Brazil and the United Nations

Last updated

Federative Republic of Brazil
Flag of the United Nations.svg Flag of Brazil.svg
United Nations membership
MembershipFull member
Since24 October 1945 (1945-10-24)
Former name(s) United States of Brazil (1945–1967)
UNSC seat Non-permanent (G4 member)
Permanent Representative Sérgio França Danese

Brazil is a full member of the United Nations. It has participated in peacekeeping operations with the UN [1] in the Middle East, the former Belgian Congo, Cyprus, Mozambique, Angola, and more recently East Timor and Haiti. [2] Brazil has been regularly elected as a non-permanent member to the Security Council since its first session in 1946 and is now among the most elected UN member states to the UNSC. Brazil was elected to become a member of the 15-country UN Security Council for the two-year term of 2022–23. [3]

Contents

Activities

President Dilma Rousseff delivers the opening speech at the 66th Session of the General Assembly on September 21, 2011, marking the first time a woman opens a United Nations session. Rousseff UN General Debate.jpg
President Dilma Rousseff delivers the opening speech at the 66th Session of the General Assembly on September 21, 2011, marking the first time a woman opens a United Nations session.

General Assembly

Brazil has traditionally played a relevant role in the United Nations General Assembly. In 1947, Foreign Minister Oswaldo Aranha chaired the First Special Session of the General Assembly and the Second Session of the General Assembly. Since 1947, Brazil has been the first country to speak at the General Debate. [4] Brazilian representatives deliver opening speeches that often present an assessment of the international situation as a backdrop to express the Brazilian point of view on the main issues. [5] On September 21, 2011, President Rousseff became the first woman to open a General Debate since the United Nations was founded. [6]

Security Council

Brazil has been elected ten times to the United Nations Security Council; the 2022–23 term was its 11th turn. [7] It is currently ranked second (Japan is first) in terms of most number of years as an elected member. [8]

List of terms as an elected member to the Security Council:

  • 1946–47
  • 1951–52
  • 1954–55
  • 1963–64
  • 1967–68
  • 1988–89
  • 1993–94
  • 1998–99
  • 2004–05
  • 2010–11
  • 2022–23

Security Council reform

Brazil is actively engaged in the reform of the United Nations Security Council and has sought to garner support for a permanent seat with veto power. [9] It formed the G4 alliance with Germany, India, and Japan for the purpose of supporting each other’s bids for permanent seats. [9] Their proposal calls for an enlarged Security Council, expanded in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of membership. [9] A wide coalition of member states from all regional groups of the United Nations supported the initiative. [9]

The United States sent strong indications to Brazil that it was willing to support its membership; albeit, without a veto. [10] In June 2011, the Council on Foreign Relations recommended that the US government fully endorse the inclusion of Brazil as a permanent member of the Security Council. [11] Brazil has also received backing from other permanent members: Russia, [12] the United Kingdom, [13] France, [14] all nations that form Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), [15] Chile, [16] Indonesia [ citation needed ], Finland, [17] Slovenia, [18] Australia, [19] South Africa, [20] Guatemala, [21] Vietnam, [22] the Philippines, [23] among others.

Peacekeeping

Brazilian peacekeeping soldier in Haiti. US Navy 100316-N-9116F-001 A Brazilian U.N. peacekeeper walks with Haitian children during a patrol in Cite Soleil.jpg
Brazilian peacekeeping soldier in Haiti.

