The Uniting for peace resolution lets the General Assembly meet in emergency special session within 24 hours

Background

Under General Assembly resolution 377A(V), known as "Uniting for peace", an emergency special session can be convened within 24 hours. The resolution was adopted by the General Assembly on 3 November 1950. It resolves that if the Security Council, because of lack of unanimity of the permanent members, fails to exercise its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security where there appears to be a threat to the peace, a breach of the peace or an act of aggression, the General Assembly shall consider the matter immediately with a view to making appropriate recommendations to Members for collective measures — including, in the case of a breach of the peace or an act of aggression, the use of armed force when necessary. If the Assembly is not in session at the time, it may meet in emergency special session within twenty-four hours of the request. Such a session shall be called if requested by the Security Council on the vote of any seven members, or by a majority of the Members of the United Nations. Eleven emergency special sessions have been convened, on subjects including the Middle East, the Question of Congo, the Question of Palestine, the situation in Afghanistan, the Question of Namibia and Ukraine. The figure of seven is the resolution's own wording: 377A(V) was adopted when the Security Council had eleven members. The Charter amendment that came into force on 31 August 1965 enlarged the Council from eleven to fifteen members and raised the vote for a decision on a procedural matter from seven members to nine. Rule 8(b) of the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly accordingly provides that an emergency special session shall be convened within twenty-four hours of a request from the Security Council on the vote of any nine members.