CARLETON UNITED NATIONS SOCIETY WINTER IN-HOUSE 2015 background guide

Transcription

1 CARLETON UNITED NATIONS SOCIETY WINTER IN-HOUSE 2015 background guide

2 Dear Delegates, Welcome to the Committee on the Advancement of Developing States, or the Group of 77. Initially designed to promote the collective economic interests of Member states, as well as to improve their negotiating capacity, the organization has grown from its 77 founding members to an all encompassing 134 member states. The G77 presents delegates with a unique opportunity; to be able to debate pertinent issues relevant to developing nations, without needing to incur geopolitical pressures from developed and major powers, such as members of the notorious P5. While this indeed levels the playing field in terms of influence, it also creates challenges for the committee as a whole; who will take the lead in crafting policy? Who will be able to sustain the confidence of committee to represent the G77 s views to the rest of the world when, considering the topics at hand, it will likely conflict with the views of the developed world. Who will be the generous donor to provide funding to developing nations to meet their international commitments? These are all questions that we will seek to answer during our day of debate. While we explore the areas of capital punishment and the implementation of sustainable development goals, delegates should strive to think outside the box, and propose creative solutions to the challenges we face in both topic areas. Delegates should seek to take advantage of the lack of developed nations in the room, while still adhering to their respective foreign policy. We wish you the best of luck in this committee and are excited to see where you take the debate! Samir Kassam!! Alex Berryman!!! Mary Werre Chair Committee Director Committee Director

3 Topic A: Capital Punishment Introduction Capital punishment, state-sanctioned execution, death penalty; these words and phrases are synonyms for the same concept: the killing of people by the government as a means of punishment. The concept has existed for millennia, and even today its status as a legal means of exacting punishment against criminals remains in several countries worldwide. According to the 2013 Amnesty International report on Capital Punishment (Death Sentences and Executions 2013), over the past five years, nine countries have carried out at least one execution per year. This number represents a fraction of the fifty odd states who still maintain the death penalty within their criminal codes. States exercising the right to maintain the death penalty have increasingly come under fire, and states who have worked to abolish it have recently been applauded, by the international community. By the same token, states who maintain capital punishment as a legitimate form of punishment do so with justification through culture, religion, legal precedence and perceived effectiveness. These two sides of the debate each enter with arguments that go beyond the realm of morality, which is a commonly cited reasoning for both removing and imposing the death penalty. They each address the issue with a number of key points that do not necessarily contradict one another, making the debate even more challenging. Committee Expectations The committee is composed of a wide range of states, including many who condone capital punishment, and many who do not. In order to reach some form of consensus on this issue, it is important to realize the many features that underlie the debate, and rationalize the two sides. As the debate rages, it becomes increasingly clear that there may be no correct answer, and certainly that a true consensus is impossible as it stands today. Discussion on this issue will be predicated on the forces of compromise and problem solving as states attempt uphold their national position while compromising on a resolution that will address some of the core issues of the debate around capital

4 punishment. The true challenge is to strike a balance that will appeal to all involved parties. Common Arguments for Capital Punishment Deterrence In support of capital punishment, one of the key arguments is the deterrent impact of capital punishment. This argument is based on the principle of the rational choice model which suggests, in the context of crime, that the reward from having committed the crime will outweigh the risk of the consequences. An example of this is the use of capital punishment in the case of drug trafficking. A number of states require capital punishment as a deterrent for trafficking illicit narcotics in hopes of deterring criminals from undertaking the practice. Criminals must therefore weigh the value of their lives against the value of the reward they receive for having committed this crime. This system of trade-offs applies in the case of any crime and any punishment, however in the context of capital punishment, the stakes are the highest. Removing criminals When examining the role of capital punishment, there is one fact that is certain; there are no repeat offenders. Once an individual has committed a crime and been punished, they will not commit any further crimes. Because capital punishment is used primarily in the punishment of violent offenders and in the case of homicide, this is commonly tied to the Balance of Punishments justification discussed later. Once a murderer or drug trafficker has been removed from the population, it is argued that the state and its people become safer, therefore justifying the punishment of the criminal. Unlike life imprisonment, this method is relatively inexpensive and does not cause the issues associated with life sentences, like prison over-crowding, judicial battles and expensive court hearings. Nevertheless, there are many issues that accompany this justification, including the possibility of a lack of judicial oversight, and improper access to fair trials. These two reasons are frequently raised in the context of capital punishment, and are polarizing forces in its rejection as a legitimate legal ruling. Balance of punishments The retributive aspects of the death penalty have strong historical significance, dating back thousands of years. This is the most commonly cited argument on the context of

