Highlights 2025 | Security Council

Highlights 2025 | Security Council
Security Council
Security Council
Meetings
Missions
Agenda
Decisions and Voting
Subsidiary Bodies
Highlights of Security Council Practice 2025
Image
UN Photo / Mark Garten
Lee Jae Myung, President of the Republic of Korea and President of the Security Council for the month of September, greets Nataša Pirc Musar, President of Slovenia, ahead of a Council meeting on artificial intelligence and international peace and security
24 September 2025
Introduction
In 2025, the Security Council held fewer
meetings
and
informal consultations
than in 2024, while recording an increase in
informal interactive dialogues
. With regard to its
decisions
, the Council adopted 44 resolutions and eight presidential statements, compared to 46 resolutions and seven presidential statements in 2024. The Council also issued fewer notes and press statements than in the previous year. The proportion of unanimously adopted resolutions decreased (61 percent in 2025 compared to 65 percent in 2024), while the number of failed draft resolutions and the number of vetoes declined compared to previous years.
In 2025, the Council dispatched two
visiting missions
: one to the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and another to Lebanon and Syria.
The Security Council was composed of its five permanent members (China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States), as well as ten elected members (Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and Somalia). Algeria, Guyana, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone and Slovenia completed their two-year tenure at the end of 2025.
A historical overview of the Security Council membership is available in the
Membership Dashboard
prepared by the Security Council Affairs Division.
Meetings
Meetings of the Security Council are governed by Article 28 of the Charter of the United Nations, and rules 1-5 and 48 of its Provisional Rules of Procedure. The Council convenes
meetings
, which are classified as either public or private. As codified in the presidential note of 13 December 2024 (
S/2024/507
, “Note 507”), public meetings may take the form of open debates, debates, briefings or adoptions, while private meetings may be held for conducting briefings or debates, including with the participation of police- and troop-contributing countries. Council members also frequently meet in informal consultations of the whole (also known as consultations).
Image
UN Photo / Manuel Elías
A view of attendants in the Council Chamber during a meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question at which the Council adopted resolution 2803 (2025)
17 November 2025
In 2025, the Council held a total of 255 meetings and 115 informal consultations, averaging 21 meetings and ten consultations per month.
255
public and private meetings
115
consultations
Overview
In 2025, the Council held 255 meetings, a reduction of 16 percent with respect to 2024. The total hours spent in meetings, consultations and informal interactive dialogues (IIDs) decreased by four percent, from 711 hours in 2024 to 685 hours in 2025. Out of the 255 formal meetings, 235 were public and 20 were held in private. Continuing the trend since 2021, prior to which private meetings were held predominantly with troop- and police-contributing countries, in 2025, more than half of the meetings held in this format were convened under country-specific or other thematic items. Council members convened 115 informal consultations in 2025 and also held discussions under “Other matters” (also known as “Any Other Business” (AOB)) on 27 occasions.
In 2025, the Presidency of the Council continued the practice of introducing the provisional programme of work to the wider membership of the United Nations at the beginning of the month and conducting wrap-up sessions at the end of each month.
For further details, explore Chart 1 below.
Image
UN Photo / Manuel Elías
Ahmed Moallim Fiqi Ahmed, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Somalia, addresses the Council at a meeting on practicing multilateralism, reforming and improving global governance
18 February 2025
CHART 1
Security Council meetings and consultations, 1946-2025
Image
*Informal consultations of the whole have been held since the inception of the Security Council. This chart only includes data on informal consultations of the whole from 1988, since prior records are not verifiable.
SOURCE:
SCPCRB/SCAD
Expand Chart 1
Meetings and consultations
In 2025, on average, the Council held 21 meetings and ten consultations per month. The highest number of formal meetings (30) was recorded in December, while the highest number of consultations took place in June (14). By contrast, in 2024, the Council held an average of 25 meetings and ten consultations per month, with peak monthly figures reaching 35 meetings and 14 consultations.
For further details, explore Chart 2 below.
Image
UN Photo / Loey Felipe
Samuel Žbogar, Permanent Representative of Slovenia and President of the Security Council for the month of December, chairs a meeting on leadership for peace
15 December 2025
CHART 2
Security Council meetings and consultations by month in 2025
Image
SOURCE:
SCPCRB/SCAD
Expand Chart 2
High-level meetings
In 2025, the Council held 14 high-level meetings, in which two or more Council members were represented at the ministerial level or above. This reflects a decrease compared to the 23 high-level meetings held in 2024.
