Peace and Security
The Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. It has 15 Members, and each Member has one vote. Under the Charter of the United Nations, all Member States are obligated to comply with Council decisions.
The Security Council takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression. It calls upon the parties to a dispute to settle it by peaceful means and recommends methods of adjustment or terms of settlement. In some cases, the Security Council can resort to imposing sanctions or even authorize the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security.
Security Council Programme of Work
Discover the Security Council's lineup of events scheduled for this month.
More about the Security Council
SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENCY OF 2026
The presidency of the Council is held by each of the members in turn for one month, following the English alphabetical order of the Member States names.
UNSC CONSOLIDATED LIST
RESOLUTION 2231 (2015)
Know more about the Resolution 2231 (2015) on Iran Nuclear Issue
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Latest Updates
Press Releases and Meetings Coverage
- As Crises Escalate in Middle East, Speakers in Security Council Urge Stronger United Nations-League of Arab States Cooperation
- Security Council Press Statement on Deaths of Three Indonesian Peacekeepers from United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
- Security Council Recognizes Expertise of Gulf Cooperation Council in First-Ever Presidential Statement, as Briefers Call for Broad Cooperation in Middle East
- Press Conference by Security Council President on Work Programme for April
- Officials Warn of Escalating Crisis in Lebanon, as Security Council Speakers Trade Blame for Death of Three Peacekeepers, Urge Respect for Ceasefire
News stories
31 March 2026 — The UN’s top humanitarian official warned the Security Council on Tuesday that Lebanon is facing one of its most dangerous moments in years, with escalating violence, mass displacement and deepening human suffering pushing the country to “breaking point”.
Did you know?
The Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.
The first woman to serve as President of the Security Council was Jeanne Martin Cissé in November 1972.
Over two-thirds of all vetoes in the history of the Security Council were cast during the Cold War era.
The Security Council Chamber, designed by the architect Arnstein Arneberg, was a gift from Norway in 1952.
There are 15 ongoing sanctions regimes which focus on supporting the political settlement of conflicts, nuclear non-proliferation, and counter-terrorism.