Veto Restraint in Atrocity Cases
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
Existing Situation
The veto power within the UN Security Council was designed as a stabilizing safeguard, preventing unilateral decisions among major powers. Over time, however, its application has too often produced paralysis in moments demanding unity and moral clarity. When genocide, ethnic cleansing, or mass atrocities unfold, a single negative vote can silence the world’s collective voice.
Diagnose Impact
This misuse of the veto has eroded the credibility of the Security Council and shaken global confidence in the UN’s ability to uphold its founding purpose. Each failure to act deepens human suffering, emboldens perpetrators, and fractures the moral authority on which international cooperation depends. The victims of these failures are not abstractions—they are families, communities, and nations whose trust in multilateralism fades with every unheeded crisis.
Roles of Each Nation
Every Member State bears responsibility for upholding the spirit of the Charter. The Permanent Members must lead by example through voluntary restraint; Non-Permanent Members should reinforce that standard by public endorsement and moral advocacy. The General Assembly—representing all 195 nations—should give this principle democratic legitimacy through resolutions, monitoring, and recognition of states that adhere to it. Smaller nations and regional blocs can build momentum by forming alliances that keep the principle of restraint alive on every agenda.
Prescribe the Change
We call for a public and voluntary commitment by all Permanent Members of the Security Council to abstain from using the veto in cases involving mass atrocity crimes. This commitment requires no amendment to the UN Charter—only political will and moral courage. It can be formalized through a joint declaration, endorsed by the General Assembly, and made transparent through annual reporting and peer acknowledgment.
Show the Outcome
When restraint becomes the global norm, the Security Council will regain moral legitimacy and the United Nations will restore its founding purpose: to act collectively in defence of humanity. The shift from impasse to action will reaffirm that sovereignty is strengthened—not weakened—when guided by conscience. In the eyes of future generations, this will mark the moment when power chose principle, and the UN rediscovered its soul.
5-Step Action Framework for Veto Restraint
Step 1 — Form the Veto Restraint Coalition
Lead: France & Mexico (co-authors of the original veto restraint initiative)
Supporting: Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Jordan, Singapore, and the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency (ACT) Group.
- Convene a core diplomatic working group under the ACT banner to coordinate outreach to P5 members.
- Refine and relaunch the 2015 Political Declaration on Veto Restraint with modernized language.
- Target official relaunch before the UN General Assembly High-Level Week 2026.
Deliverable: Renewed “Veto Restraint Declaration” endorsed by a majority of Member States.
Step 2 — Secure P5 Engagement and Transparency
Lead: United Kingdom Mission to the UN (New York)
Supporting: United States Mission, China Mission Policy Advisers, France Permanent Mission, Russia Academic liaisons (Geneva Track II)
- Hold closed-door consultations among P5 Political Coordinators to define conditions for restraint in atrocity cases.
- Adopt an informal reporting template to disclose each veto’s justification to the General Assembly (“Liechtenstein Mechanism”).
Deliverable: Public record of P5 statements explaining each veto within 72 hours of casting.
Step 3 — Adopt General Assembly Endorsement
Lead: Liechtenstein Permanent Mission to the UN
Supporting: Switzerland, Costa Rica, Jordan, ACT Member States, OCHR Policy Advisers
- Table a GA resolution reaffirming that veto restraint in atrocity cases constitutes a norm of responsible governance.
- Encourage regional groups (EU, AU, ASEAN, GRULAC) to issue supportive communiqués.
Deliverable: GA Resolution on Veto Restraint adopted by consensus or overwhelming majority.
Step 4 — Integrate into Security Council Practice
Lead: UN Security Council Presidency (rolling monthly)
Supporting: Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), OCHA, regional Peace and Security Desks
- Insert a “Mass Atrocity Clause” into the Council’s provisional rules of procedure as non-binding guidance.
- Ensure Council Presidents flag potential atrocity situations before veto use.
Deliverable: New UNSC Procedural Note reflecting veto restraint guidelines.
Step 5 — Monitor and Publicize Compliance
Lead: UN Office for Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect (R2P)
Supporting: Global Centre for R2P, Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law, Human Rights Watch Policy Team
- Publish an annual “Veto Restraint Index” tracking Member State endorsements and instances of use or abstention.
- Hold a High-Level Dialogue on Veto Reform each September ahead of the GA debate.
Deliverable: Public Veto Restraint Index dashboard and annual report.
Coordination Logic
- Secretariat: ACT Group Secretariat in Geneva (working closely with UN OCHA Policy Branch).
- Reporting line: to the UN General Assembly under the “Liechtenstein Mechanism”.
- Civil-society engagement: Global Centre for R2P and NGO coalition for UN Accountability and Reform.
Progress Tracker — Action 1 of 5 : Veto Restraint in Atrocity Cases
⬜ Not Yet Initiated — Concept endorsed by The Spirit of Dag; awaiting partner commitments.
⬜ Not Yet Initiated — No formal consultations undertaken to date.
⬜ Not Yet Initiated — Resolution concept awaits coalition formation.
⬜ Not Yet Initiated — Procedural note draft pending future engagement with Council Presidencies.
⬜ Not Yet Initiated — Monitoring framework to be designed after launch of Step 1.
Status: Conceptual phase only — no activities initiated yet. Implementation partners and formal launch pending.
Last updated: November 2025.
