UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY PLENARY MEETING: QUESTION OF EQUITABLE REPRESENTATION ON AND INCREASE IN THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL
16 November 2023
Statement by H.E. Rebecca Bryant, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
Mr President
We live in challenging times, with rising conflicts and instability putting pressure on the multilateral system. It is at these times when we look to the Security Council to effectively respond.
However, without urgent reform, the Council risks failing to deliver on its mandate to uphold international peace and security.
It is our responsibility as Member States to advocate for a Council that is fit for purpose and able to manage complex, multifaceted challenges.
Australia reiterates its calls for reform based on:
- Equitable representation;
- Transparency; and
- Accountability.
The Security Council must reflect the diverse world we live in, and it would benefit from views of a greater proportion of the world’s population. We must secure greater permanent and non-permanent representation for Africa, Latin America and Asia.
Similarly, the Council must be more accountable to Member States. We want to see greater engagement between Council members andthe broader UN architecture to inform Council discussions on significant challenges facing all of us.
Australia looks forward to working to strengthen ties between the Council and the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) when we take up a seat on the PBC in 2025.
Finally, better standards need to be developed on the use of the veto, so that its use is more transparent and limited.
We commend the work of Member States such as Mexico, France, and Liechtenstein, who have brought forward tangible proposals that bring us closer to our shared goal of Security Council reform.
Australia stands ready to engage proactively on new proposals and urges Members to move to text-based negotiations to maintain momentum.
Text-based negotiations help to build consensus by allowing delegations to engage openly, improving understanding of various positions and the prospects of finding a common ground which so many Member States expressly and urgently want.
We must reaffirm our commitment to building a more effective and capable Security Council – our future security and prosperity depends on it.
Thank you.