L69, G4 countries seek urgent reform of UN Security Council

Sub: IR

Sec: Int groupings

Context:

The meeting of the foreign ministers of the G4 countries was held on the sidelines of UNGA session.
As the United Nations approaches its 80th anniversary next year, the Group of Four (G4) countries are advocating for urgent reform of the UN Security Council.
The first-ever Joint Ministerial meeting of the L69 and C-10 groupings backed these calls for reform. The IBSA grouping also shared similar views on reforms of UN system and Security Council.
Both the L69 and the G4 reaffirmed their strong support to the Common African Position (CAP) based on the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.

What are the demands:

Make the Security Council more representative, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic, and accountable.
An increase in both permanent and non-permanent categories of UNSC membership, to enhance the participation of developing countries, as well as those significantly contributing to international peace and security.
Improved representation from Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean in both permanent and non-permanent UN Security Council categories.

G4 countries:

The G4 grouping consists of four countries aspiring to become permanent members of UNSC: India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan.
The group was formed in 2005.
They support each other’s bids for permanent seats in the UN Security Council.
The group also advocates for reform of the UNSC to better reflect the changing global landscape and for better representation.
The group emphasizes the importance of enhancing the representation of regions like Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
G4’s bids are often opposed by the Uniting for Consensus movement, also known as the Coffee Club which includes Italy, Spain, Australia, Canada, South Korea, Argentina and Pakistan.

What is L69?

The L69 group is a coalition of 32 countries primarily from the Global South, formed to advocate for reforms in the United Nations, particularly in the Security Council.
The group includes countries from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific (Small Island Developing States).
The name “L69” comes from a draft document tabled in 2007-08 that initiated the Intergovernmental Negotiation (IGN) process.
India is a member.

What is C-10?

The C-10 group, also known as the Committee of Ten, is a coalition of ten African nations established in 2005 by the African Union.
Its primary goal is to enhance African representation and influence within the UNSC, pushing for at least two permanent seats for African countries.
The group works closely with other coalitions, such as the G4 and L69, to unify efforts in pursuing comprehensive reforms in the UN system.

IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa):

The IBSA Dialogue Forum is an international tripartite grouping of India, Brazil and South Africa for promoting international cooperation among these countries.
It brings together three large democracies and major economies from three different continents, facing similar challenges.
All three countries are developing, pluralistic, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and multi-religious
The grouping was formalized and named the IBSA Dialogue Forum when the Foreign Ministers of the three countries met in Brasilia in 2003 and issued the Brasilia Declaration.

Common African Position:

The Common African Position (CAP) refers to a unified stance adopted by African countries regarding key issues in the United Nations, particularly in relation to Security Council reform.
It emphasizes the need for increased representation of African nations in the UNSC, advocating for at least two permanent seats for Africa, along with additional non-permanent seats.
It seeks to address historical imbalances and promote equitable decision-making within the UN framework.

Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration:

The Ezulwini Consensus is a framework established by African nations to articulate a unified position on the UNSC reforms.
Adopted in 2005 at the African Union (AU) summit in Ezulwini, Swaziland.
This framework serves as the basis for the Common African Position (CAP).
The Sirte Declaration (1999) was the resolution adopted to establish the African Union.

India’s bid for permanent seat:

India has long pursued a permanent seat. Four of the five permanent members, US, UK, France, and Russia support India’s bid, while China opposes it.