Saturday, April 27

UN Security Council

Can world leaders still come together to solve problems diplomatically rather than through brute force? That question is put to the test in the United Nations Security Council. The council has power, such as the ability to sanction countries and entities. Its five permanent members have more power than the revolving members. And those five members–China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States–have the ability to veto actions.

US Vetos UNSC Resolution Calling for A Ceasefire
8Dec By Patti MohrNo Comments
Human rights, Middle East, Types of News: Videos, UN Security Council

US Vetos UNSC Resolution Calling for A Ceasefire

December 8, 2023--The United States vetoed another resolution in the UN Security Council regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The meeting came as António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, invoked a rarely used tool in the UN Charter to call for a special meeting in the UNSC. Article 99 gives the Secretary-General the right to bring to the Security Council any matter that "may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.” It is the first time Guterres used it. Thirteen members of the Security Council voted for the resolution. The United Kingdom abstained. The United States voted against it, effectively vetoing it as one of the five permanent members. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2TrUKMw_6Q
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UN Chief Says Terror Attacks Cannot Justify ‘Collective Punishment’
25Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Human rights, Types of News: Brief, UN Security Council

UN Chief Says Terror Attacks Cannot Justify ‘Collective Punishment’

Guterres Stands By His Comments After Israel Misinterprets Message October 25, 2023—United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is standing by comments he made yesterday at the UN Security Council after Israel's ambassador erupted in rage. The flare-up occurred on the sidelines of a day-long meeting by the Security Council on the security situation in the Middle East, the Israel-Hamas war, and the massive humanitarian crisis in Gaza.     'Even War Has Rules' On Tuesday, Guterres clearly condemned the October 7 terrorist attacks against Israel by Hamas, acknowledged longstanding problems with Israel's 56-year occupation of the Palestinians, and reminded all parties that "even war has rules." https://youtu.be/XKSQMYsQEg4?si=qur83ZTBRnjshpz9 Guter...
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State Department Official Resigns Over Biden’s Middle East Policy
20Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Arms Sales, Military Industry, Human rights, Middle East, Types of News: Brief, UN Security Council

State Department Official Resigns Over Biden’s Middle East Policy

Arms Transfer To Israel Contributes To 'Massive Civilian Casualties' October 20, 2023—Josh Paul isn't the only State Department official who has concerns about the U.S. policy on Israel's military assault on civilians. But he might be the first one to resign. The resignation comes as President Biden asks Congress for a $14 billion military aid package for Israel and $9.15 billion for humanitarian aid for Israel, Ukraine, and Gaza. It also comes as the United States vetoed a resolution in the UN Security Council that would have created safe corridors for humanitarians to assist civilians in Gaza. U.S. diplomatic staff are taking notice. Acknowledging the morale problem, Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrote to department staff saying the Middle East crisis "has not only been cha...
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US Vetos UN Resolution On Humanitarian Aid For Gaza
20Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
International Law, Legal Battles, Middle East, Types of News: Brief, UN Security Council

US Vetos UN Resolution On Humanitarian Aid For Gaza

Full Text of Security Council Resolution Offered By Brazil October 20, 2023—The same day President Biden negotiated a plan to allow 20 trucks to deliver humanitarian aid into Gaza, the United States vetoed a resolution in the UN Security Council that would have called for protections for civilians, humanitarians, and UN personnel inside Gaza. The resolution would have created humanitarian corridors for distributing aid and helping civilians escape to safe zones. It also would have called for an immediate release of Israeli and American hostages held by Hamas. Fourth Resolution To Fail It was the fourth resolution related to the Israel-Hamas war to fail this week. It had the strongest chance of passing the Security Council. The veto by the United States, one of the five Perman...
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Timeline Of UN-Related Responses To Russia’s 2022 Invasion Of Ukraine
23Apr By Jacob DavenportNo Comments
Diplomacy, International Law, Legal Battles, Types of News: Infographic, UN Security Council

Timeline Of UN-Related Responses To Russia’s 2022 Invasion Of Ukraine

Editor's note: The United Nations and its agencies are responding on a regular basis to the Russia-Ukraine war, condemning Russia's aggression with multiple acts and resolutions. Here is a snapshot of that action. February 24, 2022         The Russian Federation invaded Ukraine. February 26, 2022  The U.N. Security Council considered a resolution on Russia's invasion. February 28, 2022         The International Criminal Court launches an investigation concerning potential atrocities and war crimes against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Starting on March 2nd. March 2, 2022               The UN General Assembly voted 141-5 in favor of a resolution to condemn Russia’s war on Ukraine and call for an immediate end to the violence. March 7, 2022              ...
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UN Boots Russia Out Of Human Rights Council
10Apr By Jacob DavenportNo Comments
Diplomacy, Human rights, Types of News: Brief, UN Security Council

