A UN resolution is a formal text adopted by a UN body. In theory, any UN body can issue a resolution, but in practice the Security Council or the General Assembly issues most resolutions.
The Security Council is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security, as well as accepting new members to the UN and approving any changes to its UN Charter. It comprises 15 members, five permanent (Russia, the UK, France, China and the US) and ten non-permanent members, elected on a regional basis to serve two- year terms. Permanent members can veto any substantive Security Council resolution, including those on the admission of new member states or candidates for Secretary-General.
The General Assembly is the main deliberative, policy-making and representative body of the UN, where all member nations have equal representation.
UN resolutions are rulings or recommendations agreed on by the issuing body. For example, Security Council Resolution 1373, which was adopted unanimously on September 28, 2001, was a counter-terrorism measure passed following the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the US. The resolution was adopted under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, and is therefore binding on all UN member states.
The issuing body of a UN resolution determines if it is considered binding on member states. Those issued by the Security Council are considered binding. According to Article 25 of the UN Charter, all members of the UN “agree to carry out and accept the decisions of the Security Council in accordance with the present Charter”. General Assembly resolutions are generally considered to be non-binding. Articles 10 and 14 of the UN Charter refer to General Assembly resolutions as “recommendations”, and the International Court of Justice has stressed the recommendatory nature of General Assembly resolutions repeatedly.
The recent UNGA resolution on the Israel-Palestine conflict
- The latest UNGA resolution demanded immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, as well as immediate and unconditional release of all hostages
- This was proposed in the UNSC but was vetoed by the U.S
- The resolution was passed all though as it was passed in the UNGA it is not technically binding.
- However, it may act as a soft power to reduce conflict and encourages periods of ceasefire as.
- The resolution was passed 153 - 10 (with 23 abstentions (countries not voting)
- See how your country voted below:
