Montessori Model United Nations A/C.4/11/BG-56 General Assembly Distr.: Upper Elementary Eleventh Session XX September 2016 Original: English Fourth Committee Special Political and Decolonization Committee This group works on special topics. It used to help colonies get independence. By 1990 most colonies were independent. For this reason, it added Special Political to its name and began to look at other issues not covered by other committees. There are 17 non-self-governing-territories. These are areas of the world under the control of a state but not strictly part of that state. Some examples are Bermuda, Western Sahara, and Guam. Every year this group discusses what should happen with these areas. The Special Political part of this group looks at other questions that do not fit in the other committees. They look at issues affecting Palestinian refugees, atomic radiation and how to use space for peace. Also, the discuss the topics of peacekeeping, landmines, and public information. The University for Peace is also on their agenda. Agenda Item 56 Comprehensive Review of the Whole Question of Peacekeeping Operations in All Their Aspects Peacekeeping is the practice of trying to create peace. It occurs in an area with war or conflict. After World War II the world community made the UN to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. UN Peacekeeping works to stop wars. Background The first UN Peacekeeping Mission was in 1948. A team of observers went to the Middle East after the Arab-Israeli War. Their job was to make sure both sides were following the truce. This Peacekeeping Mission is still going on. Since then there have been 70 more Missions. When there is trouble in the world the UN monitors it. They see if a Peacekeeping can improve the situation. Then, the Security Council will pass a Resolution asking for a Peacekeeping Operation to begin. The UN does not have soldiers. The force is made up of soldiers that states volunteer. Most Peacekeeping Operations get the consent from the states or groups involved. That way there is more chance of success. The has been more Peacekeeping in the last 20 years. There have been 56 since 1988. This is not because there is more conflict. It is because more states can agree Peacekeeping is helpful. However, UN Peacekeeping is not perfect. Investigations revealed some UN soldiers committed crimes. Some soldiers were violent towards women or abused children. The UN knows changes need to be made. In 2000 it started to fix peacekeeping. What changes can make Peacekeeping better in the future?
Observation Missions ü Small group of military or civilian observers are sent to a conflict zone. There is a ceasefire agreement. ü Monitor both sides to see if they are following the agreement. ü They do not carry weapons. They report on what they see. They do not get involved. ü Examples include Angola in 1991 and Western Sahara. ü Needs the permission of both sides. Interpositional Missions Types of Peacekeeping Missions ü Also called traditional peacekeeping. ü Large groups of soldiers with weapons. They keep the two sides apart and stop new conflicts. Can only use force if they are attacked. ü Usually occurs after a conflict. A ceasefire happens first. ü Examples include Guatemala in 1996 and Angola in 1994. ü Needs the consent of both sides. Multidimensional Missions ü Similar to traditional peacekeeping. The Mission is given more jobs to do in order to create peace. ü Soldiers with weapons keep the sides apart. Police create security and work to improve public safety. Can only use force in self-defense or to protect the Mission. ü Might do other tasks like supervising elections, improve the economy or help the government to organize itself. ü Examples include Namibia in 1989 and Mozambique in 1992. ü Needs the permission of both sides. Peace Enforcement Missions ü These Missions happen if the Security Council decides there is a threat to peace. ü The Security Council passes a resolution saying force can be used against a country that threatens peace. For example, Resolution 678 against Iraq in 1990. ü Very large groups of soldiers with weapons. They can use force. ü The UN does not usually send soldiers. Other states work together but tell the UN what they are doing. ü United Nations Force Intervention Brigade in the Democratic Republic of Congo is an example of UN soldiers involved in peace enforcement. ü Do not need the permission of the country. The following are some of the issues the UN needs to address: Issues Many conflicts are not country against country. They are country against armed groups. How can Peacekeeping work to create peace in these situations? The UN does not have an army. States donate soldiers to a Peacekeeping Mission. This takes time. How can Peacekeeping Missions react faster? Some UN soldiers committed crimes when they were supposed to be protecting people. How can the UN fix this problem? Peacekeeping is not just keeping people apart. Today, a lot of work needs to be done to rebuild a country after a conflict. How can Peacekeepers help?
