Want to make sure everyone engaging on Security Council matters knows about this new book, a must-read !
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SC Procedure
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Highlighting new developments in Security Council working methods since publication of 'Procedure of the UN Security Council' (see also linked website)
scprocedure.orgJoined October 2015
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Once again, the UK, presiding as Security Council President, avoids the customary statement, "I thank the representative of the Russian Federation for his statement", saying instead "I note the contribution from the representative of the Russian Federation."
To help bring in the New Year, here again is the best ever "New Yorker magazine" cover, together with our warmest wishes to you all for a 2022 filled with many blessings, and the hope that our world will see steps toward greater peace.
Here's the new 2023 Security Council as of 1 January!
Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique & Switzerland take up their seats amid expectancy of their making important contributions over next 2 years.
India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico & Norway depart leaving behind a very strong legacy.
We have begun to compile a list of books authored, solely or in part, by former permanent representatives who served on the UN Security Council.
Here are 19 titles to get the list started & we will welcome any additions you can provide...
GA vote on Ukraine resolution by UN regional group:
Africa: 28 for; 1 against; 17 abstaining; 8 not voting
Asia-Pacific: 37-2-13-2
East Europe: 19-2-1-1
GRULAC: 28-0-4-1
WEOG: 29-0-0-0
In honor of #UN75 we're happy to announce that our entire UN-related comic book collection is now online at bottom of our website scprocedure.org
We'll be happy if you stop to read our serious articles along the way but will understand if you head straight for the comics!
Ukraine representative claims Russian representative, speaking in Russian, "purposely manipulated" the formulation of new agenda item "Maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine".
He notes also that new item is stronger than most other SC items framed as "Situations in".
Many of us think we know what's in the Charter, but few of us actually read it in its entirety from the Preamble to Chapter XIX.
To celebrate this 78th anniversary of the Charter's signing, today let's all read it straight through!
In honour of International Woman's Day we retweet our list of 24 female Permanent Representatives who have served on #UNSC
Photos of all 24 are included in this thread
Again recalling that UN's own illustrious Ralph Bunche joined Martin Luther King in 1965 Selma march & even addressed marchers, telling them UN was with them! Ban Ki-moon spoke approvingly of this in 2008. And note UN flag in Selma photo.
news.un.org/en/story/2008/
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U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres Instructs Staff to Avoid Protests Triggered by the Killing of George Floyd foreignpolicy.com/2020/06/08/uni
Many are searching for ways to impede a Russian veto in #UNSC.
Trust us, if such were possible, it would have happened long before now since veto use has always led to outrage.
BUT, options founder on the "preliminary question", which takes 10 pages (!) in our book to explain.
👇
76 years ago today, the Security Council held its 1st ever meeting, at Church House, Westminster, London on 17 Jan. 1946.
Here are everyone's places at that 1st horseshoe table, with Acting SG Gladwyn Jebb sitting beside newly-elected #UNSC President Norman Makin of Australia.
Continuing with our collection of vintage US comic books seeking to raise support for the UN, here Superman takes up the cause of universal human rights & on a page included in a 1963 issue of Blackhawk ('the Human Starfish') a nurse trained by WHO in Rangoon saves her village.
Votes by UN regional group on GA resolution to suspend Russia's rights of membership in Human Rights Council.
6 #UNSC members abstained (Brazil, Ghana, India, Kenya, Mexico, UAE)
3 voted against (China, Gabon, Russia)
6 voted in favor (Albania, France, Ireland, Norway, UK, US)
We have also begun to compile a list of books authored by former UN officials, some of which are very entertaining & illuminating.
Here are 26 titles to get the list started & we will welcome any additions you can provide...
5 outgoing #UNSC members 🇮🇳🇮🇪🇰🇪🇲🇽🇳🇴issue a vitally important document:
A note recording Council working methods during Covid +recommendations.
Given complexity of those working methods this will be an invaluable resource for future Councils confronted with a similar dislocation.
2022 has been wrenching in so many parts of the world.
We wish the world a safer & happier 2023!
We're stunned published an article so poorly grounded in int'l law. On what basis can 1 MS take on UN membership of another MS State-Russia- that ICJ has correctly called the continuing State of the USSR? And to say this can be done as a procedural vote is ludicrous.
