India Urges Greater Transparency in Operations of UN Security Council Subsidiary Bodies
Ambassador Harish calls for reforms in UNSC working methods, accountability in listings, and expansion of membership
India, Nov 15 : India has called for enhanced transparency in the functioning of the subsidiary organs of the UN Security Council (UNSC), emphasizing the “obscure” manner in which requests to designate entities and individuals are often rejected. Speaking at the UNSC open debate on Working Methods on Friday, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, underscored the central role of the Council in maintaining international peace and security.
Harish noted that the working methods of the 15-member Council are critical to its credibility, efficiency, and transparency, particularly in today’s world facing multiple global crises. Highlighting the lack of clarity in listing requests, he said, “Unlike de-listing decisions, rejections of listing requests are conducted in a rather opaque manner, leaving non-Council member states uninformed about the reasons.”
The ambassador also stressed the importance of accountability in the distribution of Chairs and pen-holderships of Council committees, urging that members with vested interests should not hold these privileges to prevent conflicts of interest.
Calling for broader UNSC reforms, Harish advocated expanding both permanent and non-permanent membership to ensure adequate representation for under-represented and non-represented regions. He also highlighted the need for improved coordination between the Council and other UN organs, particularly the General Assembly, suggesting that the annual UNSC report should be analytical rather than a mere procedural record.
On peacekeeping, India emphasized factoring in inputs from Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) and Police Contributing Countries (PCCs) to ensure better mandate implementation. Harish warned against continuing outdated mandates driven by narrow political interests, describing them as a drain on UN resources.
India reiterated its call for reforms under the UN80 framework, including sunset clauses, to make the Security Council fit-for-purpose, accountable, and capable of addressing both current and future global challenges.
