Bolivia's Un Security Council Membership: What Does It Mean?

Bolivia has been a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. In 2024, Bolivia requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss US missile strikes on an airbase in Syria. Bolivia has also previously voted against a resolution condemning chemical weapons attacks in Syria.

Bolivia is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council

Bolivia's presence on the Security Council has been notable for its stance on certain key issues. For example, in 2017, Bolivia was one of four countries to vote against a resolution condemning chemical weapons attacks in Syria. This position was in line with the country's previous voting record on human rights violations.

Bolivia's membership of the Security Council also provides it with a platform to address other international issues. For instance, in 2024, Bolivia's army commander ordered all military personnel back to their barracks following US missile strikes in Syria. This action demonstrated Bolivia's opposition to the strikes and its willingness to take a stand on global military interventions.

Bolivia's non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council gives it a unique opportunity to shape international discussions and decisions. As a non-permanent member, Bolivia can contribute its perspective and represent the interests of its region during its term on the Council. This role allows Bolivia to actively participate in addressing global challenges and promoting international peace and security.

Bolivia called for an emergency meeting to discuss US missile strikes in Syria

Bolivia is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. In 2017, Bolivia requested that the UN Security Council hold closed-door consultations about the US cruise missile strikes on Syria. This was in response to US President Donald Trump's warning of missile strikes against a Syrian airfield from which a deadly chemical weapons attack was launched. Trump stated that he acted in America's "vital national security interest" against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Bolivia's UN Ambassador, Sacha Sergio Llorentty Soliz, expressed concern over the escalation of rhetoric regarding Syria and the threats of unilateral military action. He emphasised that any unilateral action would violate the principles and purposes of the UN charter. The US justified its missile strikes by claiming that they were in retaliation for the alleged use of chemical weapons in the Syrian province of Idlib, which they believed had been carried out from the Shayrat Airfield.

Bolivia's call for an emergency meeting to discuss the US missile strikes in Syria highlights its role as an active participant in the UN Security Council, advocating for adherence to international law and the principles of the UN charter.

Bolivia has requested meetings to discuss investigating incidents in Idlib

Bolivia has been a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council on several occasions, including in 1964, 1965, 1978, 1979, 2017, and 2018.

In this capacity, Bolivia has requested meetings to discuss investigating incidents in Idlib, Syria. The Middle East, including Israel, is one of the five major topics discussed by the country during its time on the Security Council.

The request for meetings to discuss investigating incidents in Idlib likely relates to the Syrian Civil War, which has resulted in widespread human rights abuses and violations. Bolivia has a history of advocating for human rights and international investigations into incidents of violence. For example, in 2019, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) sent a delegation to Bolivia to gather information on the human rights situation in the country following the October 2019 elections, which resulted in social and political unrest.

The IACHR found that the recent demonstrations and protests in Bolivia featured violent clashes between private individuals and state agents, with a significant impact on the country's indigenous population. The Commission called for an independent, international investigation into the violence, which was supported by the Bolivian government.

Bolivia's request for meetings to discuss investigating incidents in Idlib is consistent with its focus on human rights and international investigations during its tenure as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Bolivia has voted against resolutions condemning chemical weapons attacks in Syria

Bolivia has been a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council on several occasions, including in 2017 and 2018. In April 2018, Bolivia voted against a draft resolution that would have established a new investigative mechanism to identify those responsible for the use of chemical weapons in Syria. The draft resolution was penned by the United States and was rejected due to a negative vote from Russia. Bolivia also voted against a competing draft resolution penned by Russia, which would have established a similar mechanism but with the Security Council assigning accountability. This draft was not adopted due to a lack of support from Council members.

The votes by Bolivia and other Council members came in the wake of an alleged chemical weapons attack in the Damascus suburb of Douma. The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, had called on the Security Council to "find unity" on the issue of chemical weapons use in Syria and to ensure accountability. However, the Council failed to adopt any of the proposed resolutions, marking the twelfth time that Russia had used its veto to block Council action on Syria.

Bolivia's representative to the Security Council, Sacha Sergio Llorenty Solíz, emphasized the need for an independent and thorough investigation into recent events in Syria. He stated that Bolivia voted against the draft resolutions because the Council should not be used as a sounding board for war-related propaganda and interventionism. Solíz also noted that some Council members had been excluded from negotiations on the text, and questioned whether the Council was being used as a pawn in the negotiations between the Russian Federation and the United States.

In addition to the votes in 2018, Bolivia also voted against a resolution in 2017 that would have condemned the reported chemical weapons attack on the Syrian town of Khan Shaykhun. This resolution was defeated by a vote of 10 in favor, 2 against (Bolivia and the Russian Federation), and 3 abstentions (China, Ethiopia, and Kazakhstan). Bolivia's representative, Solíz, again emphasized the need for an independent and thorough investigation and condemned the use of chemical weapons.

Bolivia's voting record aligns with its past stance on human rights violations

Bolivia has been a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council on six occasions, most recently in 2017 and 2018. Its voting record on Israel at the UN General Assembly from 2015 to the present has been 0% in favour of Israel, 100% against, and 0% abstaining. Bolivia's human rights record was examined by the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group for the third time in November 2019.

The UPR is a unique process that involves a periodic review of the human rights records of all 193 UN member states. Bolivia's first and second UPR reviews took place in February 2010 and October 2014, respectively. The reviews are based on three types of documents: 1) a national report with information provided by the state under review, 2) information contained in the reports of independent human rights experts and groups, and 3) information provided by other stakeholders, including national human rights institutions, regional organisations, and civil society groups.

Bolivia's human rights record has been called into question in several areas, including societal killings of women and LGBTI individuals, lack of judicial independence and denial of fair public trials, attacks on journalists, and the use of tax audits to punish critical press voices. These issues have resulted in UN condemnations and resolutions.

Bolivia's voting record at the UN aligns with its past stance on human rights violations. The country has consistently voted against Israel at the UN General Assembly, reflecting its concerns about human rights issues in the region. Bolivia's participation in the UPR process also demonstrates its commitment to addressing human rights issues within its own borders and holding itself accountable to international human rights standards.

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