What happens when states block resolutions addressing acts of aggression or atrocity crimes?
The United Nations
was formed at the end of the last world war with the intent of providing an international body that would take measures to address breaches of the peace including genocide, crimes against humanity and acts of aggression.
The first purpose of the 15 nation UN Security Council is
"to maintain international peace and security..."
Under the UN Charter, all member states must act consistently with the Charter's Purposes and Principles when voting on Security Council resolutions.
Five permanent member states
(P5) were granted permanent seats and veto power over substantive Security Council resolutions on international peace and security.
In recent years the veto power has been used by one or more of the P5, to block resolutions addressing
atrocity crimes
and
the crime of aggression.
The result, has been a furthering of a breach of the peace.
Legal experts have opined, that exercising the veto power under these circumstances is beyond the authority of the veto wielding power. By that account, it is believed, the veto would be considered illegal and of no force and effect.
The ‘Curb The Veto’ campaign is asking Canada, along with other UN members to introduce a resolution in the General Assembly requesting an opinion of the International Court of Justice as to existing limits of the veto power. The goal, is to restore the effective authority of the 15 member state Security Council to address international breaches of the peace.
The 5 Permanent Members Of The UN Security Council
Click on each image below for more information.
CHINA
Chinese Permanent Representative to the United Nations Li Baodong (C) votes against the draft resolution on Syria during a UN Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, October 4, 2011. (Photo/Xinhua)
UNITED STATES
US deputy Middle East envoy Morgan Ortagus (C) raises her hand to veto a draft resolution during a United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in Gaza, at UN headquarters in New York on September 18, 2025. (Angela Weiss / AFP)
RUSSIA
Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia exercises Russia's veto at a UN Security Council meeting on April 24, 2024. Russia vetoes US-backed UN resolution to ban nuclear weapons in space (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP)
UNITED KINGDOM
British Ambassador to the United Nations Barbara Woodward speaks during a meeting of the UN Security Council members at the United Nations headquarters in New York, US, October 27, 2022. The United Kingdom last used its veto at the UN Security Council in 1989 (© Reuters)
FRANCE
Nicolas de Rivière, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations, at the UN Security Council. France has not exercised its veto power since 1989. (ANGELA WEISS / AFP)
Clearly Defined Limits Are Needed
The Curb The Veto campaign is asking Canada, along with other UN members, to introduce a resolution in the General Assembly which seeks the opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as to the limits of the veto power with the goal of restoring the authority of the Security Council to address international breaches of the peace.
Without exception international law must apply to all states.
By establishing clear limits on veto use in cases of aggression, genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, the UN can respond when action is most urgently needed.
With your help we can:
Advance a UN General Assembly request
Call for a resolution requesting an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) .
Define the legal limits of the Veto
ICJ can provide legal guidance on when veto use exceeds authority under international law, empowering the Security Council to exclude vetoes in defined circumstances.
Inspire Canadian Leadership
Canada has the credibility and global standing to champion this initiative.
Limiting veto use in cases of atrocity crimes and the crime of aggression is not about taking power away. It is about saving lives.
Learn MoreTake Action Now
Click below and urge Canada to lead the way.
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Promoting Justice
The ‘Curb The Veto’ logo is rendered in the official languages of the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council.
The image, developed by WFM-Canada is available, open source to use unaltered for the purposes of education and outreach, and for use in support of the work of this campaign.