A founding member of the United Nations, Brazil has a long tradition of contributing to peacekeeping operations. Brazil has participated in 33 United Nations peacekeeping operations and contributed with over 27,000 troops. Currently, Brazil contributes with more than 2,200 troops, military observers and police officers in three continents. [24]

Brazil led the military component of the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) from its establishment in 2004, [25] until the dissolution of MINUSTAH in 2017 [26] amid ongoing controversy. [26] [27] [28] [29] The mission's Force Commander was Major General Fernando Rodrigues Goulart of the Brazilian Army. [30] Brazil was the biggest troop-contributing country to MINUSTAH, with 2,200 active military personnel. [31]

Brazil also leads the Maritime Task Force (MTF) of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). [32] Since February 2011, the UNIFIL MTF is under the command of Rear Admiral Luiz Henrique Caroli of the Brazilian Navy. [32] The Brazilian Niteroi-class frigate, União, is the flagship of the fleet comprising vessels from three other countries. [32]

Financial contribution

Brazil is one of the largest contributors to the United Nations regular budget, with a net contribution of USD 57 million for the 2022 Assessment. [33]

Representation

New York


Brazil maintains a permanent mission to the United Nations in New York, which is headed by Ambassador Sérgio França Danese [34] The mission is responsible for Brazil's participation in all United Nations events that concern the country in meetings of the General Assembly, Security Council, and other U.N. agencies headquartered in New York. [35]

Geneva

Brazil maintains a permanent mission to the United Nations Office at Geneva, headed by Ambassador Maria Nazareth Farani Azevêdo. [36] The delegation is responsible for representing Brazil at the agencies headquartered in Geneva. [35]

Rome

In Rome, Brazil maintains a delegation to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), led by Ambassador Antonino Marques Porto e Santos. [37]

UNESCO Headquarters in Paris Paris - UNESCO (29986221081).jpg
UNESCO Headquarters in Paris

Paris

At the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) headquarters in Paris, the Permanent Delegation of Brazil is headed by Ambassador Marcia Donner Abreu. [38] Brazil joined UNESCO in 1946, and has been a member of its executive board several times, most recently 2007–09. [38]

Events Hosted

Brazil served in the past as a host for UN's conferences, such as the Conference on Environment and Development, also known as Earth Summit that happened in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. [39] Brazil turned down offer to host 2019's UN Climate Change Conference. [40]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign relations of Brazil</span>

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for managing the foreign relations of Brazil. Brazil has the largest economy in Latin America and is a key political and economic power on the world stage. Brazil's foreign policy reflects its role as a regional power and a potential world power and is designed to help protect the country's national interests, national security, ideological goals, and economic prosperity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council</span> One of the six principal organs of the UN

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN) and is charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, and approving any changes to the UN Charter. Its powers as outlined in the United Nations Charter include establishing peacekeeping operations, enacting international sanctions, and authorizing military action. The UNSC is the only UN body with authority to issue resolutions that are binding on member states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon</span> 1978 UN-NATO peacekeeping mission following the Israeli invasion of Lebanon

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, is a UN peacekeeping mission established on 19 March 1978 by United Nations Security Council Resolutions 425 and 426, and several further resolutions in 2006 to confirm Hezbollah demilitarisation, support Lebanese army operations against insurgents and weapon smuggling, and confirming Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, in order to ensure that the government of Lebanon would restore its effective authority in the area. The 1978 South Lebanon conflict came in the context of Palestinian insurgency in South Lebanon and the Lebanese Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti</span> 2004–2017 United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti

The United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti, also known as MINUSTAH, an acronym of its French name, was a UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti from 2004 to 2017. It was composed of 2,366 military personnel and 2,533 police, supported by international civilian personnel, a local civilian staff, and United Nations Volunteers. The mission's military component was led by the Brazilian Army and commanded by a Brazilian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reform of the United Nations Security Council</span>

Since its creation in 1945, the United Nations Security Council has undergone one reform, increasing its membership from 4 to 10 non-permanent members. Nonetheless, this first and only reform has not left the global community satisfied, which has since then relentlessly called for a more all-encompassing reform. Reform of the Security Council encompasses five key issues: categories of membership, the question of the veto held by the five permanent members, regional representation, the size of an enlarged Council and its working methods, and the Security Council-General Assembly relationship. Despite a common agreement amongst member states, regional groups and academics on the need for reform, its feasibility is compromised by the difficulty to find an approach that would please all parties. Any reform of the Security Council would require the agreement of at least two-thirds of United Nations member states in a vote in the General Assembly and must be ratified by two-thirds of Member States. All of the permanent members (P5) of the UNSC, which hold veto rights, must also agree.

