What is Article 99 of the UN Charter?
Answer: Article 99 of the United Nations Charter empowers the Secretary-General to bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which, in their opinion, may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.
Why did UN Secretary-General António Guterres invoke Article 99 recently?
Answer: António Guterres invoked Article 99 due to the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, aiming to push the UN Security Council to call for a humanitarian ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
When was Article 99 last explicitly invoked before this?
Answer: The last explicit invocation of Article 99 was in 1989 by then-Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, concerning the situation in Lebanon. It was invoked in 1971 during the Bangladesh crisis.
What actions can the UN Security Council take following the invocation of Article 99?
Answer: The Security Council can adopt a resolution urging a ceasefire and may use various measures to enforce it, such as deploying peacekeeping forces or imposing sanctions.
Does invoking Article 99 guarantee immediate action from the UN Security Council?
Answer: No, invoking Article 99 does not automatically result in immediate action from the UN Security Council. It depends on the Council members’ response and willingness to act.
What is the significance of invoking Article 99?
Answer: Invoking Article 99 is significant as it is a rare and serious diplomatic tool used by the Secretary-General to address urgent matters that threaten global peace and security.
What is the current situation in Gaza that led to the invocation of Article 99?
Answer: The situation in Gaza involves intense conflict between Israeli Defense Forces and Hamas militants, leading to a humanitarian crisis and the risk of the territory’s humanitarian system collapsing.
