-term seats, either renewable or not. The agreement would include a mandatory review in a set number of years. The facilitators do not recommend how many new seats should be added, nor how long the transitional phase should last, but insist that the process move from consultations to concrete intergovernmental negotiations.

The ambassadors of Tunisia, Cyprus, Croatia, Chile and the Netherlands facilitated a UN General Assembly report on Security Council reform. The report proposes temporarily expanding Security Council membership as part of a transitional approach to reform. Making available more Security Council seats would increase countries' chances of achieving Security Council membership.

In a significant move, the Security Council adopted a note by the President, attempting to clarify its procedures and practice. Following months of work by the Council's Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Matters, the note codifies the terminology used in different Council sessions (including Arria Formula meetings with NGOs); lists steps at making the Council's work more transparent; and aims at improving the flow of information from the Council. The note picks up some proposals made by Costa Rica, Jordan, Liechtenstein, Singapore and Switzerland, who introduced a draft resolution calling for greater transparency in the Council's work in March 2006.

Switzerland together with Singapore, Jordan, Costa Rica and Liechtenstein tabled a draft resolution in the General Assembly (GA) proposing 19 measures to improve the working methods of the Security Council. Acknowledging that the Security Council is the master of its own procedures, the initiative serves as an invitation by the GA to the Security Council to open a dialogue with all UN member states. This is a revised version of the resolution put forward by group in November 2005 after consulting with other governments about the document.

This is the draft resolution proposal put forward by the S5 that emphasizes working methods reform.

In response to draft resolutions tabled by the G-4 and the African Union, Uniting for Consensus has tabled its alternative proposal. The draft resolution proposes adding 10 non-permanent members immediately eligible for re-election to the Security Council, leaving formalities of re-election and rotation to regional groups.

Also responding to the G-4 resolution, the African Union has tabled its proposal calling for 11 additional members on the Security Council, with Africa gaining two permanent seats and five non-permanent seats. The AU also recommends that new permanent members gain all existing privileges including veto power.

Brazil, Germany, India and Japan have tabled their draft "framework" resolution calling for Security Council enlargement to 25 members, including six additional permanent seats. In a desperate attempt to secure permanent membership, the Group of Four (G-4) had accepted to forego their right of veto for at least 15 years. The less contentious proposals on the Council's working methods have more of a chance to succeed than membership expansion plans. Also see previous versions of June 8 and May 13 .

China: UN Council Resolution Dangerous (June 1, 2005)

In his report on UN reform, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan only touches very briefly upon Security Council reform, and does not recommend specific action on this vital aspect of UN reform. Annan urges member states to consider both models A and B, as outlined by the High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change, and calls on states to reach a decision on Security Council enlargement before the summit in September 2005. (United Nations)

Among broad recommendations for reform of the UN, this excerpt of the High Level Panel's Report focuses specifically on Security Council reform. In order to increase the Council's effectiveness and credibility and "enhance its capacity to act in the face of threats," the Panel puts forward two options for expansion without veto powers. Model A foresees enlargement with both permanent and elected members, whereas model B proposes enlarging the Council with only temporary elected members. The Panel also recommends the introduction of a system of "indicative voting" and encourages an increase in the Council's transparency and accountability. (United Nations)

This UN Secretariat report shows developments in the procedures and working methods that the Security Council has undertaken in 2001 to promote transparency, openness and efficiency. The document provides interesting data on the work of the Council.