5 cultural and religious arguments, as it is linked to the ancient philosophy often quoted as an eye for an eye. Retribution is commonly linked to violence and murder in which one party wishes to exact punishment on another of equal value to what they themselves have suffered. This can exist within or without the law, however the latter has a significant risk associated with it. Common Arguments Against Capital Punishment Morality In the eyes of many who condemn it, capital punishment is a moral violation. Capital punishment seeks to take life from someone who has committed a crime, often by taking the life of another. Whether or not the state should have the capacity to undertake this is highly contested and remains a contentious issue of both governmental jurisdiction and state s rights. One of the key considerations on this issue is that the ability to decide who lives and dies depends, in most cases, on a judge, jury, and a prosecutor. Firstly, in cases where this is not the case, a lack of fair trial is objectively a concern. Access to a fair trial when convicted of any crime is of paramount importance in any criminal justice system, and forms the foundation of all laws and punishment. Without the ability to be tried for a crime, states are able to punish their citizens at their own whim, which raises huge questions of legitimacy. Secondly, assuming that these preconditions exist, there is the question of discrimination and the issues of what constitutes a fair trial. According to a report by the Death Penalty Information Center in 2013, the statistics in the US regarding interracial murders are dramatically skewed towards convictions of non-white defendants. This is to say that in a situation where the victim is white or the defendant is black, the likelihood of an execution is much higher. This can be due to discrimination on the part of the judge or the jurors, or to issues underlying the system of fair trial as it is carried out in the context of convictions for capital punishment crimes. Murder! When an individual kills another individual, this is considered homicide, or murder. How do we then classify when a state kills an individual? The answer to this question forms a central theme in the debate over capital punishment and the role of the state in the life of

6 its citizens. Considerations for the legal definition of murder to not directly implicate the state, as it does not inherently occupy a legal personality in the same way as an individual. Vagueness in laws across the world only further complicates this issue, and the disconnected role of those writing laws, making legal rulings, and carrying out executions does not ease this incoherence. Rick of executing innocents As mentioned previously, one of the dangers of using capital punishments is the possibility of executing an individual who has been wrongly accused. According to the Death Penalty Information Center report in 2013, the exoneration of death row prisoners in the US since the 1970s has topped 150, or about 1 every four months. This means the acceptance of over 150 cases of wrongful accusations for crimes that would have otherwise resulted in death. Much like the deterrence aspect of capital punishment for individuals, the state must also weigh the risks and benefits of executing an individual who may be innocent. International Legality As it stands today, the United Nations officially condemns capital punishment in all forms. According to a report by Roger Hood, the UNGA first took steps toward the gradual reduction of capital punishment in 1977, and additional efforts have been made since this time. Amnesty International has spoken extremely critically towards capital punishment, as have many activists inside and outside of states who practice it. There continues to be no consensus on the issue, or on which crimes can be considered punishable by the death penalty, leaving a significant challenge for the creation of reasonable international law, or the development of laws which can be readily adapted to fit the domestic law of states who still exercise this practice. Resources AI. Death Sentences and Executions Amnesty International (2013): PDF. DPIC. Facts about the Death Penalty. Death Penalty Information Center (2014): 1-4. PDF. Hood, Roger. Capital Punishment: A Global Perspective. Punishment and Society 3:331 (2011): PDF. Schabas, William A. The Abolition of Capital Punishment from an International Law Perspective. International Society of the Reform of Criminal Law (2003): PDF. Williams, Mary E. Capital Punishment. Current Controversies (2004): PDF.

7 Topic B: Implementing Sustainable Development Goals! Introduction In 1987, the World Commission on Environment and Development defined sustainable development as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In the developed world, the majority of sustainable development debates have focused heavily on carbon emissions and greenhouse gas. A key example of this is the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement which attempted to set binding emission reduction targets. Currently, 192 parties have signed the Kyoto Protocol, many of which were members of the G77. For members of the G77, it is important to look beyond carbon emissions and find other factors hindering sustainable development. Out of the top 10 greenhouse gas emitters (which make up around 70% of global GHG emissions), only three are G77 countries (India, Indonesia and Brazil). For the majority of G77 countries, sustainable development issues can be much more closely linked to degradation of oceans, food security and sustainable agriculture, and tourism. For developing countries, sustainable development is closely linked with poverty alleviation and quality of life. On July 19, 2014, the Group of 77 (and China) released a statement outlining their opinions towards the recently proposed sustainable development goals from the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (created through the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development). The goals put forward can be found in the useful links section of this background guide. The G77 response can be found here: This document focuses heavily on the use of sustainable development practices when working towards eradicating poverty while also outlining several challenges that G77 countries have faced when working with developed nations. In particular, it should be noted that the G77

