The United Nations General Assembly this month elected Japan and four other countries as non-permanent members of the Security Council for a two-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2016.
This year's election was noncontroversial as the five countries, which also included Egypt, Senegal, Ukraine and Uruguay, stood unopposed for the five rotating seats to replace outgoing Chad, Chile, Jordan, Lithuania and Nigeria. Senegal received 187 votes from the 193 U.N. member states, followed by 185 for Uruguay, 184 for Japan, 179 for Egypt and 177 for Ukraine. Beginning next year, these countries will bear greater responsibility for maintaining global peace and stability.
The Security Council is arguably the most powerful organ of the U.N. as its decisions are legally binding. The U.N. Charter confers the council primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security and requires all U.N. member states to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council.