Nine of the high-level meetings were held under thematic items and focused on a variety of subjects. Of these, six were held under the thematic item “Maintenance of international peace and security”, while one meeting each took place under the following items: “Threats to international peace and security”, “Protection of civilians in armed conflict” and “Small arms”. Moreover, five high-level meetings were held in relation to country-specific or regional situations, notably “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”, and “Maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine”. For further details, explore section I of the
Annex
Image
UN Photo / Eskinder Debebe
Secretary-General António Guterres greets Wang Yi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of China and President of the Security Council for the month of February, during a meeting on practicing multilateralism, reforming and improving global governance
18 February 2025
Representatives on the Council
As of 31 December 2025, the number of women Permanent Representatives (PRs) and Deputy Permanent Representatives (DPRs) on the Council was ten out of a total of 36 (three women PRs out of a total of 15, and seven women DPRs out of a total of 21).
For further details, explore Charts 3 and 4 below.
Image
UN Photo / Eskinder Debebe
Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Permanent Representative of Pakistan, speaks with Eloy Alfaro de Alba, Permanent Representative of Panama, ahead of a meeting on the protection of civilians in armed conflict
4 February 2025
CHART 3
Permanent Representatives (PRs) on the Security Council, 2021-2025
Image
SOURCE:
SCPCRB/SCAD
Expand Chart 3
CHART 4
Deputy Permanent Representatives (DPRs) on the Security Council, 2021-2025
Image
SOURCE:
SCPCRB/SCAD
Expand Chart 4
Invitations under rule 39 of the Provisional Rules of Procedure
According to rule 39 of the Provisional Rules of Procedure, the Council may invite members of the Secretariat or other persons to supply it with information or to give other assistance in examining matters within its competence.
The number of invitations extended under rule 39 decreased compared to the previous year, broadly proportionate to the 16 percent decline in the number of Council meetings. Specifically, there was a total of 376 rule 39 invitees in 2025 compared to 464 in 2024 (19 percent decrease). United Nations system officials accounted for 245 of those invitations, 56 were representatives of regional intergovernmental organizations, nine were invitees from international organizations other than the United Nations, while 66 invitations were extended to participants from other entities, such as non-governmental organizations and civil society.
Image
UN Photo / Eskinder Debebe
Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya and Head of UNSMIL, addresses the Council during a meeting on the situation in Libya
21 August 2025
In 2025, fewer women participated in Council meetings under rule 39 than in 2024. Specifically, a total of 214 rule 39 invitees were men (57 percent) and 162 were women (43 percent), compared to 51 percent men and 49 percent women in 2024. The percentage of women invited under rule 39 decreased among United Nations system officials, representatives of regional intergovernmental organizations and participants from other entities, while it remained unchanged for invitees from international organizations other than the United Nations.
For further details, explore Charts 5 and 6 below.
Image
UN Photo / Eskinder Debebe
Jenna Russo, Director of Research at the International Peace Institute (IPI) and Head of the Brian Urquhart Center for Peace Operations, briefs the Council at a meeting on Advancing adaptability in United Nations peace operations: responding to new realities
24 March 2025
CHART 5
Rule 39 invitees by category, 2016-2025
Image
SOURCE:
SCPCRB/SCAD
Expand Chart 5
CHART 6
Rule 39 invitees by gender, 2016-2025
Image
SOURCE:
SCPCRB/SCAD
Expand Chart 6
Informal consultations of the whole
In 2025, Council members held 115 consultations, including 27 discussions held under “Other matters” (also known as “Any Other Business” (AOB)). The most frequently discussed topics in consultations were the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, Yemen and Syria.
For further details, explore Chart 7 below.
Image
UN Photo / Eskinder Debebe
Jérôme Bonnafont, Permanent Representative of France and President of the Security Council for the month of April, briefs reporters on the Council’s programme of work
1 April 2025
CHART 7
Most frequently discussed topics in informal consultations of the whole in 2025
Image
SOURCE:
SCPCRB/SCAD
Expand Chart 7
Informal interactive dialogues
Informal interactive dialogues
(IIDs) are considered an activity of the Council. As such, they are convened at the initiative of one or more Council members, with the participation of all Council members and are presided over by the President of the Council for the month. They are intended to seek the views of Member States that are parties to a conflict and/or other interested and affected parties. IIDs are not open to the public or broadcast.
In 2025, the Council held eight IIDs, an increase from the two meetings held in that format in 2024. Two IIDs were convened in connection with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and one each in relation to Libya (European Union Naval Force Mediterranean Operation IRINI), the Sudan, and on enhancing regional counter-terrorism cooperation in West Africa and the Sahel. In May, the President of the Security Council and the President of the General Assembly jointly convened an IID with the Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission to discuss the 2025 Review of the Peacebuilding Architecture. In addition, for the fourth time since 2021, Council members held a high-level IID on the cooperation between the Council and the League of Arab States, on the margins of the high-level segment of the General Assembly general debate in September. Council members also held an IID with members of the Peacebuilding Commission focused on youth, peace and security.