Lieutenant-General Urano Teixeira da Matta Bacellar was a Brazilian soldier. He was born in Bagé in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. He served for 39 years in the Brazilian Army and eventually rose to the rank of Lieutenant-General. He was married and had two children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edmond Mulet</span> Guatemalan politician

Edmond Auguste Mulet Lesieur is a Guatemalan diplomat, lawyer and notary public. He was appointed Head of the independent three-member panel to lead the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)-United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism on 27 April 2017. Mulet served as the last Chief of Staff to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Previously, he was Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations at the United Nations. He was appointed to this position on 2 June 2011. He was the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of mission of MINUSTAH, having assumed the functions of acting head of mission in the immediate aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, in which the previous head of mission, Hédi Annabi of Tunisia, perished, along with his deputy Luiz Carlos da Costa of Brazil, and the acting police commissioner, RCMP Supt. Doug Coates of Canada, when the mission's headquarters in Port-au-Prince collapsed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hédi Annabi</span> Tunisian diplomat (1943–2010)

Hédi Annabi was a Tunisian diplomat and Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, Head of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). He was previously an Assistant-Secretary-General at the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations, from 1997 to 2007.

The United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH) was a peacekeeping operation carried out by the United Nations between September 1993 and June 1996. The Mission was reestablished (MINUSTAH) in April 2004, after a rebellion took over most of Haiti and President Bertrand Aristide resigned. This mandate ended in 2017, replaced by United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH), which saw the end of UN peacekeepers in Haiti after its ending in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canada–Haiti relations</span> Bilateral relations

Diplomatic relations between Canada and Haiti were established in 1954. During the unsettled period from 1957 to 1990, Canada received many Haitian refugees, who now form a significant minority in Quebec. Canada participated in various international interventions in Haiti between 1994 and 2004, and continues to provide substantial aid to Haiti. Both nations are members of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, Organization of American States and the United Nations, and are the only independent French-speaking countries in the Americas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1542</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 2004

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1542, adopted unanimously on 30 April 2004, after receiving a report by the Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the council deplored all violations of human rights in Haiti and urged the Government of Haiti to promote and protect human rights with a State based on rule of law and independent judiciary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1944</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 2010

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1944, adopted unanimously on October 14, 2010, after recalling previous resolutions on Haiti, including resolutions 1542 (2004), 1576 (2004), 1608 (2005), 1658 (2006), 1702 (2006), 1743 (2006), 1780 (2007), 1840 (2008), 1892 (2009), 1908 (2010) and 1927 (2010), the Council renewed the mandate of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) until October 15, 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1658</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 2006

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1658, adopted unanimously on February 14, 2006, after recalling resolutions 1542 (2004), 1576 (2004) and 1608 (2005) on the situation in Haiti, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) until August 15, 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1702</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 2006

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1702, adopted unanimously on August 15, 2006, after recalling resolutions 1542 (2004), 1576 (2004), 1608 (2005) and 1658 (2006) on the situation in Haiti, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) until February 15, 2007.

Mexico is one of the 51 founding members of the United Nations and was admitted into the organization in 1945. Since then, Mexico is a full member of all the UN agencies and participates actively within the organization and has diplomatic relations with most member states. In June 2020, Mexico was elected for its fifth two year Non-Permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council which begins on 1 January 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santos Cruz</span> Brazilian general and politician

Divisional general Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz is a Brazilian military officer who previously held the post of Force Commander of the United Nations' peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was appointed to this position by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 17 May 2013 and replaced by Derrick Mbuyiselo Mgwebi on 29 December 2015. He was Minister-Secretary of Government of Brazil, nominated by President Jair Bolsonaro, from 1 January 2019 to 13 June 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brazil–East Timor relations</span> Bilateral relations

