China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States each possess a power at the United Nations that no other member state has: a special voting power known as the ‘right to veto’ in the Security Council.
The creators of the UN Charter, which came into force 80 years ago, on 24 October 1945, conceived that these five countries, because of their key roles in the establishment of the UN, would continue to play important roles in the maintenance of international peace and security.
All five permanent members have exercised the right of veto at one time or another.
This voting power has been the subject of debate throughout the UN’s history. Australian filmmaker Tim Slade’s film ‘The Veto’ explores the mechanism’s challenges and implications. To mark the 80th anniversary of the UN, special Cine ONU/UN Cinema screenings of the film took place in front of a Brussels audience in a mainstream cinema and in the historic Command Bunker in Kemmel near Ypres.
What were you hoping to achieve with ‘The Veto’?
Increasingly, I see the film as a warning. Sometimes when I say to people, ‘UNGA80 (the 80th UN General Assembly) just happened, and I worry there won’t be a UNGA81,’ they laugh. I think it will happen – but the question is how effective it will be, and in what state it will be next September. That remains to be seen.
The tendency to move away from the UN when making important decisions is really troubling.
What are the most common misconceptions people have about the veto mechanism and the UN Security Council?
I think people aren’t always clear about who exactly has veto power. In fact, the word ‘veto’ doesn’t appear in the UN Charter – it is actually referred to as ‘concurring votes’ of the permanent members!
It is also interesting to see how permanent members view the veto as simply a mechanism. This makes it vitally important, in my view, for other member states to clarify whether they see the veto power as bound by international law and the UN Charter.
Did the process of making the film influence how you view the UN?
Yes, it made me see more clearly the tensions as well as the possibilities for more effective work between the Security Council and the General Assembly. It gave me greater hope and belief in the ten elected Security Council members. I also saw that there are very committed and courageous people in the UN – at all levels – and that it’s important for them to advocate for the organisation and the Charter, separate from the interests of individual member states.
The UN should be greater than the sum of its parts, and, thanks to the development of international law since 1945 and to the achievements of the UN, it should ‘lead’ global peace and security rather than allow individual states to monopolise those negotiations and resolutions.
Did you find reasons for hope while making the film?
Yes, definitely. Among the general public, there’s a growing sense of urgency from voters who want better outcomes and stronger resolutions. The public can have a real impact – and we’re increasingly seeing that. I had meetings with four ambassadors in New York, and all four, from different parts of the world, mentioned what their voters were conveying to them. Even old-fashioned actions, like writing a letter to the foreign ministry, still matter. What I’m hearing is that foreign ministries do listen.
What do you hope audiences take away from the film?
I hope audiences are encouraged to see the urgency of addressing veto misuse, and, more broadly, the need to better uphold multilateralism and the rules-based system. I hope they are encouraged to see that the UN is needed more than ever, that it must advocate for itself, and that the general public can have a voice in protecting their own interests – human security, safety, and a ‘good life’. I also hope they have confidence that this is achievable – but it will require consistent hard work and hope in the coming years.
The interview text has been edited for brevity and clarity.
The Cine ONU/UN Cinema event in Brussels was organised by the United Nations in Brussels, and the Australian Embassy to Belgium & Luxembourg and Mission to the EU & NATO.
The Kemmel UN Cinema event was organised by UNRIC with the support of Leader, the commune of Heuvelland and the War Heritage Institute.
Find out more about Cine ONU/UN Cinema: https://unric.org/en/the-veto/
‘The Veto’ Trailer, by Tim Slade: https://thevetofilm.com/
