The Pact for the Future (PFTF), the proposed outcome of the Summit of the Future, addresses Security Council reform in Chapter 5 on global governance. The Pact’s annotated draft and process have had a placeholder for input from the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN).
The GPF team has been monitoring the IGN process and negotiations. This table includes the final version of the IGN contribution to Chapter 5, which was circulated by the IGN co-facilitators, Kuwait and Austria, on 12 August 2024.
The primacy of the IGN as the body in charge of Security Council reform was reinforced in a letter addressed from the President of the General Assembly on 2 August 2024, which states the understanding reached in the IGN that the IGN contribution to the Pact for the Future from the co-facilitators of the IGN, Kuwait and Austria, “will be integrated into the Pact without change and will not be opened in the context of any negotiations in the finalization and adoption of the Pact in September.”
For more information on the issue and Member State positions, see GPW Factsheet #6: Pact for the Future: Reform of UN Security Council?
This is a work in progress, and likely there will be more updates to come.
Download the PDF version of this briefing.
IGN Input Rev. 3 and PFTF Final Contribution Comparison & Takeaways
* Additions are in bold, deletions in strikethrough, new version side-by-side.
| Paragraph | IGN Input Rev.3 | FINAL* | COMMENTS |
| Action 1 | Action 1: We will reform the UN Security Council, recognizing the urgent need to make it more representative, inclusive, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic, and accountable | Action 1: We will reform the UN Security Council, recognizing the urgent need to make it more representative, inclusive, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic, and accountable. | No change |
| Para. 1 | 1. In response to the growing urgency to increase the effectiveness of the United Nations’ abilities to maintain international peace and security as set out in the UN Charter, we agree on the following guiding principles identified in the Intergovernmental Negotiations on the question of equitable representation on and increase inthe membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Council (IGN) in accordance with decision 62/557 of the General Assembly as parameters for reform: | 1. In response to the growing urgency to increase the effectiveness of the United Nations’ abilities to maintain international peace and security as set out in the UN Charter, we agree on the following guiding principles identified in the Intergovernmental Negotiations on the question of equitable representation on and increase inthe membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Council (IGN) in accordance with decision 62/557 of the General Assembly as parameters for reform: | No change |
| 1(a) | 1(a) Redress the historical injustice against Africa as a priority and, while treating Africa as a special case, improve the representation of the underrepresented and unrepresented regions and groups, | 1(a) Redress the historical injustice against Africa as a priority and, while treating Africa as a special case, improve the representation of the underrepresented and unrepresented regions and groups, such as Asia-Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean. | The established UN regions leave the Arab group, which could be seen as regional, but is not recognized as such, in limbo. |
| 1(b) | 1(b) Enlarge the Security Council in order to be more representative of the current membership and reflective of the realities of the contemporary world and increase representation of developing countries and small- and medium-sized states, such as SIDS, Arab States and other cross-regional groups. | 1(b) Enlarge the Security Council in order to be more representative of the current UN membership and reflective of the realities of the contemporary world and, taking into account our commitments of Sustainable Development Goal 16.8, increase representation of developing countries and small- and medium-sized states, | Para. 1(c) in the final version addresses in more detail the status of cross-regional group representation, thus reference to these has been removed from 1(b). Saying Developing countries and small/medium states rests on sovereign equality of States. |
| 1(c) | 1(c) Continue discussions on the issue of representation of cross-regional groups, taking into account that Small Island Developing States, Arab States, and others, such as the OIC, have been mentioned in the discussions of the IGN. | OIC is now mentioned, but falls under “others”. Does this mean they are a little further out as a prospect than SIDS and Arab States? | |
| 1(c)(d) | 1(c) | 1(d) Intensify efforts to find an agreement on the question of the categories of membership taking into account the discussions held in the IGN process. The reform will include, but not be confined to, an expansion of 2-year term non-permanent seats as part of a comprehensive Security Council reform. | The deleted Rev.3 language “based on the options” was seen as giving too much weight to those countries and groups who have already put forward models of reform. |
| 1(d)(e) | 1(d) The total number of members of an enlarged Council should ensure a balance between its representativeness and effectiveness. | 1(e) The total number of members of an enlarged Council should ensure a balance between its representativeness and effectiveness. | No change |
| 1(e)(f) | 1(e) The working methods should ensure the inclusive, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic and accountable functioning of an enlarged Council. | 1(f) The working methods should ensure the inclusive, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic and accountable functioning of an enlarged Council. | No change |
| 1(f)(g) | 1(f) The question of the veto is a key element of Security Council reform. We will intensify efforts to reach an agreement on the future of the veto, including discussions on limiting its scope and use. | 1(g) The question of the veto is a key element of Security Council reform. We will intensify efforts to reach an agreement on the future of the veto, including discussions on limiting its scope and use. | No change |