Brazil–East Timor relations are the bilateral relations between Brazil and Timor-Leste. Brazil has an embassy in Dili and East Timor has its own only South American embassy in Brasilia. Both countries are members of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries. Due to their shared history as a Portuguese colony, Brazil and Timor-Leste have had formal relations since before Timor-Leste became an independent state in 2002. The predominant avenues for their relations are via economic capacity building programs provided by Brazil in Timor-Leste and as a part of both countries participation in the Community of Portuguese Language Countries. Brazil has been supportive of Timor-Leste's development as an independent democracy, and the two have cooperated on programs as diverse as technological training programs, Portuguese language instruction, and football.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haiti–India relations</span> Bilateral relations

Haiti–India relations refers to the international relations between Haiti and India. The Embassy of India in Havana, Cuba is concurrently accredited to Haiti.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti</span> Peacekeeping mission in Haiti

The United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH) was a peacekeeping mission in Haiti mandated by the United Nations Security Council through Resolutions 2350 (2017) and 2410 (2018). It was the successor to MINUSTAH.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brazil–Haiti relations</span> Bilateral relations

Brazil–Haiti relations are the current and historical relations between the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Republic of Haiti. Both nations are members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Organization of American States and the United Nations.

References

  1. ↑ United Nations Peacekeeping Factsheet United Nations. Retrieved on 2010-12-06.
  2. ↑ Missões de Paz - Apresentação Archived December 6, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Exército Brasileiro. Retrieved on 2010-12-06. (in Portuguese).
  3. ↑ "UN elects five new members to serve on the Security Council". UN News. 2021-06-11. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  4. ↑ Llenas, Bryan (2011-09-20), "Brazil's President Rousseff to be First Woman to Open United Nations", News, Fox News, archived from the original on 2011-09-25.
  5. ↑ United Nations General Assembly, Ministry of Foreign Relations of Brazil, August 25, 2007, archived from the original on 2007-08-25, retrieved 2010-12-06.
  6. ↑ Brazilian leader is first-ever woman to open U.N. speeches, CNN, 2011-09-21.
  7. ↑ "Brazil is elected to the United Nations Security Council". Ministério das Relações Exteriores. Retrieved 2022-04-25.
  8. ↑ "Infographic: The Most Frequently Elected UN Security Council Members". Statista Infographics. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 2022-04-25.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Joint Press Statement: Ministerial Meeting of the G4 countries (Brazil, Germany, India and Japan) in the margins of the 66th Session of the UN General Assembly Archived November 30, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Permanent Mission of Brazil to the United Nations. Retrieved on 2012-01-26.
  10. ↑ "Powell: Brazil Not Developing Nukes" Fox News. Retrieved 2009-06-28.
  11. ↑ Global Brazil and U.S.-Brazil Relations Archived 2012-09-08 at the Wayback Machine , Council on Foreign Relations
  12. ↑ "Putin in Brazil" Archived July 24, 2009, at the Wayback Machine , Brazzil. Retrieved 2009-06-28.
  13. ↑ "UK backs Brazil as permanent Security Council member" Archived May 11, 2010, at the UK Government Web Archive , Number10.gov.uk., 27 March 2009, Retrieved 2009-06-28.
  14. ↑ "France and Brazil" Archived January 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine , Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France. Retrieved 2009-06-28.
  15. ↑ "Chanceleres lusófonos discutem reforma das Nações Unidas" Archived 2018-12-22 at the Wayback Machine , Uol Notícias. Retrieved 2009-06-28. (in Portuguese)
  16. ↑ "Presidente do Chile pede ingresso do Brasil no Conselho de Segurança da ONU" Archived July 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine , Sul21. Retrieved 2011-04-04]
