Article 99 of the UN Charter
| Category | Details | Subdetails |
|---|---|---|
| News | Antonio Guterres invokes Article 99 | For war in Gaza |
| What | Special power for Secretary-General | – |
| Unique political tool in UN Charter | – | |
| Enables Secretary-General | Call Security Council meetings | |
| Issue warnings about threats | ||
| Address matters not on council’s agenda | ||
| Why | To prevent threats to international peace | – |
| To mobilize UN action | – | |
| For preventive diplomacy | – | |
| Where | Chapter XV of the UN Charter | – |
| When | First invoked in 1960 | Dag Hammarskjold on Congo conflict |
| Other notable invocations | 1979 Iran crisis (Kurt Josef Waldheim’s tenure) | |
| 1989 Lebanese civil war (Javier Perez de Cuellar’s tenure) | ||
| Who | Secretary-General of the United Nations | Discretionary power |
| Requires political judgment | ||
| How | Secretary-General may bring to UNSC’s attention | Matters threatening peace and security |
| Pros | Adds political role to Secretary-General | – |
| Key in mobilizing UN action | – | |
| Allows addressing UNSC without invitation | – | |
| Cons | Cannot ensure lasting peace | – |
| Does not change political calculations of UNSC’s powerful members | – | |
| One veto can derail interventions | – | |
| Challenges | Dependent on UNSC’s response | Needs agreement of all five permanent members |
| Vulnerable to veto power | ||
| Past failure to invoke | Example: Rwandan Genocide in 1994 | |
| Way Forward | Explore ways to enhance Article 99’s effectiveness | – |
| Address challenges related to UNSC dynamics | – | |
| Increase awareness of Article 99’s potential and limitations | – |
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