Abstention Obligation Under the UN Charter in the Light of the Subsequent Practice of the Permanent Members
Journal: Asian Journal of Law and Policy
Year: 2025

A permanent member of the Security Council derives its veto power from Article 27(3) of the Charter of the United Nations. The proviso of Article 27(3), however, provides that when the Security Council is considering a non-procedural resolution under Chapter VI and Article 52(3) of the Charter, a party to the dispute to which the resolution relates shall not vote. It is also known as the obligatory abstention rule. The abstention obligation seems clear, but the practice of the obligation is not