For further details, explore section II of the
Annex
Arria-formula meetings
Arria-formula meetings
are informal gatherings convened at the initiative of one or more Council members (in some instances, they are also convened by non-Council members) with the participation of all or some Council members. Arria-formula meetings do not constitute an activity of the Council and are not presided by the President of the Council. While in past practice Arria-formula meetings were closed to the public, since 2016, most of these meetings have been open to the public and broadcast. In 2025, Council members organized 13 Arria-formula meetings in connection with both thematic and country-specific topics, a decrease compared to 2024 and the lowest number of such meetings since 2016.
For further details, explore section III of the
Annex
and Chart 8.
Additional information about all Arria-formula meetings held since 1992 is available in a dedicated
dashboard
prepared by the Security Council Affairs Division.
CHART 8
Arria-formula meetings, 2016-2025
Image
SOURCE:
SCPCRB/SCAD
Expand Chart 8
Missions
In 2025, the Council conducted two visiting missions. Co-led by the Russian Federation and Somalia, Council members visited the headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 16 to 17 October to hold the tenth informal joint seminar and the 19th annual joint consultative meeting between the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council. Following the joint consultative meeting, on 30 October, the two Councils issued a joint press statement (
SC/16205
). In addition, co-led by Algeria, Denmark and Slovenia, Council members visited Lebanon and Syria from 2 to 7 December to reaffirm the Council’s commitment to the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of both countries, as well as to stability in the region. Further to the completion of the mission, the Council held a briefing in the context of a public meeting (
S/PV.10071
).
For further details, explore section IV of the
Annex
and Chart 9.
Image
UN Photo / Pasqual Gorriz
Members of the Council visiting the headquarters of UNIFIL in Naquora, Lebanon. 6 December 2025
In 2025, the Council conducted two missions: one to the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, co-led by the Russian Federation and Somalia, and another to Lebanon and Syria, co-led by Algeria, Denmark and Slovenia.
FIGURE 1
Security Council missions in 2025
Image
FIGURE 1
Security Council missions in 2025
Image
Image
United Nations Office to the African Union
Members of the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council at the tenth informal joint seminar between the two Councils.
17 October 2025
CHART 9
Security Council missions by region, 2016-2025
Image
SOURCE:
SCPCRB/SCAD
Expand Chart 9
Agenda
In accordance with rule 11 of the Provisional Rules of Procedure and Note 507 (
S/2024/507
), every January, the Council reviews the list of matters of which it is seized. Agenda items which have not been considered at a Council meeting in the preceding three years are deleted, unless a Member State requests that an item be retained on the list. In the latter case, an item will remain on the list for an additional year, unless the Council decides otherwise, and will be subject to the same procedure described above if not considered by the Council during that subsequent year.
Image
UN Photo / Loey Felipe
Musa Timothy Kabba, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone and President of the Security Council for the month of November, chairs a meeting on small arms
10 November 2025
In 2025, the Security Council considered 46 agenda items in meetings, compared to 45 in the previous year. Out of the 46 agenda items, 23 addressed country-specific or regional situations and 23 focused on thematic and other issues.
46
agenda items
23
addressed country-specific or regional situations
23
addressed thematic and other issues
Overview
In 2025, the Council considered a total of 46 agenda items, of which 23 addressed country-specific or regional situations and 23 thematic and other issues. The Council did not add or remove any item from the list of matters of which it is seized in 2025.
For further details, explore section V of the
Annex
and Chart 10.
Image
UN Photo / Manuel Elías
Vassily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation and President of the Security Council for the month of October, chairs a meeting on women and peace and security
6 October 2025
CHART 10
Meetings and decisions by agenda item in 2025
Image
SOURCE:
SCPCRB/SCAD
Expand Chart 10
Country-specific and regional situations
In 2025, the Council discussed country-specific or regional situations in 173 of its formal meetings (68 percent). The Middle East accounted for 66 of those meetings, followed by Africa with 63, Europe with 21, the Americas with 14 and Asia with nine.
For further details, explore Chart 11.
CHART 11
Percentage of meetings by geographic region in 2025
Image
SOURCE:
SCPCRB/SCAD
Expand Chart 11
Thematic and other issues
In 2025, 82 formal meetings (32 percent) were held under agenda items of a thematic or cross-cutting nature. Of these, 30 meetings took place under the items "Threats to international peace and security” and “Maintenance of international peace and security”. In connection with “Threats to international peace and security”, the Council considered a broad range of country- and region-specific issues, including Ukraine, the Middle East, the 2022 Nord Stream incident, the violation of the airspace of Estonia and Poland, Cambodia and Thailand, the situation in the southern Caribbean and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and Israel’s recognition of Somaliland. Country- and region-specific issues were also addressed under other thematic items, including discussions on the situation in Gaza and the Sudan held under the item entitled “Protection of civilians in armed conflict”, as well as on maritime security in the Red Sea and counter terrorism in Africa under “Maintenance of international peace and security”.
