2.4 The Security Council
The United Nations Charter established the Security Council as one of the principal organs of the United Nations. It comprises 5 permanent members (China, France, Russia, United Kingdom and United States) and 10 non- permanent members elected for two years by the United Nations General Assembly. Each member has one vote and permanent members have the power to block the adoption of any resolution (known as the veto power). Decisions require a majority of nine votes and the agreement of all five per- manent members.

a. Powers and functions
In accordance with the United Nations Charter, the Security Council has pri- mary responsibility for:
• the maintenance of  peace and international security;
• investigation of any dispute, or any situation that might lead to interna- tional friction or give rise to a dispute, in order to determine whether the continuance of the dispute or situation is likely to endanger the mainte- nance of international peace and security.
By joining the United Nations, all Member States agree to accept and carry out decisions of  the Security Council.

b. Human rights
The Security Council has the authority to:
• put human rights mandates into peace-keeping operations or to mandate separate human rights operations;
• consider gross human rights violations that are threats to peace and secu- rity under article 39 of the Charter and recommend enforcement meas- ures;
• establish international criminal tribunals.