What is the primary responsibility of the Security Council?

The primary responsibility of the Security Council is the maintenance of international peace and security. This role is enshrined in the United Nations Charter, which establishes the Security Council as one of the six main organs of the UN. The Council is tasked with addressing threats to peace, including conflicts and disputes among nations, and imposing measures to resolve these challenges, such as sanctions or military interventions.

The Security Council can call for negotiations between conflicting parties, establish peacekeeping missions, and endorse peace settlements. Its decisions are binding on member states, which underscores the authority granted to the Council in maintaining global stability.

The other options, while important in their own right, do not fall under the direct purview of the Security Council. Economic development, international human rights, and cultural cooperation are addressed through other UN bodies and programs. For instance, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) primarily focuses on economic development and social issues, while the promotion of human rights is handled by various human rights treaty bodies. Cultural cooperation is typically supported by different agencies and organizations within the UN system, emphasizing that the Security Council's mandate is specifically centered around peace and security.