China assumes presidency of UN Security Council for March 2020

News:China has taken over as president of the UN Security Council for the month of March 2020.

Facts:

UN Security Council (UNSC):

  • The UN Security Council was established by the UN Charter in 1945.It is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations.
  • The other 5 organs of the United Nations are—the General Assembly, the Trusteeship Council, the Economic and Social Council, the International Court of Justice and the Secretariat.
  • The primary responsibility of UNSC is to work to maintain international peace and security.

Members:

  • The Council consists of ten elected members and five permanent members who have veto power (P-5) – China, the United States, France, the United Kingdom and Russia.
  • The ten non-permanent members are elected on a regional basis by the General Assembly, (from five areas- five from Asia and Africa, one from Eastern Europe, two from Latin America, two from Western Europe) to serve two year terms.
  • The council’s presidency is a capacity that rotates every month among its 15 members.