For 80 years, the veto power in the UN Security Council has been the subject of constant debate. As the world faces escalating crises and the multilateral system teeters on the edge, the question becomes ever more urgent: can the use of the veto be restrained to better serve the cause of international peace and security? Join us for a timely film screening and panel discussion that brings together leading experts, diplomats, and scholars to explore the historical legacy, current challenges, and future prospects of the veto in a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape.
Introduction:
- Achim Wennmann, Professor of Practice, Interdisciplinary Programme; Nagulendran Chair in Peace Mediation, Geneva Graduate Institute
- Ambassador Céline Jurgensen, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations Office in Geneva
- Tim Slade, Director/Producer, The Veto
The documentary film The Veto (2025) critically examines the contentious use of the veto power by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. Tracing its historical roots, the film argues that the veto has often been misused to block collective action in response to grave international crimes such as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. It explores how this practice has undermined multilateral cooperation and the Council’s ability to uphold its mandate, and puts forward potential remedies which could provide a path toward restoring the Council’s credibility and effectiveness.
The film screening (57 minutes, in English with French subtitles) will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Corinne Momal-Vanian, Executive Director of the Kofi Annan Foundation.
Panellists:
- Ambassador Lansana Gberie, Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the United Nations Office in Geneva
- Sara Hellmüller, Research Professor of International Relations/Political Science, Geneva Graduate Institute
- Ambassador Ib Petersen, Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations Office in Geneva
