Antigua and Barbuda has called for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to be given a dedicated seat on a reformed United Nations Security Council, arguing that vulnerable island nations should have an assured voice in one of the UN’s most powerful decision-making bodies.

Ambassador Dr. Walton Aubrey Webson, Antigua and Barbuda’s permanent representative to the United Nations, made the call Monday during the General Debate of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly.

Webson said reform of the Security Council must address both how the body operates and who is represented.

“Small Island Developing States must also have an assured voice at this table. Antigua and Barbuda calls for a dedicated SIDS seat on a reformed Security Council,” he said.

Antigua and Barbuda also backed demands for Africa to receive permanent representation on the council, with Webson describing the continent’s continued exclusion from permanent membership as an injustice that should be corrected.

The country also threw its support behind an initiative led by France and Mexico calling on the Security Council’s permanent members to voluntarily refrain from using their veto in situations involving mass atrocities.

Webson said Antigua and Barbuda would join the growing number of UN member states supporting the initiative, arguing that the veto should not prevent the council from carrying out its responsibility to maintain international peace and security.

The Security Council reform proposal formed part of Antigua and Barbuda’s broader argument that international institutions must better reflect the interests of smaller and more vulnerable countries.

Earlier in the address, Webson said international law, cooperation and multilateralism are particularly important to countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, which do not possess the military or economic power of larger states.

“For us, the United Nations is not optional. It is essential to our survival,” he said.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Antigua and Barbuda Calls for Dedicated SIDS Seat on UN Security Council.