Writing  in the New York Times, France's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Laurent Fabius, has called upon the UN Security Council members to 'voluntarily regulate their right to exercise their veto'.

Speaking in the aftermath of the Security Council passing a resolution on Syria, Fabius said France had proposed a change to the UN system that would "convey the will of the international community to make the protection of human life a true priority", in the event of "mass crimes".

Extracts have been reproduced below. See the full piece here.

"France is dedicated to multilateralism and to the organization at its heart, the United Nations; this institution represents the main instrument of global political regulation in favor of peace and security. But a United Nations stalemate that lasts for two years, entailing dramatic human consequences, cannot be accepted by the global conscience."

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"Populations were massacred and the worst scenario unfolded as the regime implemented large-scale use of chemical weapons against children, women and other civilians. For all those who expect the United Nations to shoulder its responsibilities in order to protect populations, this situation is reprehensible."

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"Our suggestion is that the five permanent members of the Security Council — China, France, Russia, Britain and the United States — themselves could voluntarily regulate their right to exercise their veto. The Charter would not be amended and the change would be implemented through a mutual commitment from the permanent members. In concrete terms, if the Security Council were required to make a decision with regard to a mass crime, the permanent members would agree to suspend their right to veto."

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"I am aware that objections of all kinds can be made to this proposal. Let me counter them with a powerful argument: a change such as this, so simple to implement, would allow us to preserve the fundamental credibility of the Security Council, which should be a pillar of peace and stability. It would convey the will of the international community to make the protection of human life a true priority. It would restore the power of discussion and constructive negotiation. It would prevent member states from becoming prisoners of their own principled positions."

"Is there any other quick, simple and effective way to make progress? I cannot see one. Today we have a window of opportunity. Let us seize it."