The Need For UN Security Council Reform, Veto Rights Are Discriminatory

President of the Indonesian Advocates Congress Erman Umar urged the reform of the UN Mandate Council through Prabowo. (IST)

JAKARTA - President of the Indonesian Advocates Congress (KAI) for the 2019 '2024 period as well as Chairman of the KAI Advisory Board for the 2024'2029 period, Erman Umar, SH, submitted an important proposal to the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, that Indonesia take an active role in encouraging the reform of the Veto rights of the UN Security Council at the UN General Assembly Session, September 23, 2025.

According to Erman Umar, the authority of Veto rights held by the five permanent member states of the UN Security Council (United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France) since 1945 has given birth to injustice in global governance. This right allows one country to cancel the UN Security Council resolution, although it has been approved by the majority of members.

"The principle of equality of state sovereignty as regulated in Article 2 paragraph 1 of the UN Charter is not in line with the practice of using Veto Rights. This provision is discriminatory, unfair, and often hinders world peace efforts," said Erman Umar.

He gave an example, the United States has vetoed the resolution of the Security Council six times regarding the ceasefire in Gaza, Palestine. As a result, attacks on civilians continued, including hospital bombings, blocking humanitarian aid, to humanitarian tragedies which were seen as a form of genocide.

Erman Umar emphasized that the reform of Veto rights is very urgent. The proposal is that this right can no longer be carried out unilaterally by one country, but through a voting mechanism among the five permanent members of the UN DK. Veto rights only apply if majority approved (minimum 3:2, 4:1, or 5:0).

Indonesia is a large country, with the fourth largest population in the world and a history of diplomacy that once had a major effect, such as the Asia Africa Conference in 1955. With this strategic position, the President of the Republic of Indonesia should fight for UN reforms, in order to create a fairer world order," he added.

Erman Umar hopes that President Prabowo Subianto can officially voice this aspiration in the UN General Assembly forum.