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Removing Russia from the Security Council: Part Two opiniojuris.org/2022/10/19/rem
In case Twitter folds sometime soon, wanted to let you know the book is very close to publication.
Should be available on US Amazon, & then Amazons worldwide, toward month's end!
Here's #UNSC presidency lineup for 2021:
Jan: Tunisia
Feb: UK
Mar: US
Apr: Viet Nam
May: China
June: Estonia
July: France
Aug: India
Sept: Ireland
Oct: Kenya
Nov. Mexico
Dec. Niger
For the New Year, tweeting our favorite New Yorker cover (1957) together with our best wishes to everyone for a better 2021.
Our thanks to this wonderfully lively UN Twitter community for all its shared knowledge, insights & humor.
When we joined Twitter in 2015 our expectations were low.
Since then we've happily discovered that the IR/UN community here is a wonderful source of info/analysis, solidarity over world disasters, professional opportunities, side-splitting humor & even friendship.
Thank you all!
After 11 June elections in GA, it's now confirmed that the 2022 Security Council will equal the all-time 2014 high of SIX female PRs!
And let's see when this record will be surpassed.
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If @AlMissionUN & @UAEMissionToUN both join Security Council in 2022, with @irishmissionun @NorwayUN @UKUN_NewYork @USUN this will again equal the all-time high of 6 female SC PRs.
The 6 in 2014 were Argentina, Jordan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Nigeria, US.
This is what Jan. 2022 #UNSC horseshoe table will look like with arrival of Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana & UAE and departure of Estonia, Niger, SVG, Tunisia & Viet Nam...
Replying to
Our understanding is that there are two "original" documents, one being the one you cite & the other signed by Russia, Türkiye & the UN.
This enabled Russia & Ukraine to enter into a binding agreement, but not directly with each other.
What’s the latest in a year that #UNSC ever met?
31 Dec 2008 6:40 pm!
(on Middle East)
Some PRs wore New Year’s evening dress for parties afterwards.
Incoming members waited nervously on sidelines in case they would suddenly take their seats at table.
But meeting ended 8:45
France announced it & Mexico are preparing draft resolution on humanitarian access for Ukraine.
This resembles how Syria penholding is handled on the Council, with humanitarian penholders separate from the political penholders.
How many Security Council members have paid their UN dues on time & in full?
THREE!
un.org/en/ga/contribu
'Presidential texts' - resolutions not only adopted unanimously but also co-sponsored by all 15 Council members - are relatively rare.
But despite SC being divided on other issues, this is 3rd for 2021. Other 2:
2573 on critical infrastructure
2565 on Covid humanitarian pause
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The UN #SecurityCouncil adopted a Presidential Text on Accountability for Crimes Against Peacekeepers.
Ireland was proud to co-sponsor this resolution, which will work towards justice for crimes committed against the brave women and men who serve with UN Missions
CORRECTED
Are you ready for this statistic?
If Linda Thomas-Greenfield becomes next US Permanent Rep to UN, she'll be only the 23rd female PR to sit on Security Council in its entire history!
With Ireland, Norway, SVG & UK, her appt will bring total on next year's SC to FIVE.
Exchange of letters between SG & #UNSC confirms appointment of first ever female President of the Int'l Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals - Judge Graciela S. Gatti Santana (Uruguay) for a term from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2024.
Today is INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL COORDINATORS DAY!!!
We're celebrating on 15 May because it's the birthday of David Gore-Booth who, unbeknownst to all, himself included, set the position in motion . . .
After many requests, we are making available ‘Yogi Bear Visits the U.N.’ Just be cautioned that it’s from 1961 & has inappropriate stereotypes, but parts of it are still fun! PLEASE DON’T CLICK THE PHOTO, BUT INSTEAD THIS ‘SCPROCEDURE' WEBSITE LINK: scprocedure.org/chapter-2-sect
#UN
New favourite UN quote:
“The U.N. will not abolish sin, but it can make it more difficult for the sinners.”
Ivor Richard, UK PR 1974-79
From Larry Johnson, Professorial Lecturer Vienna Diplomatic Academy & former UN ASG for Legal Affairs, a timely review in the context of Myanmar of how credentials are handled within the UN system.
It's lengthy but well worth reading.
A TABLE OF ALL VETOES🗝️ 1946-PRESENT🔑
Not as easy to list as one might think.
