As a rule of thumb, it is expected of member countries of the United Nations and United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to respect, adhere, and adopt their own resolutions. They are based on the United Nations Charter, which include the peaceful settlement of disputes, the promotion of human rights, and the prevention of aggression. Mechanism set in place at UNSC deals with rogue nations who violate their binding resolutions. Below is a short list of countries who had faced the consequences of violating UNSC’s binding resolutions.

• 1990 – 2003 Iraq was sanctioned due to its invasion of Kuwait
• 1992 – 2003 Lybia was sanctioned due to its involvement in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103
• 2006 – present Iran has been under sanctions due to to its nuclear program
• 2006 – present North Korea has faced sanctions due to its nuclear weapons program and human rights abuses
• 2002 – 2014 Zimbabwe was sanctioned due to its human rights abuses and electoral fraud

Do as I say, not as I do

According to a report from a Panel of Experts established pursuant to Security Council resolution 2653 (2022) dated September 15, 2023 which stated “the (illicit) firearms market in Haiti is dependent on that of the United States…” It’s been over four months since that report came out. The UNSC has done nothing. Obviously, by letting weapons from the US get to Haiti, while Haiti is under a fire arm embargo, the US, one of the permanent members of the UNSC, violated resolution 2699 (2023.) That resolution clearly stated in paragraph 14 “all Member States shall take the necessary measures to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale, or transfer to Haiti from or through their territories, or by their nationals, or using their flag vessels or aircraft, of small arms, light weapons, ” That blatant failure to abide by UNSC Resolution 2653 (2022) should have damaging consequences.

Justice, even against yourself

UNSC must urgently address its credibility crisis fueled by inaction in the face of the wholesale slaughter of Palestinians and Haitians. The expert reports have unambiguously identified the United States and the Dominican Republic as countries where weapons flow to gangs in Haiti. UNSC must take decisive action based on this information to restore its credibility and prevent further harm.

Unfortunately, it becomes abundantly clear everyday that international law system operates under a two-tiered justice system, one for rich and predominantly Caucasian countries and the other for poor black and brown countries. Rich and predominantly Caucasian countries, with greater resources and influences, have the ability to ccircumvent and twist international laws to their advantage and their international corporations. These countries often have the means to negotiate treaties and agreements that protect their interests at the expense of black and brown countries.

On the other hand, impoverished black and brown countries are at a disadvantage in this grossly unfair scheme. They often lack bargaining power due to their corrupt national elcted officials backed by rich predominantly white countries to effectively participate in the development and enforcement of international laws. As a result, impoverished black and brown countries are more vulnerable to exploitation and face challenges in accessing justice and seeking restitution for violations. This inequity in the international system of law perpetuates a cycle of blatant inequality and reinforces the existing asymmetric power dynamics between rich predominantly Caucasian countries and impoverished black and brown countries. That is the very definition of a a two-tiered justice system.

This lack of diversity undermines the principle of equal representation and reinforces systemic inequalities at the UNSC. The existing system grants veto power to a select few nations is inherently slanted, undemocratic, and heavily tilted towards white supremacy. China is the only of the five countries that is not predominantly white.

UNSC – Supremacy rules in diversity

The United Nations Security Council has 15 member states. Five of these states are permanent members with veto power. They are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The remaining 10 seats are non-permanent and are elected by the General Assembly for a two-year term.

Entire geographic regions are ignored with no permanent seats at the UNSC. Africa (54 countries), the Caribbean (26 islands among them 13 independent countries), Latin America (20 countries), and the Middle East (18 countries) are without without permanent seats at the UNSC. The United Nations has one-hundred ninety-three member countries. The aforementioned four regions are made up of one hundred-six member countries at the United Nations. This is more than half of the entire representative country members of the entire UN. Yet, no permanent seats at the UNSC for them.

It is an extremely concerning fact that in the twenty-first century when rich and predominantly Caucasian countries are preaching about democracy, and entire regions have no permanent seats at the UNSC. These regions encompass 105 member countries, comprising over half of the total UN representative body members who do not hold seats at the UNSC. Despite their significant representation, these regions are denied permanent seats at the UNSC. This issue needs to be addressed and rectified promptly to ensure fair and equitable representation at the highest level of global security decision-making.

The old colonial system is a remnant of a historical distribution of power and influence within the UNSC itself, which bespeak the geopolitical realities of the post-World War II era. The United Nations was established in 1945. These permanent members have veto power, allowing them to block any resolution, regardless of the level of support it may have from other member states. There is nothing democratic about that.

There is no valid reason why regions like Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Middle East do not have permanent seats at the UNSC. That lopsided balance of power hinders the ability for other nations, particularly those from underrepresented regions, to have a say in important global decisions. Lest the UN keeps losing credibility with miscarriage of justice running rampant such as shipments of weapons to Haiti from the US and through Dominican Republic to gangs in violation to UNSC firearms embargo and slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza before the eyes of the world, UNSC must urgently rectify this issue. The UNSC must open up seats for permanent members to these regions and ensure inclusivity, justice, and balanced representation in the development and implementation of international laws. Then, we can work towards a more just and equitable international legal system that benefits all nations, regardless of their economic status and ethnicity.