Confronting the Achilles’ Heel of the UN System: Effective Approaches to Limit the P5 use of UN Security Council veto
Event Date: 16th July 2025
Location: Online 17:00 BST
UNFOLD ZERO update
On behalf of the
ImPACT Coalition on Strengthening International Judicial Institutions
we cordially invite you to
Confronting the Achilles’ Heel of the UN System:
Effective Approaches to Limit the P5 use of UN Security Council veto
Wednesday July 16, online
12 noon Eastern Time USA / 6pm Central Europe Time
An event in commemoration of World Day for International Justice
Dear Peter, ImPACT Coalition on Strengthening International Judicial Institutions
we cordially invite you to
Confronting the Achilles’ Heel of the UN System:
Effective Approaches to Limit the P5 use of UN Security Council veto
Wednesday July 16, online
12 noon Eastern Time USA / 6pm Central Europe Time
An event in commemoration of World Day for International Justice
Abuse of the veto power by members of the UN Security Council has been a death sentence for thousands of civilians in the face of ongoing mass atrocities.
It can be tempting to regard the status quo as inevitable and impermeable. However, there have been positive steps in recent years, such as the passage of UN General Assembly Resolution 76/262, which mandates a debate in the General Assembly whenever a veto is cast in the Security Council.
Join us on July 16, eve of the World Day for International Justice, for Confronting the Achilles Heel of the UN System, a participatory dialogue on three proposals to limit the use of the veto by UN Security Council P5 members:
- An International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on existing legal limits to the veto under international law;
- An International Court of Justice case on obligations to implement Chapter 6 of the UN Charter on the Pacific Settlement of Disputes mandating a party to a dispute to abstain from Security Council votes;
- Establishing a new mechanism for veto review by the elected members of the Security Council.
Speakers
-
Professor Jennifer Trahan (USA)
Clinical Professor at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs. Director of Concentration in International Law and Human Rights -
Blake MacLeod (Canada)
Secretary for the Board and Executive Committee of the World Federalist Movement-Canada -
Janet Phillips (UK)
Lead for Countering use of the UN Security Council veto, a campaign of the Amnesty International UK activist-led UN Network -
Dr. David Cheesman (UK)
Secretary of the UN Association of the UK’s Luton and the Southeast Regions (UNA-LASER), Director of Equality in Diversity.
Moderator
-
Rebecca Shoot (USA)
Co-chair, Impact Coalition on Strengthening International Judicial Institutions. Chair, Washington Working Group on the International Criminal Court.
High-Level quotes on the UN Security Council veto power
“The use of the veto in the face of mass atrocities is morally indefensible.”
Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General
“The world still defines itself in terms of the narrow interests of the powerful. The Security Council, with its veto power, reflects this imbalance.”
Nelson Mandela, addressing the UN (1998)
”The use of the veto, or even its threat, continues to erode the legitimacy of the Security Council and undermines the principle of sovereign equality among nations.”
Sam Kutesa, President of the UN General Assembly, 2014–2015
“The use of the veto in the face of mass atrocities is morally indefensible.”
Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General
“The world still defines itself in terms of the narrow interests of the powerful. The Security Council, with its veto power, reflects this imbalance.”
Nelson Mandela, addressing the UN (1998)
”The use of the veto, or even its threat, continues to erode the legitimacy of the Security Council and undermines the principle of sovereign equality among nations.”
Sam Kutesa, President of the UN General Assembly, 2014–2015