Barbados joins Franco-Mexican initiative to restrict the veto in mass-atrocity situations

24 September 2026

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced at the UN General Assembly's general debate on Thursday, 24 September 2026, that Barbados is joining 123 other Member States in supporting the Franco-Mexican initiative restricting use of the veto in situations involving mass atrocities. She said "reform cannot be selective" and that the Security Council had failed to keep pace with a changing world, pointing to the absence of a permanent seat for Africa and of assured representation for small island developing States. She described a "crisis of responsibility" and urged leaders to turn what they know into what they do. She also called for greater investment in conflict prevention, mediation and adequately resourced peacekeeping, and for governing artificial intelligence together.