India calls for urgent UNSC reforms

India has urged the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to swiftly implement reforms, arguing that the body's decision-making structure must better reflect today's realities and grant greater representation to the Global South. Speaking at the UNSC Open Debate on Working Methods, India's Charge d'Affaires at the Permanent Mission to the UN, Ambassador Yojna Patel, emphasized that the need for reform is more pressing now than ever before.

She highlighted that the world has changed significantly since 1945, with UN membership increasing fourfold, and stressed that the outcomes of conflicts from that era should not determine the council's composition or operations indefinitely.

Patel advocated for an expansion in both permanent and non-permanent UNSC membership slots, emphasizing that this should primarily benefit developing countries. She stressed that such a reform could only be achieved through text-based negotiations, complete with defined milestones and timelines. Patel also underscored that discussions on improving UNSC working methods should be considered as part of the broader reform process, including membership categories, regional representation, and the issue of vetoes.

Concerned about the provisional nature of the Security Council's Rules of Procedure, Patel argued that these rules should not be used as an excuse to deter reforms. She maintained that the provisional status means the rules could be amended as needed, particularly when it comes to expanding membership. India also called for non-permanent members to have equal access to all documents and information, stressing that such access should be uniform across all council members.

Furthermore, Patel argued that countries contributing troops and police to UN peacekeeping missions should play a role in decision-making regarding key issues related to these missions. She stressed that these countries, as direct stakeholders, must be integrated into the UNSC's decision-making process concerning mandates and resources for peacekeeping operations.

Patel urged the Security Council to resolve delays in appointing chairs of subsidiary bodies, calling for a fixed timeline to expedite the process. She proposed that Note 507 be amended to include a definitive, non-negotiable timeline for finalizing the chairs of these bodies. On the issue of terrorism, Patel stressed that UNSC membership should not be leveraged to pursue political agendas, such as legitimizing terrorists or listing entities as terrorists based solely on political criteria without objective evidence.

In her closing remarks, Patel advocated for enhanced coordination between the Security Council and the UN General Assembly, describing the latter as the most universal and democratic component of the UN. She emphasized that the workings of the Security Council should be reviewed to foster closer interaction between it and the other principal organs of the UN.