Central Idea
- The Intergovernmental Negotiations Framework (IGN) meetings, which aim to reform the United Nations Security Council, are now being webcasted for the first time in history.
What is IGN?
- The Intergovernmental Negotiations framework (IGN) is a collective effort by various nation-states within the United Nations to advance the reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
- This article provides an overview of the composition of the IGN and highlights the progress made in achieving consensus among its members.
Evolution of the Reform Agenda
- The issue of reforming the UN Security Council has been under discussion since 1993, with successive reports published in 2001 and 2007.
- The current agenda for this issue within the UN General Assembly can be accessed online.
Composition of the IGN
- The IGN consists of several international organizations representing different perspectives on UN Security Council reform, including:
- African Union
- G4 nations (Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan)
- Uniting for Consensus Group (UfC), also known as the “Coffee Club”
- 69 Group of Developing Countries
- Arab League
- Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
- Each group presents unique positions regarding the reform of the UN Security Council, reflecting the diverse interests and perspectives of its member states.
Establishment of Consensus
- On July 27, 2016, the United Nations General Assembly adopted an “oral decision” by general acclamation, approving the “elements of convergence” declaration.
- This declaration outlined the status of the consensus achieved by the IGN members at that time.
