Summary
A resolution to ‘Unite for Peace’ was passed in 1950 under 377A(v) to convene an emergency special session. This special session can be called within 24 hours. Such a session of the UN General Assembly is very unusual.
Monday marks the fifth day of the Ukraine-Russia war. Fierce fighting is going on from both the sides. Russia has hurled horrific bombs on the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Sumy. Many villages in Ukraine have been evacuated to avoid Russian bombs. Air raid alert has been issued in the capital Kyiv. After all the efforts of Russia, Ukraine has not allowed the Russian army to be successful in capturing Kyiv for the last four days. Russian attacks killed 352 civilians in Ukraine. It also includes 14 children. Meanwhile, the UN Security Council has called an emergency special session of the 193-member General Assembly on Monday on the issue of Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
A vote on Sunday cleared the way for a special emergency session of the UN General Assembly. There were 11 votes in favor of the procedure for convening an emergency session. Russia voted against it. China, India and the United Arab Emirates did not take part in the vote. The President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Abdullah Shahid, presides over it. This will be the 11th time in the history of the United Nations General Assembly that a special emergency meeting has been called.
When can an emergency meeting be called?
After the end of World War II in 1945, representatives of 50 countries signed a charter together to restore peace in the world and the foundation of a new international organization was laid, which is today called the United Nations. It has six organs, of which the primary responsibility of the United Nations Security Council is to maintain peace and security in the world, for which they send peace keeping forces to the affected countries.
What is the meaning of this meeting?
An emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly is convened to immediately make a resolution on a particular issue. There have been only 10 such special emergency sessions of the UN General Assembly since 1950. It is believed that in the wake of the Russo-Ukraine war, a resolution may be passed to prevent Russia from attacking Ukraine further.
The Security Council’s latest moves are part of the United Nations’ week-long diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine crisis. Including almost daily press briefings of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, four emergency meetings of the Security Council and a meeting of the UN General Assembly. Speakers on all these forums made appeals to reduce Russian tensions. According to French Ambassador Nicola de Rivire, this special session of the General Assembly is an important step taken with the intention of protecting the UN Charter and international law and preventing attacks against Ukraine.
Special emergency meeting convened from time to time
1st session 1-10 November 1956
Second Session – 4-10 November 1956
3rd session 8-21 August 1958
Fourth Session 19 September 1960
5th Session 17-18 June 1967
Sixth Session – 10-14 January 1980
7th session – 22-29 July 1980, 20-28 April 1982, 25-26 June 1982, 16-19 August and 24 September 1982 Eighth session 13-14 September 1981
9th session 29 January to 5 February 1982
10th session for the first time in April 1997, last on 13 June 2018
Does UN pressure have any effect on countries?
UN General Assembly resolutions are not binding, but they have political weight because they reflect the views of more members of the United Nations. The Security Council was once criticized for being a non-acting body, but it has played an important role on the world stage in recent years. These include enforcing sanctions and allowing military action to stop conflicts.
What can happen against Russia?
The issues of peace and security in the United Nations can be resolved only when it is between two weak countries. If one of the five permanent members is accused of disturbing the peace and security, the matter becomes complicated. If a member does not agree with the decision of the permanent members, he can use the veto power to block that decision.
Therefore, it is believed that America, France and Britain cannot do anything against Russia through this emergency meeting, because being a permanent member, Russia has veto power. In such a situation, any resolution coming against Russia from these countries is unlikely to be passed. However, there may be an attempt to isolate Russia in the world community.
Expansion
Monday marks the fifth day of the Ukraine-Russia war. Fierce fighting is going on from both the sides. Russia has hurled horrific bombs on the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Sumy. Many villages in Ukraine have been evacuated to avoid Russian bombs. Air raid alert has been issued in the capital Kyiv. After all the efforts of Russia, Ukraine has not allowed the Russian army to be successful in capturing Kyiv for the last four days. Russian attacks killed 352 civilians in Ukraine. It also includes 14 children. Meanwhile, the UN Security Council has called an emergency special session of the 193-member General Assembly on Monday on the issue of Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
A vote on Sunday cleared the way for a special emergency session of the UN General Assembly. There were 11 votes in favor of the procedure for convening an emergency session. Russia voted against it. China, India and the United Arab Emirates did not take part in the vote. The President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Abdullah Shahid, presides over it. This will be the 11th time in the history of the United Nations General Assembly that a special emergency meeting has been called.
When can an emergency meeting be called?
After the end of World War II in 1945, representatives of 50 countries signed a charter together to restore peace in the world and the foundation of a new international organization was laid, which is today called the United Nations. It has six organs, of which the primary responsibility of the United Nations Security Council is to maintain peace and security in the world, for which they send peace keeping forces to the affected countries.
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