Day: September 4, 2025

A resolution is a decision or declaration voted on by all UN member states in the General Assembly and adopted by a majority vote. It may impose obligations or authorise the use of coercive measures, including force. Resolutions begin with an unnumbered preambular clause, which sets the context and often includes references to previous actions. The operative clauses are numbered and end with semicolons (or a full stop/period). The name of the issuing body is typically placed above the preambular, though this can be moved to below, and the names of the sponsors may also be included. The words in a resolution are usually written in plain language but are often underlined, italicised or bold. Preambular phrases tend to start with verbs, and operative clauses start with nouns or adjectives.

This resolution was initiated by the Council’s ten elected members (E10) and called for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, as well as the immediate and dignified release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups. It was adopted by 14 votes in favour and one abstention (US). This resolution calls on States to “exercise vigilance in the supply, sale or transfer of major military systems to Iran to ensure that such goods cannot be used for nuclear-related activities.” It also urges them to limit their interactions with Iranian financial institutions. It further calls on Iran to ratify the IAEA’s Additional Protocol. It also requires all UN bodies and the IAEA to report on Iran’s compliance with the provisions of this resolution within 90 days of its adoption.

Governments are responsible for providing public services, maintaining law and order, regulating the economy, and protecting the environment. The goals of these activities are often shaped by the needs and expectations of citizens. To meet these requirements, governments create policies through laws, regulations, programs, and funding initiatives.

A policy is an initiative created to achieve specific societal goals and objectives. To create and implement policy, the following steps are taken:

Problem Identification: Identifying issues that require action. This involves evaluating how serious the issue is and what it means to society. This is a subjective process, influenced by the political ideology of those in power. Agenda Setting: Selecting issues that are of sufficient importance to warrant government attention. This step involves evaluating various aspects of an issue, including its impact on the community, the nation, and the world.

Policy Formulation: Developing alternatives for addressing the identified problems. This step involves evaluating the costs and benefits of each alternative, as well as the short-term and long-term implications for society. Decision-Making/Adoption: Selecting a course of action from among the alternative solutions. This step requires obtaining input and feedback from stakeholders and interested parties.

Implementation: Putting the policy into practice. This includes establishing procedures and protocols to ensure that policies are conducted in the proper manner. It also includes identifying the intent, background, and other information that was used to create the policy. This information is helpful if the policy must be interpreted in a court case or in other ambiguous situations.