Votes on Preliminary Question, amendments & separate ¶s need to be taken into account & also private mtgs where vetoes were recorded w/o attribution.
Here's link:scprocedure.org/table-4-vetoes
Summary here👇
Already promising to be a fun read.
Randomly opened to this Churchill quote:
"Diplomacy is the art of telling people 'to go to hell' in such a way that they ask for directions."
Paraphrasing von Bismark, "Diplomacy is the art of the possible".
I'm grateful for the trust shown me in recent days thru requests for my evaluation of different scenarios to expel or limit Russia's UN participation.
But I have decided to take a pause. Explanation here.👇
Here are *82* co-sponsors - by UN regional group - of draft res. S/2022/155 on Ukraine vetoed 25 Feb.
Six of this year's SC members; 8 of next year's.
(this corrects earlier table)
Four women were among 160 UN Charter signatories in 1945!
Bertha Lutz (Brazil)
Minerva Bernardino (Dominican Republic)
Wu Yi-fang (Republic of China )
Virginia Gildersleeve (US)
(courtesy of "HERstory")
With question of recognizing the Taliban being much discussed, we've been asked to provide again the 1997 UN Legal Opinion on 'Practice of the UN in cases of challenged representation of a Member State' published in 1997 UN Juridical Yearbook p.465
legal.un.org/unjuridicalyea
Merry Christmas to all UN Twitter people!🎄
May your holiday season be full of light & blessings, warmth & fun.
And yet, during the time Nikki Haley served as UN Ambassador, the US joined its fellow Security Council members in adopting *101* resolutions & *45* presidential statements.
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Replying to @atrupar
Nikki Haley describes the United Nations as a den of "dictators, murderers, and thieves." #wut
In a first for the Security Council, highlights commitment to implementing women-peace-security agenda by publishing links to statements of 9 female civil society representatives who briefed SC during Swiss May presidency ⬇️
We very much appreciate the compliment from Amb Nebenzia when he describes our book, with a smile, as 'the famous black thick book that we often refer to when we are looking for precedents'.
russiaun.ru/en/news/stakeo
When plans for #UNHQ were drawn up in 1947 there were 57 Member States. Provision was made for expansion to 70.
UN surpassed this number in 1955 so $3m. expansion to fit in 126 members was completed in 1964.
Tribute to architects that today these same buildings accommodate 193!
Often people writing about various UN matters quote from secondary sources because they don't know how to navigate UN documentation.
So we really encourage people to take advantage of these excellent tutorials!
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The #UNLibrary provides learning tutorials on how to find @UN documents in our Digital Library.
There are several short instructional videos here 
ow.ly/v8lR50DXG9Y
#UNDL
ow.ly/v8lR50DXG9Y
#UNDL
With this vintage 1957 New Yorker magazine cover, depicting the UN as a place where nations talk with each other, we send out our best wishes to everyone in the UN community for a peaceful, progressive and fulfilling 2020!
How many Security Council subsidiary bodies have been established since 1945?
Not counting peacekeeping missions, tribunals/courts or missions to the field, there have been 66!
Most recent is 2653 (2022) Haiti sanctions committee.
(SC had 1 prior Haiti sanctions committee 1993-4)
Hoping to see something like this at the Security Council stakeout during September presidency of
😄 twitter.com/buitengebieden
This post is unavailable.
Believe it or not, the 11 architects designing the UN premises were told that if the GA building had a dome, potentially isolationist Americans who loved their Capital Dome might relate better to the new world organization.
The architects complied😊
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This never gets old….
And here, 76 years ago. are the horseshoe table places at the very 1st Security Council meeting, held at Church House, Westminster, London on 17 Jan. 1946, with Acting SG Gladwyn Jebb sitting beside newly-elected Council President Norman Makin of Australia.
Flag Induction Ceremony 3 January 12:00 for 5 incoming Security Council members
Ecuador🇪🇨
Japan🇯🇵
Malta🇲🇹
Mozambique🇲🇿
Switzerland🇨🇭
Ceremony was initiated by Kazakhstan in 2018. Here's background⬇️
This is what the 5th GA in 1950 looked like at the temporary UN premises in Flushing Meadows, when the UN had 60 Member States.
(In the UN's early decades, each delegation had 10 seats.)
Newly-elected #UNSC members should take ample time to celebrate before measuring the tasks ahead.🥂
But as some have already queried us about the book, for some reason it's selling on Amazon for almost 2x its normal price.😯
Please don't pay that much, but look for other sellers!
