The Veto in Light of Jus Cogens: The Conflict Between the Practice of Permanent Members of the Security Council and Principles of International Law

Kadkhodaei, Abbas Ali; Lohrasbi, Amir

The Veto in Light of Jus Cogens: The Conflict Between the Practice of Permanent Members of the Security Council and Principles of International Law

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei ¹

Amir Lohrasbi ²

¹ Professor, Department of Public and International Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Tehran, Iran

² Ph.D. Student in Public International Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Jus cogens, as a fundamental and non-derogable principle of international law, has come into conflict with the broad powers of the United Nations Security Council. This conflict has given rise to significant questions regarding the limits of the Security Council's authority and its obligation to adhere to these norms. On one hand, the Security Council, as the body responsible for maintaining international peace and security, possesses powers that may sometimes lead to decisions or practices by its members that conflict with jus cogens, such as the prohibition of genocide. On the other hand, jus cogens hold such a high status in the international legal order that they can overshadow the actions of the Security Council members. In this context, the veto power, as an exclusive tool available to the five permanent members of the Security Council, can exacerbate this conflict, raising questions about its legal legitimacy when used to violate jus cogens. This article, seeks to address the aforementioned issue by proving its hypothesis that the exercise of the veto power must be limited in cases where it violates jus cogens. It emphasizes the necessity of utilizing the capacity of the General Assembly and the International Court of Justice to implement Article 96 of the Charter.

Keywords

International Law

Jus Cogens

Security Council

United States

Veto Power

Subjects

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