2016
El Toro High School’s Model United Nations Conference
Advanced UNODC Topic Synopsis
Hello delegates! My name is Zeina Elhanbaly and I am your head chair for El Toro High
School’s Spring Conference this year. I am currently a senior at El Toro and I have been
involved in MUN for four years. I am involved in other clubs such as Dreamcatchers and
CSF, and have been a part of the school’s tennis team for the past four years as well.
Your vice chair will be Christopher Boyd and your judge will be Mackenzie Roland. We
are looking forward to hearing your solutions and we love creative, well researched
arguments. Please email your position papers to ethsadvancedunodc@gmail.com. See
you in committee!
Topic #1: Illicit Firearms as a Threat to Global Security
Background
In November of 2014, the police discovered a gun pipeline illegally transporting
guns from Florida to New York on Chinatown buses. This is just one example of the
increasing availability of illicit firearms within societies today. Illicit arms trafficking
instigates civil wars, increases crime rates, and feeds the arsenals of the world's worst
terrorists. They also contribute to the displacement of civilians, enable the violation of
human rights and hinder social and economic development. They are facilitators of
violent crimes, tools to assume power, and trafficking commodities that lead to armed
conflicts. In addition, more deaths worldwide occur from firearm violence than in
ongoing wars. Although no region is exempt from the threat of firearm violence, Latin
America, Africa, and South Asia are regions that are greatly affected by this issue. The
Small Arms Survey estimates that millions of firearms and weapons are circulating
illegally among Southeast Asia. Other regions greatly affected by illicit firearms include
Latin America, the Middle East, and even the United States. In New York alone, it is
estimated that approximately 22% of young men in the city have carried an illegal gun
for some period of time. An increase in firearm violence is correlated to an increase in
domestic and criminal violence and has negative social and economic consequences.
Thousands of small arms in unstable government arsenals are vulnerable to theft, loss,
and diversion. Small arms acquired by firearm traffickers are smuggled across countries’
borders. Another common method of obtaining illegal firearms is through straw
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El Toro High School’s Model United Nations Conference
purchasers. These individuals buy guns for other individuals who are not licensed. This is
a major factor in how illicit weapons increase in number among a nation’s citizens.
UN Involvement
The UNODC Global Firearms Program was created to help countries build
criminal justice systems that would respond to organized crime associated with arms
trafficking. The Firearms Protocol, adopted in May 2001, sets an agenda for countries
regarding how to control and regulate illicit firearms, avert their flow into nongovernmental arsenals, and facilitate the investigation and prosecution of such offenses.
By ratifying the Firearms Protocol, member states commit to establishing the illicit
manufacturing and trafficking of firearms as a criminal offense, adopt security and
control measures, dispose of firearms in order to prevent their theft, establish a system of
government authentication to ensure legitimate firearms, and ensure adequate marking,
recording and tracing of firearms. As of 2005, 55 member states have signed the protocol
and 42 have ratified it. The UN assembled the United Nations Conference on the Illicit
Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (A/RES/54/54V) to address
the issue of illicit firearms. NGOs and member states wanted to include strict export
criteria, encouragement of national and regional transparency mechanisms, and better
enforcement of arms embargoes. This program was successful in some areas in Latin
America and South Asia.
Questions to Consider
1. How should criminals involved in illicit firearms trafficking be prosecuted?
2. What forms of regulation does your country deem beneficial in maintaining order
in the transfer of firearms?
3. What other possible threats could the trafficking of arms cause in nations whose
governments are unstable?
4. How is your country affected by illicit firearms?
5. How can your country contribute to global security?
Sources
https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/firearms-protocol/introduction.html
http://fas.org/asmp/campaigns/smallarms/IssueBrief3ArmsTrafficking.html
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El Toro High School’s Model United Nations Conference
http://www.un.org/disarmament/content/slideshow/poa/
http://www.un.org/press/en/2015/sc11889.doc.htm
http://www.un.org/disarmament/convarms/salw/
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/florida-to-new-york-chinatown-bus-gun-trafficking-ringbusted/
http://www.havocscope.com/tag/arms-trafficking/
http://www.unodc.org/newsletter/en/200504/page005.html
http://fas.org/asmp/campaigns/smallarms/illicit.html
http://fas.org/asmp/library/articles/SchroederLamb.pdf
http://gun.laws.com/illegal-guns/illegal-guns-statistics
Topic #2: Maritime Crime around Africa and South East Asia
Background
Maritime crime is any illegal acts committed on the high seas, by both
governmental and non-governmental organizations. Recently, there have been hostage
situations, seizing of ships and goods, and drug trafficking. Maritime crimes such as
piracy not only put international traders at risk, but also the regions associated, such as
the Horn of Africa and South East Asia. Crimes committed in international waters escape
prosecution because they are not covered by any specific country’s jurisdiction. These
crimes usually do not capture media attention, but in 2013, the Hollywood movie Captain
Phillips exemplified the threat off the Somalian coast. Now, the coast off South East Asia
is the most dangerous place for maritime activity because of the large number of oil
shipments passing through. The Straits of Malacca are the newest concern in revival of
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El Toro High School’s Model United Nations Conference
piracy due to the topography enabling sudden attacks and quick escapes. Pirates use both
their environment and meticulous techniques in order to carry out their operations.
Maritime crime has a great impact on the global economy and poses safety concerns.
UN Involvement
Due to the extensive nature of these threats in international waters, the Security
Council, working along with other organizations, has tried to impose security measures to
combat these crimes. Currently a coalition of governmental and non-governmental
organizations has been cooperating to combat maritime crime. There are several
organizations that address maritime crime including, International Maritime
Organization, the UNODC and the Security Council. The International Maritime Bureau
is a nonprofit organization that is partnered with the UNODC to combat maritime crimes.
Five specialized committees along with their subcommittees regulate policies for
international fishing, crack down on illicit drug trafficking, and provide security for high
risk piracy areas. Since these crimes occur in international water, the Declaration of
Principles Governing the Seabed and Ocean Floor prevents any action from being taken
because these crimes occur outside of any country’s jurisdiction. This poses the main
issue in forming effective resolutions. The United Nations’ Law of the Sea Convention
consists of individual nations meeting and discussing laws that can be applied to
international waters. The UN acts as a moderator and not as a deciding member in their
decisions and ratifications.
Questions to Consider
1. How is your country affected by maritime piracy?
2. What forms of regulation can be imposed on international waters?
3. How can the Declaration of Principles Governing the Seabed and Ocean Floor
be amended in order to maximize effectiveness?
4. Which ways can we secure high risk areas such as the Strait for Malacca without
imposing on Malaysia's sovereignty?
5. In what ways can international cooperation secure international waters such as the
Suez Canal?
6. How can international economic policies affect views on the regulation of
international waters?
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El Toro High School’s Model United Nations Conference
Sources
http://www.imo.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/IMOAndTheUnitedNations/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.mschoa.org/on-shore/about-us
http://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/convention_historical_perspective.h
tm
http://www.unodc.org/easternafrica/en/piracy/index.html
https://www.unodc.org/westandcentralafrica/en/newrosenwebsite/TOC/maritime-crimeand-unodc.html