  17. ↑ "Brasil e Finlândia farão acordo para disseminação de fontes limpas de energia", Agência Brasil. Retrieved 2009-06-28. (in Portuguese)
  18. ↑ "Slovenia backs Brazil as permanent member of UNSC", People's Daily. Retrieved January 18, 2009.
  19. ↑ "Brazil Gets Australia's Backing for UN Security Council Seat" Archived October 15, 2008, at the Wayback Machine , Brazzil. Retrieved January 18, 2009.
  20. ↑ "South Africa to support India, Brazil for Security Council seat" [usurped] , The Hindu. Retrieved 2009-06-28.
  21. ↑ "Brasil e Guatemala acertam apoio mútuo para Conselho de Segurança" [ permanent dead link ], Yahoo! Brazil. Retrieved 2009-06-28. (in Portuguese)
  22. ↑ "Presidentes do Brasil e Vietnã realiza 'Comunicado Conjunto' para cooperação para o desenvolvimento econômico e social" Archived 2012-04-06 at the Wayback Machine , Fator Brasil. Retrieved 2009-06-28. (in Portuguese)
  23. ↑ "PGMA, Brazilian President Lula agree to further strengthen RP-Brazil relations", Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved 2009-06-28.
  24. ↑ Brazilian Presidency of the Security Council Archived August 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Permanent Mission of Brazil to the United Nations. Retrieved on 2011-02-02.
  25. ↑ Exército Brasileiro: Haiti Archived January 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Brazilian Army. Retrieved on 2012-01-26. (in Portuguese).
  26. 1 2 "UN agrees to shut down Haiti peacekeeping mission," April 14, 2017, Agence France-Presse (AFP), via Seychelles News Agency retrieved September 25, 2024
  27. ↑ Rahul Sur, et al: Evaluation of the Enforcement and Remedial Assistance Efforts for Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by the United Nations and Related Personnel in Peacekeeping Operations, Assignment No. IED-15-001, ¶ 7, May 12, 2015, Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) Evaluation Report, United Nations, retrieved September 26, 2024
  28. ↑ On the abuse and sexual exploitation of Women, Girls, and young Men by United Nations agents, and the violation of the right to access remedies, Republic of Haïti Submission to the United Nations Human Rights Council, 26th session of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, (unofficial translation) March 24, 2016, by a coalition of Haitian human rights groups, retrieved September 26, 2024
  29. ↑ "UN peacekeepers sexually abused hundreds in Haiti in exchange for food and medicine: Report". Times of India . 10 June 2015. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  30. ↑ MINUSTAH Leadership United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti. Retrieved on 2012-07-26.
  31. ↑ MINUSTAH Facts and Figures United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti. Retrieved on 2012-01-26.
  32. 1 2 3 Brazilian Flagship for UNIFIL Maritime Task Force, 25 November 2011 Archived July 30, 2012, at the Wayback Machine United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. Retrieved on 2012-07-26.
  33. ↑ "ODS HOME PAGE" (PDF). documents-dds-ny.un.org. Retrieved 2022-04-25.
  34. ↑ "New Permanent Representative of Brazil Presents Credentials | UN Press". press.un.org. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  35. 1 2 O Brasil na ONU Archived December 8, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Nações Unidas no Brasil. Retrieved on 2010-12-06. (in Portuguese).
  36. ↑ Permanent Mission of Brazil to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva United Nations Office at Geneva. Retrieved on 2023-12-03.
  37. ↑ A Representação Archived July 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Representação do Brasil junto à FAO. Retrieved on 2010-12-06. (in Portuguese).
  38. 1 2 Brazil UNESCO. Retrieved on 2010-12-06.
  39. ↑ Nations, United. "United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 3-14 June 1992". United Nations. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  40. ↑ "Brazil/United Nations: Brazil Withdraws Offer to Host UN Climate Change Conference". Asia News Monitor. Bangkok. 30 November 2018. ProQuest   2139191703.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.