Image
UN Photo / Loey Felipe
Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece and President of the Security Council for the month of May, chairs a meeting on strengthening maritime security through international cooperation for global stability
20 May 2025
CHART 12
Percentage of meetings on country-specific/regional situations and thematic or other issues in 2025
Image
SOURCE:
SCPCRB/SCAD
Expand Chart 12
Decisions and Voting
According to Article 27 of the Charter, each Council member has one vote. An affirmative vote of nine members is required for decisions to be adopted on procedural and substantive matters, including the concurrent votes of the permanent members for substantive matters. The Council adopts resolutions and presidential statements and takes procedural decisions related to the adoption of the agenda, extension of invitations and adjournment of meetings. Council decisions also take the form of notes and letters by the President of the Council.
Image
UN Photo / Loey Felipe
A view of Council members voting in favor of resolution 2793 (2025) on the situation in Haiti
30 September 2025
In 2025, the Security Council adopted 44 resolutions and eight presidential statements and issued six notes by the President and 27 letters by the President. Council members also issued 35 press statements. The Council failed to adopt 4 draft resolutions. In 2025, the number of vetoes and procedural votes decreased in comparison to 2024. The percentage of unanimously adopted resolutions also decreased from 65 percent in 2024 to 61 percent in 2025, with 42 percent of resolutions adopted under Chapter VII receiving unanimous support.
44
resolutions
notes by the President
presidential statements
27
letters by the President
Overview
In 2025, the Council adopted 44 resolutions and eight presidential statements, representing a two percent decline compared to 2024 and a continuation of the downward trend of recent years. In 2025, the Council and the General Assembly adopted the fourth set of identical resolutions (Security Council resolution
2805 (2025)
and General Assembly resolution
80/11
) in connection with peacebuilding and sustaining peace further to the 2025 review of the peacebuilding architecture. The six notes by the President issued in 2025 concerned the report of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency concerning the verification and monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran in the light of resolution
2231 (2015)
, the reporting period for the Secretary-General on the Sudan, as well as Abyei, the election of the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of subsidiary bodies, the adoption of the annual report of the Council to the General Assembly, as well as the annual flag installation ceremony for incoming Council members.
In addition, the Council issued 27 letters by the President. The subjects covered in those letters included issues relating to, inter alia, the appointment of senior United Nations and other officials, the Council mission to Lebanon and Syria, the tenth informal joint seminar and the nineteenth annual joint consultative meeting between the members of the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council, the technical assessment in connection with the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone, the final report of the Panel of Experts on the Sudan, the independent strategic review of the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), and the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission. On 25 November, the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Security Council circulated a joint letter to Member States to formally begin the selection process for the appointment of the next Secretary-General (
S/2025/765
and
A/80/544
).
Image
UN Photo / Loey Felipe
The Council unanimously adopts resolution 2808 (2025) extending the mandate of MONUSCO at a meeting on the situation concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo
19 December 2025
In addition, the Council issued 27 letters by the President. The subjects covered in those letters included issues relating to, inter alia, the appointment of senior United Nations and other officials, the Council mission to Lebanon and Syria, the technical assessment in connection with AUSSOM, the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone, the final report of the Panel of Experts on the Sudan, the independent strategic review of UNSOS, and the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission. On 25 November, the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Security Council circulated a joint letter to Member States to formally begin the selection process for the appointment of the next Secretary-General (
S/2025/765
and
A/80/544
).
For further details on decisions, explore Chart 13.
CHART 13
Resolutions, presidential statements, notes, and letters by the President, 2016-2025
Image
SOURCE:
SCPCRB/SCAD
Expand Chart 13
Decisions by geographic region
In 2025, 35 of the 44 resolutions and four of the eight presidential statements concerned country- or region-specific situations or conflicts. Africa accounted for 20 resolutions, followed by the Middle East with seven resolutions and three presidential statements, the Americas with four resolutions, Europe with three resolutions and one presidential statement, and Asia with one resolution.
For further details, explore Chart 14.
Image
UN Photo / Loey Felipe
Lord Ray Collins of Highbury, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom, addresses the Council during a meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question
29 April 2025
CHART 14
Percentage of decisions by geographic region in 2025
Image
SOURCE:
SCPCRB/SCAD
Expand Chart 14
Press statements
In 2025, Council members issued 35 press statements, a decrease compared to 43 press statements in 2024. A total of 18 press statements concerned political developments, peace and electoral processes and humanitarian issues, including the protection of civilians, while 17 were issued following terrorist incidents or acts targeting United Nations and non-governmental organizations’ personnel. Most press statements focused on Africa (22), followed by the Middle East (seven), Asia (five), and Europe (one).
For further details, explore Chart 15 below.
