An examination of the challenges to the legitimacy of United Nations Security Council decisions from the perspective of international law

Achieving sustainable peace and establishing effective mechanisms for it are fundamental issues of international law that have received intense attention, especially after the establishment of the United Nations and the Security Council. The Security Council, as the main institution responsible for maintaining and developing international peace and security, needs legitimacy in its decisions. However, some factors, such as the veto power and the dominance of the permanent members of the Security Council over its decisions, have reduced the legitimacy of this institution. This has led to some decisions of the Security Council, especially in times of global crises, facing serious criticism. One way to strengthen the legitimacy of the Security Council is to eliminate the unfair veto power and distribute influence more equitably among member states, especially non-permanent members. The present study, using a descriptive-analytical method, examines the challenges to the legitimacy of Security Council decisions and the impact of various factors on them, and offers suggestions for improving this legitimacy in order to achieve sustainable international peace and security.