UN Boots Russia Out Of Human Rights Council

UN General Assembly on April 7, 2022 April 10, 2022--This week, the UN General Assembly by a two-thirds majority put forth a resolution to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council. With a vote of 93 for-to-24 against with 58 countries abstaining, the resolution passed.   Some of the countries that voted to remove Russia included Ukraine, France, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Norway. China, Cuba, and Iran joined the countries siding with Russia. Meanwhile, India, Brazil, South Africa, Pakistan, and Singapore were among the 58 countries that abstained from the vote. It was April 7th, and it was the anniversary of the 1994 genocide. Mass Atrocities in Ukraine One of the main factors influencing the special session of the General Assembly was multiple report...
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UN Security Council Discusses Chemical Weapons
11Mar By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Types of News: Brief, Types of News: Videos, UN Security Council

UN Security Council Discusses Chemical Weapons

Hearing Comes A Day After Council Examines Syria's Chemical Weapons March 11, 2022--With the sheer amount of devastation Ukraine is undergoing under the hand of the Russian military, it's hard to imagine it may get worse. But the possibility of more terror arose this week at the mention of chemical weapons. Today, the UN Security Council met at Russia's request after Russian diplomats accused Ukraine of having bio-labs in the country. It also came a day after the council heard remarks from a UN representative about Syria's chemical weapons program. Wild Accusations By Russia Pose Concerns For U.S., Ukraine Specifically, Russian diplomats asserted that Ukraine is producing bioweapons with the support of the United States. On Tuesday, State Department Official Victoria Nul...
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Council Of Inquiry Launched On Russia’s War Against Ukraine
7Mar By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Human rights, Types of News: Brief, UN Security Council

Council Of Inquiry Launched On Russia’s War Against Ukraine

The UNHRC established a Commission of Inquiry on Russia's war on March 4, 2022. UN Human Rights Council Votes 32-2 On Resolution (Full Text) March 7, 2022—While wars may seemingly be created overnight, as in the case of Russia's aggression against its neighbor, no-fly zones and official state support for the territory violated are not. It is too soon to predict where this is heading. Even as Western leaders rule out the involvement of the NATO alliance, they and the rest of most of the world are carefully trodding towards confronting Vladimir Putin and the Russian government. Moral And Legal Support Mounts Moral support for Ukraine continues to grow, and an accumulation of legal and diplomatic is mounting. On March 4, the UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution condemn...
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In An Emergency Session, 141 Nations Condemn Russia’s Military Actions in Ukraine
2Mar By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Human rights, International Law, Legal Battles, Types of News: Brief, UN Security Council

In An Emergency Session, 141 Nations Condemn Russia’s Military Actions in Ukraine

UN General Assembly vote on March 2, 2022 Resolution Calls On Russia To Immediately Cease Its Use Of Force Against Ukraine March 2, 2022--In an extraordinary session of the United Nation's General Assembly, representatives from 141 countries voted to condemn Russia's military assault on Ukraine, uphold the UN charter and call for an immediate end to the bloodshed. It was only the 11th time in the organization's history that the General Assembly held an emergency session. The four-page resolution recalls several previous resolutions supporting territorial integrity and national sovereignty. Furthermore, it minces no words about condemning Russia. unga-resolution-Russia-UkraineDownload Belarus Condemned Too The resolution also calls out Russia's ally Belarus. Specifically,...
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‘We Were Told They Would Welcome Us,’ Russian Soldier Says
28Feb By Patti MohrNo Comments
Types of News: Brief, UN Security Council

‘We Were Told They Would Welcome Us,’ Russian Soldier Says

February 28, 2022--In an extraordinary special session by the UN General Assembly, Ukraine's representative read out a text conversation between a Russian soldier and his mom. "Mom, I'm in Ukraine, there's a real war. I'm scared, we shoot at everything in a row, even at peaceful ones. We were told that they would welcome us, but they throw themselves under our military equipment and do not let us pass. They call us fascists. It's very hard for me." Photo of text messageFeb. 28 Special GA assembly Reportedly, the Russian soldier was killed in battle. While the GER cannot independently verify the texts, the message fits with what the Russian president has been saying in his recent speeches. Increduoulsy, Vladimir Putin urged the Ukranian military to "lay down your weapons and immed...
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