The recent vote in the UN General Assembly (GA) suspending Russia from the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), due to its conduct in Ukraine, in early April 2022 is a rare instance of the GA asserting its powers with binding force. Generally, only the UN Security Council (SC) can adopt measures; these are exemplified by sanctions adopted by the SC periodically against errant states, non-government armed groups and individuals. Is there then room for a more assertive GA, especially when the SC is dysfunctional?
The GA is the most representative body of the UN, as all the member states have equal voting power. Currently, there are over 190 member states. While the GA has the power to adopt binding measures in regard to its internal functioning, such as in relation to its budget, it does not have explicit powers to adopt measures of an effective and binding nature in regard to its external role, such as to adopt sanctions against other entities. It is the SC which has such powers.
