Étude Model UN | Position Paper
Global Studies
Disarmament and International Security
“Modern conflicts are no longer just conflicts between states; non-state actors often become significantly involved as well. These non-state actors, which can include terrorist groups and groups of underrepresented minorities, often obtain large quantities of arms to advance their cause. Once the conflict is resolved, however, significant quantities of arms remain with these actors, posing a potential threat to local populations and governments.
The disarmament of these non-state actors in post-conflict situations is of paramount concern to the international community. Non-state actors often lack the structure and oversight that states have, and as a result little information is available about the arms they possess. Their arms can easily be lost and obtained by third parties, compounding the potential for their misuse.
In the case of terrorist organizations, arms often remain with local militias long after the parent organization has been dissolved. This provides an existing network of arms that new groups can take advantage of. A recent example of this is the Islamic State, which used arms already circulating in northern Iraq from previous terrorist groups to build its military force in Iraq and Syria.
In order to prevent arms from falling into the hands of terrorist organizations such as the Islamic State, the international community must establish a framework to promote disarmament after conflict. However, this task is difficult. Many non-state actors obtain support from other states who can supply them with arms during conflict. However, states have historically shown little concern for the return of these arms after their goals in the conflict have been achieved. In addition, non-state actors often lack the necessary oversight to keep track of the distribution and use of weapons.
It is evident that weapons currently possessed by non-state actors must be removed from circulation. However, division remains as to who should be responsible for these weapons. Additionally, members of the international community have expressed concern over the distribution of weapons by nation-states to non-state actors, and believe that states should better monitor the use and distribution of their weapons” (WHSMUN).
Position Paper
Quick Jot
Thinking Routine | Feelings and Options
Identify: Who are the different people involved in the dilemma? What challenge are they facing?
Feel: What do you think each person in the dilemma is feeling? Why might the situation be hard or challenging for each of them?
Imagine: Imagine options for how the situation could be handled. Come up with as many ideas as possible. Highlight or circle which option might lead to the most positive outcome, where most people feel good or taken care of.
Say: Thinking more about the idea you chose for handling the situation, what could the people involved say?
Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural
“Among the many crises facing religious minorities today is the ongoing displacement of Rohingya Muslims from the Rakhine state in Myanmar. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has reported that approximately 600,000 refugees have fled to Bangladesh since August, with an estimated 1,200-1,800 leaving the state per day. The refugees, many of whom are women and children, are either forcibly removed from the state borders or leave voluntarily to escape ethnic cleansing efforts including torture and sexual violence. They arrive in fragile condition and are susceptible to disease outbreaks in overcrowded refugee camps. UNICEF expects that $76 million will be needed to sustain support for the next six months alone.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called for an end to government military action regarding the Rohingya population. The International Organization for Migration has provided water, shelter, and vaccinations to refugees. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is collecting funding for refugee camp construction to provide shelter for 1.2 million refugees in Bangladesh. Together these three organizations have issued a joint statement on the crisis requesting $434 million from donors and calling upon the international community to seek a peaceful end to the violent conflict.
International actors have issued statements condemning the violence in Myanmar. In 2016 Malaysian leadership led a protest rally in response to the alleged genocide occurring in the region. In September, India’s foreign minister urged Myanmar to provide a supportive cultural environment in the Rakhine state to expedite reintegration of refugees. Indonesia, the country with the highest concentration of Muslims in the world, also claimed that stability in Myanmar is important for the region. The body could also acknowledge the displacement of Sunni Muslims from Syria and the flow of refugees this has caused into states around the world” (WHSMUN).
Topics for Consideration
Climate Change Description
““Climate change” refers to the gradual warming of the earth’s temperature. Scientists around the world link this warming to the natural and anthropogenic emission of greenhouse gases. When emitted into the atmosphere, greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide trap the sun’s heat, increasing the earth’s temperature. Observable effects of climate change on island states in 2017 include but are not limited to: drought (affecting both agriculture and drinking water supply), irregular precipitation, increased risk of natural disasters, migration inland (and overcrowding) to avoid shore erosion, and saltwater intrusion (introduction of saltwater into freshwater aquifers).
In previous United Nations general assembly sessions, world leaders have expressed concerns regarding the impacts of climate change. For example, The Federated States of Micronesia urged members to implement the 2016 Paris Agreement policies in order to mitigate climate change and promote sustainable development. The Paris Agreement aims to prevent a global temperature increase of more than 2 degrees Celsius in this century, and states that a global temperature increase of no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels would be necessary in order to negate the impacts of climate change. Additionally, the UN Bonn Climate Change Conference (COP 23), which will take place in November, issued a preliminary statement urging multilateral collaboration and international support to strengthen the ability of island states to adapt to and mitigate the impact of climate change.
Island states are most affected by climate change. This September, representatives from Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu, have expressed concerns about the impact of climate change on their respective states. The president of Palau has suggested the use of the United Nations as a forum to foster collaboration between public, private, and nonprofit sectors. States who benefit from interaction with island states through tourism, trade, or outsourced manufacturing might also have an interest in the effects of climate change on these states. Conversely, states with developing industrial economies such as the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) may not have an interest in regulating greenhouse gas emissions, but may have other solutions to address the effects of climate change” (WHSMUN).
Position Statement
Deadlines
Country Synthesis Sheet:
Completed Rough Draft:
Model UN Delegation and Resolution:
MLA Format
Organization
Country Research, Position Statement (see questions associated with Delegation topic), Works Cited.
Country Research
Works Cited
A Works Cited is used when noting cited information from your essay. A works cited should be present with every formal essay constructed. Some general rules: