United Nations General Assembly

The United Nations General Assembly is the principal deliberative body in which all UN members are represented and have one vote. In peace and security matters, it mainly provides a universal forum for discussion and makes recommendations, while the Security Council has primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.

Charter basis

Under Articles 10 and 11 of the UN Charter, the General Assembly may discuss peace and security questions, including principles governing disarmament and arms regulation, and recommend measures to states or the Security Council. Under Article 14, it may recommend the peaceful adjustment of situations likely to impair friendly relations among nations.

• The Assembly may call the Security Council's attention to situations likely to endanger international peace and security.
• Under Article 24, the Security Council, rather than the Assembly, has primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.

Principal functions

The Assembly builds political legitimacy and international consensus, but its peace and security recommendations are generally not legally binding enforcement measures.

• It debates conflicts, promotes peaceful settlement and may establish investigative or subsidiary bodies within its competence.
• It elects the non-permanent members of the Security Council and considers the Council's reports.
• Under Article 17, it considers and approves the UN budget, including financing for peacekeeping operations.
• Under Article 18, important peace and security questions require a two-thirds majority of members present and voting.

Uniting for Peace and limitations

Under the Uniting for Peace Resolution, 1950, the Assembly may consider a matter immediately when lack of unanimity among the Security Council's permanent members prevents it from acting. It may recommend collective measures and convene an emergency special session, but cannot impose binding Chapter VII enforcement action.

• Under Article 12, while the Security Council is exercising its functions concerning a dispute or situation, the Assembly ordinarily cannot make recommendations on it unless the Council requests this.
• Questions requiring enforcement action must be referred to the Security Council under Article 11.