Mexico, India, Ireland, Kenya, Norway welcomed to UNSC

The five new members to the UN Security Council spoke on Monday of the priorities for their time on the council.

Mexico, India, Ireland, Kenya, and Norway have all been elected as non-permanent members and will serve on the council for the next two years.

Speaking to reporters at the UN headquarters in New York Indian Ambassador lndra Mani Pandey said the country would act as a "voice for the developing world" on the council.

"We will not shy away from raising our voice against the common enemies of humanity, like terrorism," he said.

Meanwhile Ireland Ambassador, Geraldine Byrne Nason, said the coronavirus pandemic would shape the country's time on the council.

She acknowledged there were many people across the world "living in fragile contexts" due to the virus and they "risked being pushed over the edge" as the crisis continues.

The UN Security Council is made up of five permanent members, which include the UK, France Russia, China and the US, and ten non-permanent members.

Five non-permanent members are elected each year by the UN General Assembly and serve a term of two years.