Truly appreciating Norway #UNSC presidency's digital calendar for its quick updates, now including consultations scheduled Monday p.m. on DPRK 5 January missile launch
norwaycalendar-unsc.org
And actually only Ukraine & Türkiye were signatories of the one agreement, and Russia & Türkiye signatories of the other. UNSG Guterres signed both agreements as a witness.
Here's the vote, by UN regional groups, on A/RES/ES-11/6 on Ukraine of 23 Feb. 2023 ⬇️
A #UNSC vote on calling for a GA emergency session is firmly established as "procedural" so veto doesn't apply.
In this context tho there's been confusion over "the preliminary question" & "double veto" which might have come into play had there been any doubt.
These pages explain
In response to requests, attached is explanation of legal status of #UNSC Provisional Rules of Procedure as delivered by Loraine Sievers in 16 June SC working methods open debate.
With today's election of Mozambique & Switzerland to the Security Council, the number of States never having served on the Council drops to 61...
In a 1969 comic book, Superman stuns everyone by toppling all national flags at #UNHQ & then raising his own flag on UN flagpole.
Secretary-General tells him he must answer to the Security Council!
Click scprocedure.org/chapter-2-sect for full story.
Replying to
We repeat 3rd time:
It's irresponsible to draw people's attention away from what can be done to a step which is categorically impossible under int'l law & UN Charter.
We post here - again - our earlier reasons why & call on you to act w/conscience & stop pushing unfeasible plan.
As we see unprecedented mobilizing on behalf of Ukraine, we hear anguished questioning of why this isn't done to save lives elsewhere.
This question defies an easy answer.
But we hope when peace returns to Ukraine careful study will be given to how int'l community can do better.
Blame , but SCP will now attempt a thread of comics featuring the UN, published after UNA-Los Angeles appealed for help in promoting interest in the UN among young Americans. Some are the whole comic & others are just covers. Enjoy!
There's *no* risk that vote on #UNSC res. calling for emergency Assembly session on Ukraine can be deemed "substantive", so subject to veto.
"Convocation of an emergency special session of the General Assembly" is on list of established "procedural" matters set out in Repertoire.
With today's #UNSC elections, if Malta, Switzerland, UAE, UK & US continue to be represented by female PRs, as of 2023, 27 female PRs will have served on the Security Council since 1946.
This was the original backdrop for #UNGA Hall!
Because the disks made it hard to take quality photos & film, it was replaced by the plain gold-leaf wall we know today.
Reaching out to & to try to confirm whether other 2 tapestry copies Picasso commissioned of Guernica are @ Colmar's Musée Unterlinden & Modern Art Gunma, respectively?
And if so, would a loan to UN be possible?
guernica.museoreinasofia.es/en/document/re
And here's a list of the 85 UN Member States *not* invited to the US democracy summit . . .
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US Invites 110 "participants" for the virtual "Summit of Democracy" on 9th and 10th December. India also invited.
On Afghanistan, important letter by
& calling on #UNSC to clearly reject assaults on women's rights & call for safe timely departure of Afghans who wish to leave including HR defenders, women leaders, women’s rights activists, peacebuilders & journalists.
When Taliban in power '96-2001 UN didn't grant recognition. As per 1997 Legal Opinion p.3, as per GA Credentials Cttee 1996 deferral & Rule 29, Rabbani govt delegates continued as Afghan reps.
Under SCR 1333 Taliban wasnt allowed NYC office but only 1 jr level diplo using his apt
#UNnerds🇺🇳🤓During CMP renovations SC members declined offer to upgrade to electronic voting. With voting still by show of hands, there aren't screenshots showing how members voted, as happens in GA. So in a divided vote like that expected today observers have to watch carefully!
Today's failed Russian draft Ukraine resolution (2-0-13) is the 19th instance since 2000 of a draft resolution receiving insufficient votes to be adopted.
Here are the earlier cases👇
Happy UN Day!!!
Here's how UN membership has grown since the entry into force of the Charter 76 years ago:
Türkiye joins Côte d’Ivoire as the only 2 UN Member States using special characters in English spelling of their name.
Besides Türkiye, other name changes this past decade have been:
Cape Verde➡️Cabo Verde (2013)
Swaziland➡️Eswatini (2018)
FYROM➡️North Macedonia (2019)
#UNSC Penholders for 2021.