Current Peacekeeping Operations Operation Name Location & Year Started Workers Deaths MINURSO: United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara MINUSCA: United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic MINUSMA: United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali MINUSTAH: United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti MONUSCO: United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo UNAMID: African Union United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur UNDOF: United Nations Disengagement Observer Force UNFICYP: United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus UNIFIL: United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon UNISFA: United Nations Interim Force for Abyei UNMISS: United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan UNOCI: United Nations Operation in Côte d Ivoire UNMIK: United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo UNMIL: United Nations Mission in Liberia UNMOGIP: United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan UNTSO: United Nations Truce Supervision Organization Western Sahara 1991 Central African Republic 2014 Mali 2013 Haiti 2004 Democratic Republic of Congo 2010 Darfur 2017 Syria 1974 Cyprus 1964 Lebanon 1978 Abyei, Sudan 2011 South Sudan 2011 Côte d Ivoire 2004 Kosovo 1999 Liberia 2003 India and Pakistan 1949 Middle East 1948 Western Sahara Central African Republic Northern Mali 477 15 12 790 20 13 349 86 Haiti Coup d état 6 240 183 Kivu 22 506 101 War in Darfur 20 973 232 Yom Kippur War 953 46 Cyprus Dispute 1 214 183 South Lebanon 11 446 309 Abyei 4 776 20 Ethnic Violence in South Sudan First Ivorian Civil War 15 933 43 6 445 139 Kosovo War 368 55 Second Liberian Civil War 5 082 196 Kashmir 116 11 Arab-Israeli War 385 50
Guiding Questions 1. Research the history of Peacekeeping. Has your country been involved? Have the states around you? 2. Look at the four types of Peacekeeping Missions. What are the pros or each? Cons? 3. How can states work together to better plan Peacekeeping? 4. The United Nations Peacekeepers do not enter states without permission. What could encourage or discourage a country from letting Peacekeepers in? 5. Civilian Peacekeeping is a form of Peacekeeping done by NGOs. They do not carry weapons. They do not represent a country or the UN. How might this Peacekeeping be different? What are the pros? What are the pros? What are the cons? 6. One of the root causes of conflict is poverty. Can Peacekeeping address this problem? How? 7. Women are 3% of UN Peacekeeping military personnel. They are 10% of UN Peacekeeping police personnel. Why are women Peacekeepers important? Should they increase the number? How?
Resources Title Hyperlink How is it helpful? United Nations Peacekeeping Peacekeeping Issues What s the Point of Peacekeepers When They Don t Keep the Peace How U.N. Troops Defied Orders, Opened Fire and Escaped Syrian Rebels Reform of Peacekeeping World s Most Dangerous Peacekeeping Mission. ing/ ing/issues/ http://www.theguardian.com/wor ld/2015/sep/17/un-unitednations-peacekeepers-rwandabosnia ing/operations/reform.shtml http://www.reuters.com/article/u s-syria-crisis-peacekeepers-uninsightiduskbn0h724t20140912 http://www.bbc.com/news/worldafrica-34812600 Main site about UN Peacekeeping. Gives information about the challenges Peacekeepers face. Guardian newspaper article critical of Peacekeeping. Reuters article about a conflict between Peacekeepers and rebels from Syria. Explains what the UN wants to do differently to improve Peacekeeping. BBC article about some of the good things Peacekeepers are doing in Mali. Peace Women http://www.peacewomen.org/ An NGO that has a lot of information about how violence affects women Child Protection Nonviolent Peaceforce Providing for Peacekeeping https://childrenandarmedconflict. un.org/publications/child_protect ion%20_in%20un_peacekeepin g2011en.pdf http://www.nonviolentpeaceforc e.org/ http://www.providingforpeaceke eping.org/profiles/ UN Magazine that shows how Peacekeepers protect children.. An NGO that provides Peacekeepers to conflict zones. They are unarmed civilians. Site contains lots of key information about peacekeeping. Country profiles are helpful.