This document proposes reforms to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) aimed at making it more inclusive and representative. It suggests a 15-year transition period where regional groups would elect members to the UNSC based on minimum criteria. During the transition, the permanent 5 members would have staggered voting powers decreasing over time. After 15 years, the UNSC would have 24 total members with 16 elected for 3-year terms and 8 elected for 5-year terms, allocating seats regionally based on population. The goal is to make the UNSC more responsive to global power shifts and enable cooperative, inclusive global security governance.

1. Elect the Council

2. 2015: Use think tanks & academics to help develop
realistic & equitable proposals to help unblock the
impasse on UNSC reform
2016 + : Mobilize civil society to pressure for
movement towards an UNGA resolution to amend the
UN Charter
Principle: (regional) elections to the UNSC based on
minimum criteria and 15-year transition for the P5
In summary

3. Why?
• Deadlock
• No perfect moment…
• Global change is unstable
• UNSC at the heart of global security governance
• Since 2010 global increase in violence including
terrorism
• We can wait for a global crisis or accompany power
shifts
• In an integrated & crowded world an inclusive and
cooperative security paradigm is a prerequisite for
economic growth

4. Version 3
After UNGA resolution
Ratification at national level
15-year transition period
A normalized UNSC

5. First 15 years: 26 members
5 countries
elected for
5 yr terms
(renewable
)
16
countries
elected for
3 yr terms
China,
France,
Russia, UK,
USA

6. After 15 years: 24 members
8 countries
elected for 5
yr terms
(renewable)
16 countries
elected for 3
yr terms

7. Why 24 members?
One 5-year and two 3-year seats for
every 22 countries in each of the five
regional groups that elect current non-
perm seats

8. Current Electoral Regions
• Eastern European Group (EEG) of 23 members
• Latin American and Caribbean Group
(GRULAC) of 33 members
• Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
of 29 members plus USA as an observer
• Africa group of 54 members
• Asia-Pacific group of 53 members

9. Divide by 22

10. Why 26 during transition?
Three P5 members in three 5-year seats
Plus two additional seats

11. Minimum criteria
Not all countries may want to or should
serve on UNSC
BUT
Let regions manage

12. Regional criteria for candidates
1. Experience and capacity
2. Financial good standing with UN and
agencies
3. Willingness to share additional financial
burden as determined by GA
4. Respect for open, inclusive and accountable
governance, the rule of law and international
human rights standards

13. Within the UNSC
• Each seat has one vote (except P5 during 15
years of transition)
• Both procedural and substantive issues
require a two-thirds affirmative vote
• Parties to a conflict may be heard but may not
vote
• Thus no veto

14. Transitional measures for P5 (15 yrs)
• Option A: Each P5 vote counts as four votes
(years 1-5), three votes (years 6-10) and two
votes (years 11-15). So 26 members but 41, 36
and 31 votes
• Option B: Minimum number of current P5
must support each decision. Three in years 1-
5; two in years 6-10; one in years 11-15

15. What about ‘time-out’ on key
intractable problems?
Such as Kashmir?

16. Not presented
• Details on options for voting during 15 year
transition
• Staggered electoral process
• Process to get to agreed Rules of Procedure
• Periodic review

17. WRAPPING UP

18. The sweet spot
Power
politics

19. The P5 do not want change!
Only chance is if 129 countries in the
UNGA unite around a set of detailed
proposals
This requires a change in mind-set

20. A different mind-set?
• Collaborative security in a hot, flat and
crowded world
• A UNSC that deals with (truly) global
issues
• Elected countries that serve regional
interests

21. Watch the video on the website at
www.electthecouncil.org

22. Next steps
• This version 3
• Help shape = Comment!
• Spread the word … e-mail, social media, etc
• Like on Facebook, comment on website, join
the campaign on www.change.org
• Please lobby and support in 2016

23. For more information visit
www.electthecouncil.org
or www.facebook.com/ElecttheCouncil
#ElectTheCouncil #UNSCreform