Latest Updates
Member States Discuss Security Council Reform Again: A Never-Ending Process?
by Jonas von Freiesleben, 16 April 2008
The Working Group on Security Council reform met on Thursday 10 April 2008 to discuss a draft put forward by Cyprus at the initiative of Germany. The text was an attempt to infuse new momentum in the slow-going debate, but was almost certainly “killed off” by heavy criticism from especially the Uniting for Consensus bloc and a large portion of developing countries. The following is an analysis of the current developments.
Six Member States Submit New Proposal for Security Council Reform
by ReformtheUN.org, 27 March 2008
A group of UN Member States has prepared a new proposal on reforming the Security Council. The President of the General Assembly, Srgjan Kerim, is expected to review the proposal and guide States toward the next steps to intergovernmental negotiations on Council expansion and improvements in working methods.
Working Group on Security Council Reform Meets to Discuss Way Forward
17 December 2007
On 14 December 2007, the Open-Ended Working Group on Security Council Reform met in a closed meeting to discuss how to move the process forward towards intergovernmental negotiations. At the meeting Chairman Sgrjan Kerim announced the formation of a four-person task-force, a time-table, the organization of work, and heard statements from almost 40 Member States.
General Assembly Debates Security Council Reform: Still Slow Going
by Jonas von Freiesleben, 15 November 2007
The General Assembly met from 12 to 14 November 2007 in a plenary debate to discuss Security Council reform. The meetings did not result in any concrete steps; instead they clearly illustrated the continued divisiveness of the issue, which is now entering its 15th year as an agenda item.
Member States Finalize Report On Way Forward
14 September 2007
The "Open-Ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation on and increase in the Membership of the Security Council and Other Matters Related to the Security Council” met today in a closed session at the United Nations to finalize discussions of their year-end progress report to the General Assembly.
Open-Ended Working Group Releases Draft Report
7 August 2007
“The Open-Ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation on and increase in the Membership of the Security Council and Other Matters Related to the Security Council” released a draft version of its progress report. In brief, the Working Group recommends that the General Assembly continue to consider the issue of Security Council reform during the 62nd session, which begins on 18 September 2007.
Member States Discuss Next Steps for Security Council Reform
19 July 2007
Member States met for an informal meeting to discuss how to move the process of reforming the Security Council towards actual intergovernmental negotiations:
Facilitators identify next steps for Security Council reform
26 June 2007
The President of the GA, H.E. Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa circulated today the Report of the two facilitators, Ambassador Heraldo Muñoz of Chile and Ambassador Christian Wenaweser of Liechtenstein, based on their consultations with Member States and groups of Member States on how to proceed with the reform of the Security Council.
Security Council Reform Not Progressing
by ReformtheUN.org, 25 June 2007
Two newly appointed facilitators of GA consultations on Security Council reform have met with regional groups on possible ways to move forward. They aim to submit a report to GA President Haya Rashed Al Khalifa by the end of this month. So far, views diverge on how to proceed, and no compromises have been reached on current reform proposals.
NAM Meets to Discuss Security Council Reform
8 June 2007
The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) met today in a closed session at the United Nations to conduct consultations on the Security Council reform process. The deliberations took place on the basis of the Report of the five Facilitators, issued in mid-April 2007.
GA President Appoints Two New Facilitators
22 May 2007
The President of the GA, H.E. Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, appointed Ambassador Heraldo Muñoz of Chile, and Ambassador Christian Wenaweser of Liechtenstein to conduct consultations with Member States on how to move forward the process of Security Council Reform. The consultations will be conducted on the basis of the Report of the five Facilitators, issued in mid-April 2007.
Member States Discuss the Five Facilitators' Report
7 May 2007
During the 8th meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the 61st GA session Member States discussed the assessment of the state of the debate on Security Council Reform and the “Notions on the way forward.”
Direction of Security Council Reform Unclear After Facilitators' Report
by ReformtheUN.org, 30 April 2007
The President of the GA will hold an informal meeting on Thursday, 3 May, at 3 pm, which in essence will assess Member States’ willingness to pursue a “transitional approach” to reform of the Council.
Five Facilitators Release Report
19 April 2007
Today, the five GA-appointed facilitators for Security Council reform submitted their combined report of “Notions on the Way Forward.” The report is available through the link above.
Update on Security Council Reform Consultations
by Reformtheun.org, 5 April 2007
Consultations on Security Council reform took place throughout March, as the five co-facilitators attempted to assess elements of common ground between member states and possible guiding principles for an agreement.
Debate on Security Council Reform Continues
15 March 2007
On 13 March 2007, Member States reconvened for a joint interactive debate on Security Council Reform under the guidance of the five facilitators appointed by the President of the GA Assembly. The meeting was chaired by Ambassador Heraldo Muñoz of Chile.
Update on the Informal Consultations of 19-23 February 2007
28 February 2007
During the week of 20-23 February 2007, Member States resumed discussions on Security Council Reform under the guidance of the five facilitators recently appointed by the President of the General Assembly.
The Security Council: Reforms Roncerning its Membership - An Overview
12 February 2007
This update from the Center for UN Reform Education surveys the different attitudes of Member States on Security Council reform.
Update on GA Discussions on Security Council Reform
9 February 2007
The President of the GA, Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, convened this year’s first meeting of the "Open Ended Working Group (OEWG) on the Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council."
GA President Announces Resumption of Discussions
6 February 2007
On 24 January 2007, the President of the GA, H.E. Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, circulated a letter to all Member States announcing the resumption of discussions on Security Council reform. The "Open Ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership" of the Security Council will convene on February 8th, 2007. Five facilitators will be appointed and will report on the result of their work to the GA President by the end of March 2007.
Background
For more on the background of Security Council reform, please see the latest publication from the Center for UN Reform:
- Managing Change at the United Nations
