Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 21
21
Accepted
Continue raising and debating issues at the UN Security Council, even if vetoed.
Conclusion
The UK must continue to put forward, raise and debate issues at the United Nations Security Council for files it holds the pen for, even if these are ultimately vetoed. It is essential that in situations of conflict where the UK has a responsibility, that conflict is seen to be being raised and debated at the United Nations Security Council, despite the outcome. This demonstrates the UK’s leadership and commitment to a rules-based international order, whilst highlighting deliberate actions by other Permanent Members to forestall resolutions. (Recommendation, Paragraph 79)
Government response summary AI-generated
The government agrees with the committee's recommendation regarding Yemen, stating it will continue to use its interventions at monthly UN Security Council meetings to highlight the human cost of the conflict, push for the safety of women and girls, and condemn detentions. It also commits to actively exploring options to raise awareness of food security levels and work for a political settlement.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted
33. HMG agrees that we should continue to put forward, raise and debate issues within the UN Security Council on files where the UK holds the pen. The situations before the Security Council are, of course, complex and sensitive. Therefore, the UK needs to take a pragmatic approach, considering whether action taken in the Council or outside of the Council would have the most positive impact on the ground in terms of conflict resolution. 34. Where possible, UN Security Council products should be put forward where progress is deemed possible, to avoid normalising or reducing the threshold for a veto. When putting forward a product, HMG considers which format is best suited to a certain topic, not limited to UN Security Council resolutions but also utilising other formats including Presidential Statements (PRSTs) and Press Statements. HMG also pursues action by calling a variety of meetings including in both formal and informal formats, to prompt debate within the Council or bringing an expert to brief Council Members on the situation on the ground. We tailor our response to the best likelihood of success in managing each individual conflict. 35. Together, UK efforts support the UN Security Council’s role in maintaining international peace and security, while also positioning the UK as a Member State which engages genuinely and productively, as opposed to states who are content to hinder and obstruct the Council’s work. The function of a penholder at the UN Security Council, while more difficult now than perhaps previously, is to find consensus and to develop outcomes and products which support a sustainable and durable peace.
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