Image
UN Photo / Loey Felipe
Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Permanent Representative of Guyana and President of the Security Council for the month of June, briefs reporters on behalf of the Women, Peace and Security Shared Commitments Group
27 June 2025
CHART 15
Frequency of countries or regions referred to in press statements in 2025
Image
SOURCE:
SCPCRB/SCAD
Expand Chart 15
Procedural votes
In 2025, procedural matters were put to a vote on one occasion, compared to eight such instances in 2024. In February, at the outset of a meeting held under the item entitled “Maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine”, the proposal to adjourn the meeting was put to a vote and was not adopted (see
S/PV.9866
).
For further details, see Chart 16.
CHART 16
Procedural votes 2021-2025
Image
SOURCE:
SCPCRB/SCAD
Expand Chart 16
Sponsorship
A Council member or any other Member State that directly submits a draft resolution is referred to as a sponsor or co-sponsor. A draft resolution co-sponsored by all Council members is referred to as a “presidential text”. In 2025, one draft resolution, adopted as resolution
2777 (2025)
, extending the mandated of UNAMA, was submitted as a presidential text (see
S/2025/161
) – the first presidential text to be adopted by the Council since 2021.
In 2025, two draft resolutions were jointly drafted and submitted by all ten elected members of the Council acting as co-penholders. In June, the elected members jointly submitted a draft resolution (
S/2025/353
), which demanded an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, as well as the unconditional lifting of all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, its safe and unhindered distribution and the restoration of essential services. The draft resolution was not adopted owing to a veto cast by a permanent member. In September, the elected members jointly submitted another draft resolution on Gaza (
S/2025/583
), which also failed to be adopted owing to a veto cast by a permanent member. Further information on vetoes is featured below.
For further details on presidential texts, see Chart 17 below.
Image
UN Photo / Evan Schneider
The Security Council votes on a draft resolution during a meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question
18 September 2025
CHART 17
Presidential texts, 2016-2025
Image
SOURCE:
SCPCRB/SCAD
Expand Chart 17
Voting
In 2025, 61 percent of resolutions (27 out of 44) were adopted unanimously, marking a further decline in unanimity as compared to 2024 (which registered a 65 percent unanimity rate) and the 80 percent average recorded over the previous decade (2015-2024). Four of the 17 resolutions not adopted unanimously related to sanctions regimes (Libya, Sudan, South Sudan, and Yemen) and five to the mandates of peacekeeping operations (UNMISS, MINURSO, United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, MINUSCA and UNISFA). The remaining resolutions not adopted unanimously concerned a wide variety of topics, including maritime security in the Red Sea, the Russian Federation-Ukraine conflict, the authorization for inspection of vessels on the high seas off the coast of Libya, the transition of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti to the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) and the establishment of the UN Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH), the delisting of two individuals from the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List, and the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict. In 2025, one Council member did not participate in a vote on resolution
2797 (2025)
by which the Council extended the mandate of MINURSO (see
S/PV.10030
).
For further details, explore section VI of the
Annex
Image
UN Photo / Loey Felipe
Michael G. Waltz (centre at table), Permanent Representative of the United
States of America to the United Nations, addresses the Security Council meeting on the situation in
the Middle East, including the Palestinian question
17 November 2025
In 2025, the Council failed to adopt four draft resolutions, the lowest number of non-adopted resolutions since 2021. Two of the draft resolutions were submitted in connection with “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”, as featured above, and two in connection with “Non-proliferation”. In addition, the Council failed to adopt five amendments submitted in connection with a draft resolution submitted and adopted as resolution
2774 (2025)
under the item “Maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine”.
Out of the four draft resolutions not adopted in 2025, two vetoes were cast on two draft resolutions, both of which were submitted under the item “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”. In addition, two vetoes were cast on amendments submitted in connection with the draft resolution submitted and adopted as resolution
2774 (2025)
under the item “Maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine”.
For further details, explore section VII of the
Annex
In the past decade (2016 to 2025), a total of 49 vetoes were cast. Chart 18 below shows the voting record for draft resolutions tabled in the period 2016 to 2025, illustrating the number of draft resolutions adopted unanimously and non-unanimously, as well as the number of draft resolutions vetoed or not adopted due to the failure to obtain the required number of votes. By way of comparison, a total of 19 vetoes were cast in the previous decade (2006 to 2015). For a historic and up-to-date overview of vetoes at the Council, visit the
Peace and Security Data Hub
In accordance with General Assembly resolution
76/262
of 26 April 2022, the Council submitted three special reports to the Assembly in 2025 (see
A/79/804
A/79/938
; and
A/80/394
), after the casting of the above referenced vetoes and ahead of the meetings of the Assembly.