8 stresses that any international rules should allow for policy space and flexibility for developing countries. As members of the G77, it is up to delegates to propose goals targeting specific areas of sustainable development as well as put forward potential methods for implementation of these goals. For example, the first goal proposed by the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals is end poverty, in all its forms, everywhere. Although this is in line with the G77 s stated purpose for sustainable development, it is extremely idealistic (and arguably unrealistic) and does not focus on the factors linking sustainable development and poverty eradication. To help delegates in their research, below are a few examples of major issues in sustainable development that are particularly relevant to developing countries. Please keep in mind these are only a small number of issues that delegates could choose to pursue and delegates are encouraged to understand developmental challenges that are both specific to their own countries while also farreaching enough to affect other member states. Furthermore, delegates are encouraged to weigh the economic implications of pursuing green policies, and whether or not these type of solutions would really benefit their own country. Importance of Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture Although sustainable agriculture is not officially defined, it generally refers to the capacity of agriculture over time to contribute to the overall welfare by providing sufficient food and other goods and services in ways that are economically efficient and profitable, socially responsible and environmentally sound. Some of the major challenges that developing nations face in terms of sustainable agriculture is a lack of irrigation infrastructure, constant drought and desertification, sound management of agricultural chemicals and packaging and the ability to address hunger. Right now, South Asia contains the largest number of hungry people, 36% of undernourished people in the developing world. Furthermore, in sub-saharan Africa, a large percentage of people are at risk of hunger due to climate related losses in productivity. At this moment, agriculture is the world s largest industry and often, the leading source of pollution in many developing countries.

9 Water and Oceans Oceans, seas, islands and coastal areas form an integrated and essential component of the Earth s ecosystem and are critical for global food security, sustainable economic prosperity and the well-being of many national economies, especially in developing countries. In 2008, it was found that fish provided 3 billion people with at least 15% of their animal protein and the fisheries industry provided livelihoods for about 540 million people (or 8% of the world s population). Some of the problems plaguing the oceans are overfishing and destructive fishing, loss of biodiversity, ocean acidification, ocean warming, and watershed-based and marine-based pollution. Since the industrial revolution, it has been found that oceans have become 30% more acidic and by 2050, it has been estimated that this acidity could rise by 150%. Ocean-related issues are particularly relevant for vulnerable small-island developing States, whose culture, livelihood and economies are threatened by unsustainable uses of marine resources and climate change. For small-island developing states, marine-based tourism and fisheries have become threatened by marine pollution and ocean acidification in particular, while their survival is directly linked to the threat of rising sea levels due to melting ice in the Arctic due to greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainable Tourism Practices Tourism is one of the world s largest and fastest growing economic sectors. However, climate change has adversely affected tourism in several developing countries. While tourism that focuses on natural environment can positively contribute to socio-economic development and environmental protection, uncontrolled tourism can also cause environmental degradation, destruction of fragile ecosystems and social and cultural conflict. For example, in the Philippines, dynamiting and mining for coral for resort building materials damaged fragile coral reefs and depleted fisheries. Keeping this in mind, it is important to also note that the development of tourism is a great way for developing countries to alleviate poverty as it provides jobs and generates income for communities that may lack viable alternative means of employment. It is important for delegates in countries that are dependent on their tourism sector to decide what practices are best suited to ensure that their tourism industry continues to thrive.

10 Expectations The above topics are meant to give delegates an introduction to sustainable development issues that may not be directly related to carbon emissions. However, if in their research delegates feel that the reduction of carbon emissions is a viable method for addressing the concerns mentioned above and pertinent to their specific countries, then delegates are encouraged to look at these issues as well. Although sustainable development is a broad and complicated topic, for the purposes of the Winter In-House, delegates will be encouraged to focus on putting forward specific development goals and implementation strategies (to be figuratively presented to the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals) that will address the concerns put forward by the G77 in its July 19th, 2014 statement cited above. Delegates will have to decide which issues are most important to them, and most importantly, which issues are better addressed by the international community and not simply within sovereign state borders. Resources Proposed sustainable development goals: List of concise issue briefs published by the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development of major challenges to sustainable development: Interesting perspective on challenges to sustainable agriculture: Relationship between Tourism and MDGs as well as its effects on the developing world (with case studies):