These are mostly self-designated & customarily take lead in requesting mtgs, drafting outcome documents & organizing missions to field singly or w/other States.
Since designations not official other SC members can take up the pen as stated in S/2017/507
Or a permanent representative slipping out of the Security Council Chamber after making their statement during an all-day open debate
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Leaving the seminar room in the middle of the talk twitter.com/i/status/15681
This appeal carries weight because & co-chair Security Council's Informal Expert Group on women & peace & security, established by res. 2242 (2015)
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Ireland & Mexico are urging fellow UNSC members to take immediate action to protect Afghan women & girls, including via greater international cooperation to ensure that "those who wish to leave the country ... can do that safely," @irishmissionun Amb. Byrne Nason told reporters.
We've been asked if other cases when sitting #UNSC member underwent coup.
Have been many coups just before or after terms, but here are some cases of during:
Syria 1970 (term 1970-1)
Argentina 1966 (term 1966-7)
Nigeria 1966 (term 1966-7)
Will do further research!
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BREAKING: A group of soldiers appeared on Gabon state television and said they were overturning the results of presidential elections held just days ago in the African country. apnews.com/article/gabon-
*Four* women signed the UN Charter (out of 160 total signatories):
Bertha Lutz (Brazil)
Minerva Bernardino (Dominican Republic)
Wu Yi-fang (Republic of China)
Virginia Gildersleeve (US)
(not sure which one is in your photo)
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Now out:
Summary by of #UNSC working methods open debate it hosted during its June presidency.
Inter alia, summary gives excellent overview of most topical working methods presently under discussion.
Well worth reading, so we're posting it in its entirety ⬇️
It's not your imagination.
Voting in #UNSC has become more divisive...
Vetoes
1990-99: 9
2000-09: 16
2010-19: 31
2020-22: 10
Insufficient votes
1990-99: 3
2000-09: 1
2010-19: 12
2020-22: 7
Competing drafts
1990-99: 4
2000-09: 0
2010-19: 16
2020-22: 8
Replying to
And a reminder that ending or restricting the veto requires amending Art. 27(3) which, under Art.108, requires ratification by 2/3 UN Member States "including all the permanent members of the SC".
So all P5 would have to agree to deprive themselves of the veto for it to happen
We've set out here our comments (in red) on parts of the author's article...
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Very interesting....
Expelling Russia from the UN Security Council — a How-to Guide cepa.org/article/expell
Just refound this 2013 video of the renovated Security Council Chamber, with commentary by Brian Urquhart; Norway's then DPR; & Capital Master Plan Chief Architect Michael Adlerstein, with some wonderful footage...
youtube.com/watch?v=H4YFCq
It's been a very, very long month, but today is the last scheduled day of the Russian presidency.
And this is what the horseshoe table will look like in May. Much anticipation around the presidency!
Here are co-sponsors - by UN regional group - of GA resolution on "Standing mandate for a GA debate when a veto is cast in the Security Council" adopted 26 April:
Africa: 11 out of 54
Asia-Pacific: 17 / 55
East Europe: 18 / 23
GRULAC: 9 / 33
West Europe & Others: 28 / 29
Replying to
Yes, going way back US Postal Inspectors have been the law enforcement arm of USPS, can be armed, & are empowered to act in cases of "crimes that may adversely affect or fraudulently use the U.S. Mail, the postal system or postal employees."
At this meeting there's been a small sign of protest from some Council members who have avoided the customary, "Mr. President..." at the start of their statements, opting instead for "Colleagues..."
We share with you infinite respect for Gowan & Lynch.
But might there be an unintended gender bias in your comment? : )
For #UNSC specifically, there are 3 highly credible sources headed by women: & (at least in terms of experience) ourselves
Just in time for the General Debate, Yogi Bear has found a new use for the GA gavel ...
For some reason, the Amazon price of the Sievers-Daws Security Council Procedure book has shot up into the stratosphere again🙄
If you are interested in buying, please do so directly from Oxford Univ. Press🤗global.oup.com/academic/searc
The hard copy is out!!!🕵️♀️
Barnes & Noble: barnesandnoble.com/w/an-unwilling
Available from all Amazons worldwide.
US: amazon.com/UNwilling-Spy-
