Given below are two statements
Statement I: Issues of peace and security are decided by 2/3 majority, including five permanent members, by the UN Security Council
Statement II: UN Security Council represents all regions of the world in adequate manner
In light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below

Correct option is C

· Statement I: "Issues of peace and security are decided by 2/3 majority, including five permanent members, by the UN Security Council" — This is true. The UN Security Council requires a majority of 9 out of 15 votes (which is more than two-thirds) for resolutions to pass on issues related to peace and security. However, it also requires the concurrence of the five permanent members (P5: USA, UK, Russia, China, France) — meaning no P5 member should use a veto. Thus, the P5 hold significant power in decision-making.
· Statement II: "UN Security Council represents all regions of the world in an adequate manner" — This is false. The current composition of the UN Security Council, particularly the permanent members, does not represent all regions of the world adequately. The P5 members reflect the geopolitical landscape after World War II, leaving out significant representation for regions like Africa, Latin America, and others. Calls for reform have been made to address the lack of representation for emerging powers and other regions.
Information Booster:
1. UN Security Council consists of 15 members: 5 permanent (P5) and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.
2. P5 members (USA, UK, Russia, China, and France) hold veto power, meaning any one of them can block a resolution.
3. Voting on substantive issues (peace and security) requires a 9-vote majority, including the affirmative votes of all P5 members, meaning no vetoes.
4. There have been long-standing discussions about reforming the Security Council to make it more representative, especially to include more representation from Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
5. Some key reform proposals include expanding the number of both permanent and non-permanent members, but these proposals have faced obstacles due to differing views among current members.
6. The non-permanent members are elected on a regional basis to ensure broader geographical representation, but their influence is still limited compared to the P5.