Image
UN Photo / Eskinder Debebe
Fu Cong, Permanent Representative of China and President of the Security Council for the month of February, chairs a meeting on maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine
24 February 2025
CHART 18
Voting on draft resolutions, 2016-2025
Image
SOURCE:
SCPCRB/SCAD
Expand Chart 18
Cross-cutting issues in country- and region-specific decisions of the Security Council
In 2025, the Council continued its practice of including provisions on cross-cutting issues, namely the protection of civilians in armed conflict (POC), women and peace and security (WPS) and children and armed conflict (CAAC), in its resolutions and presidential statements relating to country-specific or regional situations. In 2025, the Council adopted 38 resolutions and presidential statements relating to country-specific or regional situations, 23 of which contained one or more provisions on POC (61 percent); 19 on WPS (50 percent); and 16 on CAAC (42 percent), representing a decrease across all three topics compared to 2024.
For further details, explore Chart 19 below. Additional information is available in the
CAAC
POC
and
WPS
interactive dashboards prepared by the Security Council Affairs Division.
Image
UN Photo / Eskinder Debebe
Evangelos Sekeris, Permanent Representative of Greece and President of the Security Council for the month of May, delivers a joint statement on the situation of women in Yemen, on behalf of the signatories of the Shared Commitments on Women, Peace and Security
14 May 2025
CHART 19
Decisions adopted under country-specific or regional situations with provisions on POC, WPS or CAAC, 2016-2025
Image
SOURCE:
SCPCRB/SCAD
Expand Chart 19
Resolutions under Chapter VII
In 2025, out of a total of 44 resolutions, the Council adopted 24 resolutions explicitly under Chapter VII of the Charter, 18 of which concerned Africa. Resolutions adopted under Chapter VII were mainly related to sanctions measures, mandates of United Nations peacekeeping operations and the authorization of operations led by Member States or regional arrangements. This included resolutions
2780 (2025)
and
2804 (2025)
by which the Council extended for six months respectively the authorization for inspections on the high seas off the coast of Libya of vessels believed to be carrying arms or related material to or from Libya in violation of the arms embargo; resolution
2793 (2025)
, authorizing Member States to transition the MSS mission in Haiti to the Gang Suppression Force (GSF); resolution
2795 (2025)
renewing the authorization of EUFOR-Althea for a period of 12 months; and resolution
2809 (2025)
extending the authorization of AUSSOM for 12 months. A total of 13 of the 24 resolutions adopted under Chapter VII (54 percent) received unanimous support.
For further details, explore section VIII of the
Annex
and Chart 20 below.
Image
UN Photo / Manuel Elías
Christina Markus Lassen, Permanent Representative of Denmark and President of the Security Council for the month of March, chairs a meeting on peace and security in Africa, at which the Council adopted resolution 2776 (2025) on the Al-Shabaab sanctions regime
3 March 2025
CHART 20
Resolutions adopted explicitly under Chapter VII of the Charter in 2025
Image
SOURCE:
SCPCRB/SCAD
Expand Chart 20
Subsidiary Bodies
Article 29 of the Charter provides that the Council may establish such subsidiary organs as it deems necessary for the performance of its functions. This is also reflected in rule 28 of the Provisional Rules of Procedure.
Throughout its history, the Council has established a wide variety of subsidiary organs, such as committees, working groups, investigative bodies, tribunals, ad hoc commissions, as well as peacekeeping and special political missions and sanctions committees, and their mandate can range from procedural matters to substantive ones. In addition, the Council relies on a Military Staff Committee established in accordance with Article 47 of the Charter of the United Nations.
Image
UN Photo / Eskinder Debebe
Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and Head of UNAMA, briefs the Council at a meeting on the situation in Afghanistan
23 June 2025
In 2025, the Council adopted decisions concerning the mandate of eight peacekeeping operations (out of eleven operations) and five special political missions (out of eleven missions), primarily extending their mandates. The Council also adopted decisions concerning the mandate of eight sanctions monitoring mechanisms that support the work of eight of the 15 sanctions committees.
Peacekeeping operations and special political missions
Image
UN Photo / Eskinder Debebe
Lars Løkke Rasmussen (centre), Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark and President of the Security Council for the month of March, chairs the Security Council meeting on "Advancing adaptability in United Nations peace operations: responding to new realities" under maintenance of international peace and security
24 March 2025
In 2025, the Council extended the mandates of eight out of eleven peacekeeping operations (UNFICYP, UNMISS, UNDOF, UNIFIL, MINURSO, MINUSCA, UNISFA and MONUSCO) for periods ranging from nine days to 16 months, as well as five out of eleven special political missions (UNAMA, BINUH, UNMHA, UNSMIL and the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia) for periods ranging from six to 12 months. The mandates of three peacekeeping missions (UNMOGIP, UNMIK and UNTSO) and two special political missions (UNRCCA and UNSCOL) remained open-ended. The mandate of UNOCA was extended in 2024 until 2027, the mandate of UNOWAS was extended in 2023 until 2026, and the mandate of UNTMIS had been established for a two-year period from 2024 to 2026.
