A UN resolution is a formal expression of the opinion or will of one of the organisation’s organs, such as the Security Council, General Assembly or Economic and Social Council. They follow a strict format and are published once approved. Each body’s resolutions are issued separately, but they are sometimes combined in annual or sessional compilations.
The most powerful of the UN’s organs, the Security Council, is charged with maintaining international peace and security. It has a unique – and controversial – tool called the veto, which grants permanent members (the so-called “P5”) the ability to block any resolution they oppose, regardless of its level of support in the rest of the membership. The United States has used the veto ninety-three times since the Security Council’s inception, often to protect Israel from condemnation or sanction by the Council.
The veto has also hindered the effectiveness of many of the Security Council’s missions, including in the Balkans and Darfur. Experts attribute a range of problems, from unclear mandates to logistical failures and the parochial interests of large powers. Many smaller states are frustrated by the perceived inaction of the Council and have advocated for reform, though substantial changes would require an amendment to the UN Charter, a process that requires the approval of two-thirds of all member states. Despite this, there are some signs of progress, including a growing role for regional organisations, which can prompt the Council to action or act as subcontractors for it in the field.