Page 48 - Cornice_Grade 10

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S O W N N A T I O N
P E A C E I N F A V O R O F I T S O W N N A T I O N ? ?
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-Anushree Kansakar
The right to veto, once established to maintain international
peace and security, is now the very root of failed
humanitarian crises worldwide–the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict and the Russo-Ukraine war being the prime
examples. The P5 nations have long played this game of
politics: making a move whenever they need to protect their
national interests. They are the ones that make the rule, the
Security Council simply being their field.
The first line of the UN charter, “We the people”, promises to
save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, but
where are these ‘people’s’ voices in the decision-making?
Why are there still no ends or even actions taken against
these humanitarian war crimes? Will the UN Security
Council simply turn a deaf ear to the cries of Ukraine?

With the power to halt any resolution, Russia had exploited
the luxury of Veto several times, the latest being on Oct 1st,

2022 to scuttle a draft resolution that could condemn them
from invading Ukraine. The United Nations have received
severe backlash and criticism regarding the undemocratic

power of Russia and its inability to adopt a resolution
against it. Some have even gone to the extent of calling the
organization “powerless”. If the power to ‘make or break’
global peace lies in the hands of 5 countries, then the

security council is, in essence, futile.

These cases have triggered the arousal of many countries

questioning the legitimacy of veto. Not only that, but it
effectively deadlocks the council. With Russia having the
power to veto any proposed resolution, the Russo-Ukraine

war cannot be stopped. And after decades of embezzlement,
a question remains: will the security council make the
necessary reforms to balance the power among its members

or will it turn a blind eye to the global humanitarian crises
falling through the cracks?