Committee : General Assembly

Topic : Reconstructing the United Nations

Country : The Islamic Republic of Iran

The issue of human rights is one of the most fundamental human issues and also one of the most
sensitive and controversial.
-Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran.

The United Nations is committed to maintaining international peace and security; developing friendly
relations among nations; promoting social progress and human rights. There are over 192 members
of the council, and not a single one of them has made a massive difference in so many critical issues
to a point where you come to question the credibility of UN.

➢ The Rwandan genocide

The Rwandan genocide details the inability of the UN to carry out its sworn duty to maintain peace
and security. Following the Rwandan Civil War, tensions between the Hutu and Tutsis were at a
dangerous high. Close to one million Rwandans were killed in the genocide, amounting to twenty
percent of the population; and UN was largely unwilling to help in any intervention.

➢ Nuclear Proliferation
In 1970, the nuclear non-proliferation treaty was signed by 190 nations; an agreement proposed by
UN. Despite this treaty, nuclear stockpiles remain high, and numerous nations continue to develop
devastating weapons. The failure of the treaty details the ineffectiveness of the UN and their inability
to enforce crucial rules and regulations.

➢ Terrorism
One heinous terrorist act that was considered monumental for modern terrorism was the hijacking
of an Israeli flight in 1968. UN condemned the action, but failed to take any further action; a simple
condemnation was as far as they would go. With the 9/11 terrorist attacks, UN finally took action,
outlawing terrorism and punishing those responsible. Unfortunately, this applied only to Al Qaeda
and the Taliban but other terrorist groups were left unaffected. To this date, the UN still does not
have a clear definition of terrorism and have made no plans to pursue one.

Those are just three of a long list of blunders that UN has not helped curb. This goes to show that one
of the biggest flaws of the system is that the rules and regulations are not strict enough. Without
fundamental reforms, a non-flexible system of laws, rigid legal code, and authoritative charters,
the UN will be a doomed as an institution.

On a separate note, the Veto and permanent membership system have been controversial as well.
The UN SC consists of fifteen nations, five of which are permanent. The permanent members enjoy
the luxury of veto power; when a permanent member vetoes a vote, the Council resolution cannot
be adopted, regardless of international support. Even if the other fourteen nations vote yes, a single
veto will beat this overwhelming show of support.
➢ Over the past 10 years, Russia has used its veto on 10 occasions, largely to avoid scrutiny over its
actions in Ukraine or to protect the Syrian regime and other allies from UN pressure.
➢ China has used its veto six times, always in tandem with Russia.
➢ The US has issued vetoes three times; each time to defend Israel. There are too many instances in
which Israeli violations of international law were fairly clear. The US defended Israel even in these
instances, therefore, it constitutes for an abusive and unprincipled attempt to protect an ally. This all
exposes how the UN SC veto opens the door to abuse. Many countries often misuse and abuse their
veto prerogative.

➢ The veto power violates democratic principles of equality

It is no longer viable to argue that nations agreed to join the UN as an unequal body. As a global
constitution, the UN charter must uphold sovereign equality. And, yet, the UN SC veto power violates
this principle.

➢ The veto decreases the effectiveness of UN

If the veto was abolished, more measures would make it through the GA and SC that reflect the will
of UN. More would get done in the world; UN would better fulfill its mission, and it would
subsequently achieve greater credibility in the international system. Abolishing veto would enable
more global action in the UN.

➢ Veto power undermines the moral stature of the UN

Morality in the international system is defined in large part by equality. Since the UN SC veto
undermines the notion of sovereign equality, it undermines the moral foundation and authority of
the UN itself. This damages its credibility in the international system, and thus impairs its long-term
functionality.

Iran is not a permanent member and hence does not enjoy the powers of the Veto system. Iran is
currently battling the tough sanctions imposed by the US and has a neutral stance on the Veto system
and is not closely involved in the reconstruction of UN.

Bibliography

➢ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/07/what-has-the-un-achieved-united-nations
➢ https://listverse.com/2013/01/28/top-10-failures-of-the-united-nations-2/
➢ https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/mar/10/un-failing-league-of-nations-isis-boko-
haram
➢ https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/12/05/world/5-problems-facing-un-nears-70th-
anniversary/#.W-GyJHozbOQ
➢ https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/un-security-council-working-methods/the-veto.php