The United Nations Principal Political Organs and the Universal Pandemic: How to Meet, Negotiate and Deliberate under 'New, Extraordinary and Exceptional Circumstances'?

Abstract

The COVID-19 and the lockdown of the UN Headquarters in New York brought the principal political organs of the United Nations to introduce unanimously new, extraordinary and exceptional procedures for voting, negotiating and deliberating, albeit resistances and perplexities emerged. The General Assembly silence procedure proved to be successful and secret ballot elections took place. However, e-voting encountered difficulties and the silence procedure has serious political and legal flaws since States’ participation in negotiations is hampered. The Security Council seems to be the most heavily affected by the situation and is unable to take any substantive position on what is happening. The progress registered recently on Security Council working methods could be another victim of the pandemic.

Keywords: United Nations, Security Council, General Assembly, ECOSOC, Pandemic, COVID-19