In addition to mandate extensions, the Council requested the Secretary-General to provide a strategic review regarding the  future mandate of MINURSO. On UNISFA, the Council expressed its intention to consider a further renewal of the mission based on demonstrable progress by the Sudan and South Sudan against a set of benchmarks. With respect to MINUSCA, the Council requested the Secretary-General to provide a report on the eventual handover of tasks to the Government of the Central African Republic or the UN Country Team. Concerning UNMHA, the Council requested the Secretary-General to present a further review of the mission with a view to delivering further efficiencies and structural coherence and coordination across the United Nations missions in Yemen.
Further to resolution
2732 (2024)
, the mandate of UNAMI concluded on 31 December 2025. By resolution
2792 (2025)
, the Council requested the Secretary-General to appoint a Senior Representative with the mandate to promote, support and facilitate efforts regarding the repatriation or return of all Kuwaiti and third-country nationals or their remains, and the return of Kuwaiti property, including the national archives.
Changes to mission configuration and mandates
In 2025, all peacekeeping operations except for MINUSCA maintained their previously authorized uniformed personnel ceiling. Regarding MINUSCA, the Council reduced that ceiling from 14,400 to 14,046 military personnel and from 3,020 to 2,999 police personnel.
In addition, the mandates of several missions were modified. Specifically, the Council authorized MONUSCO to support the implementation of a permanent ceasefire in line with resolution
2773 (2025)
, including by participating in the Ceasefire Oversight and Verification Mechanism agreed by the parties in Doha. In the case of UNSMIL, the Council welcomed the roadmap announced by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya and encouraged the mission to implement the recommendations of the mission’s strategic review. The Council also modified the mandate of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, by removing tasks related to the verification of compliance with the restorative sentences handed down by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace and monitoring the implementation of the ethnic chapter of the 2016 Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace. The Council also discontinued the Mission’s task to monitor and verify the implementation of the ceasefire as outlined in the Second Cuba Agreement between the Government of Colombia and the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN).
Additional information on the mandates of peacekeeping operations and special political missions is available in the
Field Missions Dashboard
prepared by the Security Council Affairs Division.
Image
UN Photo / Jorkim Jotham Pituwa
Ulisses De Mesquita Gomes, Force Commander of MONUSCO, visits peacekeepers from Bangladesh and Indonesia during an inspection tour of troops deployed in Ituri province, Democratic Republic of the Congo
27 March 2025
Sanctions and other committees and working groups
In 2025, the Council adopted decisions concerning the mandate of eight sanctions monitoring mechanisms (monitoring teams, groups and panels) that support the work of eight of the 15 sanctions committees. On 27 September, following the non-adoption of two draft resolutions (
S/2025/539
and
S/2025/561
) to extend sanctions terminations under resolution
2231 (2015)
, all provisions of resolutions
1696 (2006)
1737 (2006)
1747 (2007)
1803 (2008)
1835 (2008)
and
1929 (2010)
were re-applied in accordance with the “snapback” mechanism set forth in resolution
2231 (2015)
The committees and working groups established by the Council met 76 times in 2025, in the context of both formal and informal meetings, as well as briefings, including joint briefings to Member States, compared to 135 meetings held in 2024. In October, the Informal Working Group of the Security Council on General United Nations Security Council Sanctions Issues held its first meeting since its establishment in 2024. In December, the Informal Working Group also held an open briefing for interested Member States.
For further details, explore Chart 21 below.
CHART 21
Meetings of subsidiary organs in 2025
Image
SOURCE:
SCPCRB/SCAD
Expand Chart 21
Chairs of sanctions and other committees and working groups
According to Note 507 (
S/2024/507
), members of the Council should make every effort to agree provisionally on the appointment of the Chairs of the subsidiary bodies for the following year by no later than 1 October. The note also provides that the selection of the Chairs should take place in a balanced, transparent, efficient and inclusive way. On 29 May 2025, Council members agreed to elect the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the subsidiary bodies for the period ending on 31 December 2025 (
S/2025/2
). Departing from previous practice, two subsidiary bodies were chaired by two Co-Chairs (Denmark and Pakistan as Co-Chairs of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions and Greece and Pakistan as Co-Chairs of the Informal Working Group on General United Nations Security Council Sanctions Issues), without Vice-Chairs. As of 31 December, a total of six women served as Chairs of subsidiary bodies (24 percent), while the number of men who served as Chairs stood at 19 (76 percent). Among the sanctions monitoring mechanisms, a total of 14 (41 percent) experts were women, while a total of 20 (59 percent) were men.
For additional information about the composition of the bureaux of the Security Council subsidiary organs, see the
Chairs and Vice-Chairs Dashboard
, prepared by the Security Council Affairs Division.
For further details, explore Chart 22 below.
