NCS Model United Nations Conference 2012

BACKGROUND GUIDE GENERAL ASSEMBLY -

General Assembly: Disarmament and International Security (DISEC)

HISTORY OF THE COMMITTEE

The First Committee (DISEC) deals with disarmament, global challenges and threats to peace that affect the international community and seeks out solutions to the challenges in the international security regime. It considers all disarmament and international security matters within the scope of the Charter or relating to the powers and functions of any other organ of the United Nations; the general principles of cooperation in the maintenance of international peace and security, as well as principles governing disarmament and the regulation of armaments; promotion of cooperative arrangements and measures aimed at strengthening stability through lower levels of armaments. The Committee works in close cooperation with the United Nations Disarmament Commission and the Geneva-based Conference on Disarmament. It is the only Main Committee of the General Assembly entitled to verbatim records coverage. The First Committee sessions are well-structured and fall into three distinctive stages: 1. 2. 3. General debate Thematic debate Action on drafts

Allocation of Agendas (Mandate):

http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp? symbol=A/C.1/67/1

Agenda : Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: accelerating the implementation of nuclear disarmament commitments

Introduction
Mankind has already witnessed the horrific consequences of nuclear weapons. Despite this, thousands of nuclear bombs still exist. Eight countries have formally declared their possession of nuclear weapons. These countries include North Korea, India, Pakistan, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, France, the Russian Federation, and China. Nuclear weapons have ended wars (World War II), prevented wars (possibly the Cold War), and started wars (the war in Iraq). The possession of nuclear weapons poses a threat to world: a nuclear war. The genesis of the nuclear weapon began in the 1930s in what was known as the 'Manhattan Project'. Scientists collaborated in secret to try and beat Hitler to the punch on developing nuclear weapons once they were first theoretically possible. The disarmament of nuclear weapons would imply that, over a period of time, all nations would no longer be in possession of any form of nuclear arms, leaving our world free of the risk of nuclear conflicts.

Definition of Key Terms Disarmament

To disarm is to reduce the size of armed forces. Disarmament is also the act of removing, limiting or abolishing weapons. It generally refers to a countrys military or type of weaponry. It often means to completely eliminate weapons of mass destruction, such as nuclear arms.

UNDC
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The Disarmament Commission (UNDC) was established in 1978, as a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly. It is composed of all Member States of the United Nations. It was created as a deliberative body, with the function of considering and making recommendations on various issues in the field of disarmament and of following up on the relevant decisions and recommendations of the special session. It reports annually to the General Assembly

Background Information
A nuclear weapon would be caused by ramming two atoms at each other at high speeds to release the incredible energy and radiation inside. The radiation that is released has terrible effects on those who are exposed to the radiation. For example, after the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States during World War II, storms ripped through the cities and surrounding the areas and radiation poisoning caused horrific mutations and deformities, which still have an effect on those who are born today. Therefore the disarmament of nuclear arms is considered and all-important issue that needs to be addressed. With nuclear arms eradicated from the face of the earth, humankind can be guaranteed safety from such incidents occurring again.

Rivalries
One of the dangers of the development of nuclear weapons is the formation of rivalries which further increases the risk of a nuclear war taking place. After the United States had created and used the atomic bomb, Russia created a fission bomb four years later. The US responded by creating the hydrogen bomb, or thermonuclear bomb; a weapon thousands of times more powerful. These weapons would need to be tested. Even though when the weapons are not being used in war, tests may also bring about horrific results, affecting many innocent lives. Testing nuclear weapons Of course, nuclear weapons are tested, but with the formation of rivalries nations are more desperate to test their weapons to determine whether or not they are in possession
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of the most powerful weapon of all time. For example, regarding the rivalry that existed between the USA and Russia during post-World War II, nuclear weapons were tested and, though in unpopulated areas, a significant amount of people were affected. Tests were taken place on the Marshall Islands, and a badly miscalculated explosion resulted in a three-mile-high fireball and a cloud of radioactive fallout that covered 11,265 square kilometers. This affected other Marshall Islanders to the point where innocent residents were giving birth to two headed children and children with no knees. 'Jellyfish' babies were common where children would be born with no bones in their bodies and translucent skin that tended to live for around two days before dying. Again extreme birth defects are continuing today.

