Peace and Security

Maintenance of international peace and security has always been a fundamental task for the UN. This is evident from the UN Charter where Member States vow “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war”. To ensure that the UN did not, like its predecessor, the League of Nations, stand idly by while a new world war broke out, it needed an effective body with a mandate to intervene in conflicts.

The UN Security Council was the result. The Council, on which 15 Member States serve, has a unique mandate and is entrusted with the authority to make legally binding decisions on all Member States.

The Security Council consists of five permanent and ten elected members. The permanent members are USA, Russia, China, United Kingdom and France. The elected members are elected on a regional basis to serve two-year terms. Denmark has been elected for the Security Council term of 2025-2026 holding one of the two seats of the Western European and Others Group (WEOG).

To address threats to international peace and security, the Security Council has a number of tools at its disposal, for instance promoting dialogue between the parties with a view to mediation and a peaceful political solution. The Security Council can also impose sanctions on the parties, which all member states must comply with. In the last resort, the Security Council can authorize military measures, including through peacekeeping operations.  

The Security Council's agenda items fluctuate based on current events and evolving local, regional and global developments. The Council addresses both country-specific conflicts and broader, conflict-related issues, such as terrorism and violent extremism, civilian protection, the role of women in conflict resolution, and sexual violence in conflict zones.