Practice question
A substantive Security Council resolution receives ten affirmative votes. All five permanent members either vote in favor or voluntarily abstain; none casts a negative vote. All other adoption requirements are satisfied. A member claims that a permanent member's abstention alone invalidates the resolution. Applying the practice recognized in Namibia, which answer is best?
- The objection fails because a voluntary abstention is not treated as a veto.
- The resolution fails because every permanent member must always vote affirmatively.
- The resolution becomes a General Assembly resolution.
- The resolution binds only the abstaining member.
- The abstention automatically withdraws that member from the UN.
Legal references
- UN Charter, Articles 25, 41 and 103, https://legal.un.org/repertory/art25.shtml ; https://legal.un.org/repertory/art41.shtml ; https://legal.un.org/repertory/art103.shtml
- ICJ, Namibia Advisory Opinion, 21 June 1971, official UN account, https://legal.un.org/unjuridicalyearbook/pdfs/english/by_volume/1971/chpVII.pdf
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