1. What’s the Security Council? 

“The Security Council is one of the six main organs of the United Nations established under the UN Charter. Its primary responsibility is maintaining international peace and security.

The Council has 15 Members (5 permanent and 10 non-permanent members). Each Member has one vote. Under the Charter, all Member States are obligated to comply with Council decisions.

The Security Council takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression. It calls upon the parties to a dispute to settle it by peaceful means and recommends methods of adjustment or terms of settlement. In some cases, the Security Council can resort to imposing sanctions or even authorize the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security.  The Security Council has a Presidency, which rotates, and changes, every month." Source here.

2. How would this boycott work?

The Security Council’s permanent members have a right of veto on substantive matters, which means countries opposed to Russia - such as the United States, the United Kingdom and France - would be able to block it from passing anything substantive on Ukraine. However, the same doesn’t go for procedural matters. Those only require “an affirmative vote of nine members” as per the provisional rules of procedure and related procedural developments. 

Getting 7 countries to boycott the body would mean that the Russian Federation’s presidency of the Security Council would be paralyzed. 

3. Can it truly impact change?

If it happens, it will send an extremely strong signal. In the midst of the war on Ukraine by Russia, enabling the country to hold the presidency is an affront to any universal principle of rights, international law, democracy, or peace. While clearly a system of governance that enables such things to happen in the first place should be reformed, ensuring that Russia stands alone - literally and figuratively - would at least show that the world stands with Ukraine and doesn’t allow for such sham. 

In addition, it would further isolate Russia on the world stage, which should not be underestimated. 

4. What else can I do to support this work? 

Thank you for choosing to care, to support, and for standing for Unity!

1. Sign the petition here

2. Social Media

   1. Please share the campaign widely! Here's a template text to make your life easier: #Russia is about to take on the Presidency of the #UNSecurityCouncil. We call for a boycott to stop this shame: if 7 of 15 member nations join, the body will be paralyzed. Join #UNBoycottRussia, sign this letter to the @UN, #StandWithUkraine https://www.atlasmovement.org/unboycottrussia

   2. Go this extra mile & take a picture with a sign “Boycott Russia at the United Nations #UNBoycottRussia” in front of a Russian Embassy, Consultate or the next best thing you can get close to (e.g., landmarks, city halls, etc) and post it. 

3. Protest:

   1. If you want to support further this action: organize a protest & reach out by replying to this email! We are happy to support you in any way possible (including putting it online, advertising etc)

   2. April 1st is a great day for it, especially in front of Russian institutions and Ukrainian Diaspora groups are obviously great partners for this.

4. UN contacts: If you have contacts at the United Nations that might be helpful in ensuring that Russia stands alone in the UN Security Council, reach out! We have already emailed all the members states of the Security Council and their entire teams.

5. Partner organizations: We are looking for as many partner organizations as possible, so if you know of some that want to support this, put us in touch.

6. Other: We are open to all crazy ideas, don't be shy!