The Veto: Film Screening and Discussion

• Date: 14 January
• Time: 18:00 - 20:00
• Location: Leiden University, Wijnhaven

The Veto: Film Screening and Discussion

For 80 years, the veto power of the UN Security Council’s permanent members has been the subject of constant debate, both within the UN and beyond. A power that is effectively ‘veto‑proof’ is not going away—but when it is used in the face of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, obligations under international law and the UN Charter must be taken seriously.

The Veto shows how such uses of the veto have blocked collective action, contributed to massive loss of life and the displacement of millions, and pushed the multilateral order toward a breaking point. Featuring leading global experts, the film moves past the idea that change is impossible and explores concrete paths to breaking Security Council deadlock and avoiding a third global conflict. This is an urgent film for global audiences, an issue that truly affects us all.​

Introduction

• Tim Slade, Director/Producer, The Veto
• Dr. Jason Rudall, Associate Professor of Public International Law at Leiden University and Co‑Director of Teaching at the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies​

The documentary film The Veto critically examines the contentious use of the veto power by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. Tracing its historical roots, the film argues that the veto has often been misused to block collective action in response to grave international crimes such as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. It explores how this practice has undermined multilateral cooperation and the Council’s ability to uphold its mandate, and it proposes potential remedies that could help restore the Council’s credibility and effectiveness.​

The film screening (2025, 57 minutes)

Panel discussion and Q&A

• Dr. Jennifer Trahan, Film participant, Clinical Professor at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs and Director of their Concentration in International Law and Human Rights
• Tim Slade, Director/Producer, The Veto
• TBU

Moderator: Maria Gevorgyan

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