Peace and Security
The Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. It has 15 Members, and each Member has one vote. Under the Charter of the United Nations, all Member States are obligated to comply with Council decisions.
The Security Council takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression. It calls upon the parties to a dispute to settle it by peaceful means and recommends methods of adjustment or terms of settlement. In some cases, the Security Council can resort to imposing sanctions or even authorize the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security.
![Fu Cong (left at dais), Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of February, briefs reporters on the programme of work of the Security Council.](/securitycouncil/sites/default/files/styles/9_col_xl_1026_x_auto/public/2025/PR_China_Press_Briefing_February2025_UN71084945.jpg?itok=0YG0XsNi)
Security Council Programme of Work
Discover the Security Council's lineup of events scheduled for this month.
More about the Security Council
SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENCY OF 2025
The presidency of the Council is held by each of the members in turn for one month, following the English alphabetical order of the Member States names.
![Flag of Algeria](https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/sites/default/files/styles/flag/public/2024/Flag%20of%20Algeria.png?itok=uakk4ORi)
Algeria
January
![Flag of China](https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/sites/default/files/styles/flag/public/2024/Flag%20of%20China.png?itok=vd-BVABK)
China
February
![Flag of Denmark](https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/sites/default/files/styles/flag/public/2024/Flag%20of%20Denmark.png?itok=POKXaKJ8)
Denmark
March
![Flag of France](https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/sites/default/files/styles/flag/public/2024/Flag_of_France.svg_.png?itok=C532Evmc)
France
April
![Flag of Greece](https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/sites/default/files/styles/flag/public/2024/Flag_of_Greece.svg_.png?itok=W9b4GUKb)
Greece
May
![Flag of Guyana](https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/sites/default/files/styles/flag/public/2024/Flag%20of%20Guyana.png?itok=MrEQlvV9)
Guyana
June
![Flag of Pakistan](https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/sites/default/files/styles/flag/public/2024/Flag%20of%20Pakistan.png?itok=8NY1wYwS)
Pakistan
July
![Flag of Panama](https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/sites/default/files/styles/flag/public/2024/Flag%20of%20Panama.png?itok=CQAzMNWq)
Panama
August
![Republic of Korea flag](https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/sites/default/files/styles/flag/public/2024/Republic%20of%20Korea.jpg?itok=Rvq4ncta)
Republic of Korea
September
![Russia flag](https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/sites/default/files/styles/flag/public/2024/Russia.png?itok=wtd9BYsJ)
Russian Federation
October
![Sierra Leone Flag](https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/sites/default/files/styles/flag/public/2024/Flag_of_Sierra_Leone.svg_.png?itok=4KUoJLbj)
Sierra Leone
November
![Slovenia flag](https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/sites/default/files/styles/flag/public/2024/Slovenia.png?itok=ImiGYxiz)
Slovenia
December
UNSC CONSOLIDATED LIST
RESOLUTION 2231 (2015)
Know more about the Resolution 2231 (2015) on Iran Nuclear Issue
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Latest Updates: Press Releases and Coverage of Security Council Meetings
Did you know?
The Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.
The first woman to serve as President of the Security Council was Jeanne Martin Cissé in November 1972.
Over two-thirds of all vetoes in the history of the Security Council were cast during the Cold War era.
The Security Council Chamber, designed by the architect Arnstein Arneberg, was a gift from Norway in 1952.
There are 14 ongoing sanctions regimes which focus on supporting the political settlement of conflicts, nuclear non-proliferation, and counter-terrorism.