Image
Loey Felipe
Hwang Joonkook
, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea, addresses the Council in his capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005) concerning the Sudan
27 June 2025
CHART 22
Gender composition of Chairs of subsidiary organs and sanctions monitoring mechanisms, 2021-2025
Image
SOURCE:
SCPCRB/SCAD
Expand Chart 22
*As of 31 December, 18 expert positions remained vacant, pending the approval of nominations by the respective sanctions committees.
Individuals and entities on Security Council sanctions and restrictive measures lists
As of 31 December, a total of 726 individuals and 273 entities were subject to United Nations targeted sanctions and restrictive measures such as asset freezes, travel bans and arms embargoes. A consolidated list containing the names of the individuals and entities subject to United Nations targeted measures is also available on the
Security Council website
. In 2025, 46 individuals and 80 entities were added to the consolidated list. Of these, 43 individuals and 78 entities were re-listed after the reestablishment of the sanctions list maintained by the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution
1737 (2006)
, while two individuals were listed by resolution
2794 (2025)
The charts below illustrate the number of listed individuals and entities for each sanctions committee. Information on each committee, including individuals and entities designated by the relevant committee, the applicable sanctions measures, as well as the procedures for the processing of listing and delisting requests, can be found on the
Security Council website
For further details, explore Chart 23.
Image
UN Photo / Loey Felipe
Amar Bendjama, Permanent Representative of Algeria and President of the Security Council for the month of January, chairs a Council meeting on the situation in Libya, at which the Council adopted resolution 2769 (2025), renewing the sanctions regime on Libya
16 January 2025
CHART 23
Individuals and entities listed as of 31 December 2025
Image
SOURCE:
SCPCRB/SCAD
Expand Chart 23
De-listings from sanctions lists in 2025
In 2025, five individuals were removed (also referred to as “de-listed”) from the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List and the 1518 Sanctions List (Iraq). Of these, two individuals were removed by resolution
2799 (2025)
De-listing requests in relation to the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List are submitted directly to the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee or the Office of the Ombudsperson. De-listing requests with respect to all other sanctions lists are submitted to the respective sanctions committees or through the Focal Point for De-listing in the Secretariat. Any Member State can propose the de-listing of an individual or an entity. The relevant committee then considers the proposal, in consultation with the designating State, and makes a final decision on whether or not to de-list. Often, those proposing de-listings are the State of citizenship or residence of a listed individual, the State of location or place of registration of a listed entity, the designating State itself, or a Council member.
Image
UN Photo / Loey Felipe
A view of Council members voting in favour of resolution 2799 (2025) on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, removing two individuals from the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List
6 November 2025
Activities of the Focal Point for De-listing and the Office of the Ombudsperson
In addition to the ability of Member States to de-list, two mechanisms have been established to strengthen the de-listing process: the Focal Point for De-listing and the Office of the Ombudsperson.
Since its establishment in 2006, the Focal Point for De-listing has received a total of 124 requests to de-list individuals and/or entities. A total of 119 of these requests have been processed, while five are pending. As a result of this process, a total of 20 individuals and 17 entities have been de-listed and 59 individuals and 21 entities remain on the list. Further to resolution
2774 (2024)
, the appointment of the Focal Point for De-listing is still pending.
The Office of the Ombudsperson, established to serve as the de-listing mechanism for the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, has received a total of 114 requests to de-list individuals and/or entities since 2009, of which 112 have been processed and two are pending. As a result, a total of 68 individuals and 28 entities have been de-listed and 34 listings remain. The mandate of the Office of the Ombudsperson had been extended in 2024 until 17 June 2027. On 17 November, the Secretary-General appointed Ms. Vera Ngwenyi Nkwate Epse Ngassa (Cameroon) as Ombudsperson, effective 16 December 2025 (
S/2025/754
).
For further details, explore Chart 24 below.
CHART 24
De-listings by the Focal Point for De-listing and the Office of the Ombudsperson as of 31 December 2025
Image
*For details on the procedures of the Focal Point for De-listing and the Office of the Ombudsperson, visit the
website
SOURCE:
SCPCRB/SCAD
Expand Chart 24
Military Staff Committee
The Military Staff Committee was established in accordance with Article 47 of the Charter and the first resolution of the Council, resolution
1 (1946)
. The Military Staff Committee is mandated to advise and assist the Council on all questions relating to the Security Council’s military requirements for the maintenance of international peace and security, the employment and command of forces placed at its disposal, the regulation of armaments, and possible disarmament.
In 2025, the Military Staff Committee adopted a programme of work and held a total of 36 meetings during which it discussed 36 topics. A total of 19 topics focused on current United Nations peacekeeping operations and special political missions, while the remaining 17 related to cross-cutting issues, including budgetary issues, contingency planning, accountability for performance and responses to crises. For more information, see the annual report of the Military Staff Committee
(S/2025/832)