NJOBVU, Tamara2026-07-032026https://research.unilus.ac.zm/handle/123456789/688Bachelor of Laws - Research ReportThis research investigated the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) veto power and its impact on human rights and international justice, focusing specifically on the Russia-Ukraine conflict as a case study. The UNSC established in 1945 is the primary body responsible for maintaining international peace and security, with five permanent members (the P5) holding veto power that allows any one of them to block substantive resolutions. While initially intended to ensure unity among major powers and prevent global conflict, the veto has increasingly been used to serve narrow national interests, often at the expense of global justice and humanitarian intervention. The Russia Ukraine conflict reveals the veto’s potential to paralyze the UNSC, eroding its legitimacy and blocking international responses to grave human rights violations and war crimes. This dissertation critically explored the legal and institutional framework of the veto, its historical evolution, and the challenges it poses to effective international governance. It analyzes the impact of veto use in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and other humanitarian crises, reviews scholarly and institutional reform proposals, and evaluates their feasibility. The study revealed that while veto reform faces significant political obstacles, especially from the P5 themselves, incremental changes such as voluntary veto restraint, procedural reforms, and expanded Security Council membership could enhance accountability, democracy, and the protection of human rights. Ultimately, reforming the UNSC veto power is essential for restoring the Council’s credibility and ensuring that it fulfills its mandate to safeguard international peace, justice, and human dignity in the 21st century. This dissertation has critically examined the impact of the United Nations Security Council veto power on human rights and international justice, with a specific focus on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The analysis revealed that while the veto was originally designed as a safeguard for global stability and great power consensus, its contemporary use often obstructs timely and effective international responses to mass atrocities and human rights violations. The case of Russia’s repeated vetoes in the UNSC to shield its actions in Ukraine underlines the structural limitations and moral impairments inherent in the veto system. The veto power remains a significant barrier to collective international action, undermining the principles of sovereign equality and the UN Charter’s objectives. Despite its dominance in global security governance, the veto contributes to paralysis within the UNSC, eroding its legitimacy and credibility as the primary institution for maintaining international peace and security. The restricted ability of the Council to respond to crises such as the Ukraine war, Syria, and the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar demonstrates the pressing need for comprehensive reforms.enThesis