| 1(g)(h) | 1(g) As part of a comprehensive reform, the inclusion of a review clause should be considered to ensure that the Security Council continues over time to deliver on its mandate and remains fit for purpose. | 1(h) As part of a comprehensive reform, the inclusion of a review clause should be considered to ensure that the Security Council continues over time to deliver on its mandate and remains fit for purpose. | No change; “over time” implies an ongoing, rather than a once-off, post-reform review of SC functioning. |
| Action 2 | Action 2: We will strengthen our efforts in the framework of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform. | Action 2: We will strengthen our efforts in the framework of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform as a matter of priority and without delay. | Some countries want reform agreed now, others say you cannot rush it. Adding the last phrase will ensure progress is not unduly delayed, while not issuing a deadline. |
| Para. 2 | 2. We support the Member States driven nature of the reform, | 2. We support the Member States driven nature of the reform of the Security Council and will intensify efforts for the reform through the IGN in accordance with General Assembly Decision 62/557 and other relevant resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly, such as resolution 53/30. Building on the recent progress achieved in the IGN, including through more transparency and inclusivity and by enhancing its institutional memory, we decide to: | Final version removes reference to Secretariat support, which some states felt detracted from MS-driven nature and/or was redundant. Reference to GA decisions also brings MS-driven nature of SC reform to the fore. |
| 2(a) | 2(a) Encourage the submission of further models and the revision of already presented models by States and Groups of States for the structured dialogues with a view of developing a consolidated model in the future based on models presented by Member States and the | 2(a) Encourage the submission of further models and the revision of already presented models by States and Groups of States for the structured dialogues with a view to developing a consolidated model in the future based on convergences on the five clusters, and the models presented by Member States. | Pretty subtle. Gives more weight to the statements and positions of MS, rather than the emphasis being on the 5 models already put forward by cs and groups. |
| Action 3 | Action 3: We will strengthen the response of the Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and security and | Action 3: We will strengthen the response of the Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and security and its relationship with the General Assembly. | Puts the task of strengthening the relationship between SC and GA in SC’s hands, rather than the hands of “We”. |
| Para. 3 | 3. We | 3. We will continue to improve and democratize the working methods of the Security Council and strengthen its relationship with the General Assembly, in accordance with and with full respect for their respective functions, authority, powers, and competencies as enshrined in the Charter, with the understanding that this should notsubstitute the reform of the UN Security Council outlined in Action 1. We decide to: | “We will continue to” is used throughout Rev. 2 of the Pact for the Future, implying that the pace of/current approach to working methods/reforms put forth are adequate and being implemented. |
| 3(a) | 3(e) Fully implement and adhere to all provisions of the United Nations Charter as they relate to the decision-making process in the UN Security Council, including Art. 27 (3) of the UN Charter. | 3(e) Fully implement and adhere to all provisions of the United Nations Charter as they relate to the decision-making process in the UN Security Council, including Art. 27 (3) of the UN Charter. | No change; the specific reference to 27(3) was preserved. |
| 3(b) | 3(b) Support credible, timely and decisive action by the Security Council to prevent or end the commission of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes. | 3(b) Support credible, timely and decisive action by the Security Council, in exercise of its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, to prevent or end the commission of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes. | Reminder of SC primacy in these cases could inhibit the GA from taking action to end genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes. |
| 3(c) | 3(c) Actively reinforce the ongoing efforts of the Security Council to review and enhance its working methods, including inter alia, penholding and co-penholding arrangements, and strengthen the cooperation and communication between the Security Council and the General Assembly and its subsidiary bodies, including the Peacebuilding Commission, as well as the Economic and Social Council, including by continuing to fully implement and make use of General Assembly Resolutions 377A(V) (“Uniting for Peace”) and 76/262 (“Veto Initiative”). | 3(c) Actively reinforce the ongoing efforts of the Security Council to review and enhance its working methods,including inter alia, penholding and co-penholding arrangements, and strengthen the cooperation andcommunication between the Security Council and the General Assembly and its subsidiary bodies, including the Peacebuilding Commission, as well as the Economic and Social Council and regional and sub-regional arrangements, including by continuing to fully implement and make use of General Assembly Resolutions 377A(V) (“Uniting for Peace”) and 76/262 (“Veto Initiative”). | |
| 3(d) | 3(d) Improve the participation in and access to the work of the Security Council and its subsidiary organs for all members of the General Assembly, to enhance the Council’s accountability to the membership and increase the transparency of its work. | 3(d) Improve the participation in and access to the work of the Security Council and its subsidiary organs for all members of the General Assembly, to enhance the Council’s accountability to the membership and increase the transparency of its work. | No change |