Importance of Treaties
One very important factor needed to significantly reduce the prevalence of nuclear arms, and the danger they pose to the world, is through treaties. As mentioned earlier, nations feel intimidated by each other due to the fact that one nation may have a more powerful weapon, or more arms, than the other nation. Through treaties, nations can come to an understanding to disarm to a lower and equal number of arms. One such treaty is the New START treaty established by the Obama administration. New START The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) is a bilateral nuclear arms reduction treaty between the U.S. and Russia, which aims to reduce the nuclear weapons arsenals of the United States and Russia. The new treaty will cut the number of strategic nuclear weapons by 30% (reduce their deployed strategic warheads to 1,550 as well as reducing deployed delivery vehicles to 700) by 2018, and re-establish essential verification measures to renew transparency between the worlds largest nuclear powers. Together, the U.S. and Russia possess more than 95% of all nuclear weapons. New START replaced an earlier iteration of the treaty negotiated by President Reagan that had expired at the end of 2009. It was signed on the eighth of April 2010 by President Obama and President Medvedev. After New START had passed the Senate, all eyes turned to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), which bans all forms of
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nuclear explosions and is the most important treaty for the U.S. to sign in terms of supporting non-proliferation. Progress of New START As of March 2013, by treaty counting rules, the U.S. has 1950 deployed strategic warheads and 792 deployed strategic delivery vehicles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and heavy bombers. Russia has 1740 deployed strategic warheads and 492 delivery vehicles. These figures do not include nuclear warheads in reserve or slated for dismantlement. The numbers have gradually reduced and show significant forward progress. The United States should announce its intention to meet New STARTs targets at an early date. Early attainment of New START numbers would mean that the United States and Russia could agree to even deeper reciprocal reductions. Global Harmony Treaty for Nuclear Disarmament The Global Harmony Treaty redefines security for the twenty-first century. The treaty considers it necessary to define general and complete disarmament on the Harmonious Civilization Universal Declaration basis. (The Harmonious Civilization Universal Declaration wishes to bring about a scientific paradigm of harmonious thinking of harmonious civilization for resolution of global problems.) The Global Harmony Treaty intends to create long-term disarmament programs that would gradually reduce the amount of nuclear arms.

Relevant UN Documents, Treaties and Events

Here are a list, and summaries, of some relevant documents and resolutions. More relevant UN resolutions and treaties can be found at http://www.un.org/en/documents/index.shtml. Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) o The objective of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament. The NPT represents the only binding commitment in a multilateral treaty to the goal of disarmament by the nuclearweapon States. o The treaty went into effect in 1970 and conferences to review the operation of the Treaty have been held at five-year intervals ever since. The Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) o This treaty prohibits the testing of nuclear weapons. This treaty has not entered into force and still needs to be ratified by nine key countries. The United States was the first to sign this treaty in 1996. o By banning nuclear explosions, the treaty seeks to prevent the harmful effects of radioactive fall-out on society and the environment. The treaty also intends to prevent new countries from acquiring and testing nuclear weapons technology and discourage the production of new types of nuclear weapons. The CTBT puts international norms against testing into binding international law and represents a critical move toward nuclear disarmament. N/A (U.S.-sponsored resolution on nuclear disarmament)
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o The resolution calls for stepped-up efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, promote disarmament and reduce the risk of nuclear terrorism. o The historic resolution we just adopted enshrines our shared commitment to a goal of a world without nuclear weapons, President Obama said. o The resolution reaffirms the council's commitment to seek a safer world for all and to create the conditions for a world without nuclear weapons.

Points to Consider
The following are a set of guidelines that can be used as a reference in order to write a comprehensive resolution or treaty on this topic. Note that they are not in any way full solutions, but merely possible paths to explore. Do consider that the New START treaty was only established between the United States and the Russian Federation. It is not an international treaty. Also consider that the United States and the Russian Federation were rivals during the Cold War and a lot of tension had grown between the two nations up till the end of the Cold War, where the tensions began to subside. But do not submit a clause that specifically targets nuclear rivals. Think on an international scale. What agreement can be made where all member nations, who are nuclear powers, have to disarm to an equal level? How can this be enforced? Also consider than some nations claim to use nuclear power for peaceful reasons, such as Iran. And also consider that such nations are accused for secretly developing nuclear arms. How can this kind of tension be eliminated? Remember that nations should trust each other and work cooperatively to accomplish nuclear disarmament. How can trust be brought about to ensure international cooperation?

Bibliography
http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/13709/1/Brief-History-of-NuclearWeapons.html http://globalsolutions.org/prevent-war/nuclear-disarmament

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_states_with_nuclear_weapons#Other_stat es_declaring_they_have_nuclear_weapons http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disarmament http://globalsolutions.org/prevent-war/nuclear-disarmament/comprehensivetest-ban-treaty-ctbt http://www.un.org/en/conf/npt/2010/ http://www.un.org/disarmament/HomePage/DisarmamentCommission/UNDis com.shtml http://www.ploughshares.org/blog/2012-06-01/progress-toward-new-start http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/international/julydec09/un_nuclear_09-24.html http://www.peacefromharmony.org/?cat=en_c&key=384 http://blogs.fas.org/security/ http://www.armscontrol.org/

The General Assembly: DISEC will effectively meet on 2 nd August to discuss this issue at hand.

Note* : All the links given in the background guide are for research purposes only and, except for UN Reports, may not be submitted as definite proof of any claim in the committee.