What is the UNSC?
Under the United Nations (UN) Charter, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the UN and it has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. A total of 15 member states serve on the UNSC, five of which are permanent members while the remaining 10 members are non-permanent and are elected to serve two-year terms. The UN Charter tasks the Security Council with the responsibility to: • to maintain international peace and security; • to investigate any dispute or situation which might lead to international friction; • to recommend methods of adjusting such disputes or the terms of settlement; • to determine the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression and to recommend what action should be taken; • to call on Members to apply economic sanctions and other measures not involving the use of force to prevent or stop aggression; • to take military action against an aggressor. Chapter V of the UN Charter
