SOCOMUN XXIV
Freshman #14
Landmines
Hello delegates! My name is Nedda Bozorgmehri, and I will be one of your cochairs for SOCOMUN this year. I am senior at Santa Margarita Catholic High School, and
this is my fourth year being involved with Model United Nations. MUN has provided me
with the incredible opportunity to increase my knowledge on current international issues
and look at the world from a whole new perspective. I really enjoy researching the
interesting topics, brainstorming innovative solutions, learning more about international
problems, and presenting my ideas as a delegate from another country. I especially enjoy
meeting delegates from other schools, giving speeches, and engaging in stimulating
discussions during caucus. I have participated in a diverse range of committees such as,
UNICEF, UNEO, General Assembly, World Bank, and Security Council to discuss a
variety of topics such as illegal poaching, deforestation, and chemical and biological
weapons. Traveling is one of my favorite parts about MUN. During my sophomore year I
was invited to the prestigious conferences at Brown University and UC Berkeley. During
my junior year I attended Royal Russell in East Croydon, U.K. This year I will be traveling
to a conference in Beijing, China. Aside from MUN, I am actively involved in school as a
Full IB Diploma Candidate, Student Ambassador, National Honors Society Member,
President of the Teen Library Blog Club, and Co-Founder of Peacemakers club. I enjoy
playing basketball and doing taekwondo. I love to read, draw, listen to music and spend
time with my friends. I hope that all of you will have an amazing experience at SOCOMUN
and are motivated to continue with MUN!
I will now provide you with a brief description on the set up of committee, but we
will go into further detail on procedures, motions, and rules on the day of the conference.
We will begin committee with speeches regarding solutions for the topic going down the
speakers list. During the speech, delegates can present their country policy and a few of
their solutions. Delegates can also motion for a caucus, which provides an informal
platform to present their solutions and interact with other delegates who have similar
policies and ideas in order to establish resolutions. The resolutions will be specific to the
topic of landmines. Once resolutions are drafted, they will be presented to the committee
and voted upon. I strongly encourage all delegates to spend time researching the topic and
understand the different aspects that could be discussed in committee. Furthermore, it is
crucial to understand your country policy on the topic, and this will help you know which
resolutions you support or don’t support. Also, when coming up with solutions, try to think
of the most effective ways to solve the issue while also being creative and unique – think
outside of the box! If you have any questions, please, don’t hesitate to email me at
[email protected] . Best of luck with your research and preparation for
SOCOMUN and I look forward to meeting you in committee and hearing your ideas for
this topic.
Background:
A Khmer Rouge general once said, “A landmine is the perfect soldier: ever
courageous, never sleeps, never misses” (UNICEF). Although they are incongruously
compared to a “perfect... sleepless soldier” landmines are far from being innocuous.
SOCOMUN XXIV
Landmines are explosive, fatal weapons typically hidden under a thin surface of ground
and activated by the weight of personnel or vehicles, which is why they are considered one
of the most destructive forms of weaponry. There are two main types of landmines:
antipersonnel (targeted towards injuring, incapacitating, or killing people) and antitank
(used for large scale destruction of military tanks and vehicles). Landmine production
augmented during the Cold War, their use prominently seen during the Korean War and
the Vietnam War.
They continue to create severe problems for various countries today. 70 people are
either killed or incapacitated by landmines every day. Some areas that are most affected by
these dangerous weapons include Egypt (23 million mines), Iran (16 million mines),
Angola (20 million mines), and Iraq (10 million mines). Landmines remain on or under the
ground and instantly explode when their trigger is activated or set to self-destruct, however
they cannot distinguish combatant from civilian. Landmines that remain left behind after
war pose danger to civilians, especially children, living in the area. This concern occurs
primarily in developing nations with high illiteracy rates. The children who cannot read
signs warning the presence of landmines will wander into dangerous territory and may be
fatally harmed by the explosives. After experiencing severe physiological trauma, those
effected by landmines do not have access to proper medical facilities and post-traumatic
treatment.
Landmines also affect environmental and socioeconomic situations in nations
where the mines are present. For instance, if a landmine is found in a national park or
wildlife reserve, it can negatively impact tourism and revenue. Landmines also pose a
threat to a countries biodiversity. Mines have been the cause of over 100 elephant deaths
in Mozambique. Disarmament of landmines is a highly expensive and incredibly
challenging. The cost of removing all the weapons throughout the world is estimated to be
around $33 billion dollars.
Ever since 1980, the United Nations has played an active role in preventing the use
of landmines in warfare. The UN added the use of landmines to the Inhumane Weapons
Convention in 1996. Additionally, the UN Convention on the Prohibition of the Use,
Stockpiling, production, and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on their Destruction
(Mine-Ban Convention) was established to support the global eradication of landmines.
156 states have ratified this convention. The NGO International Ban to Land Mines
spearheaded more global cooperation regarding the use of landmines. HALO Trust is an
organization with highly trained specialists that carryout demining programs and provide
humanitarian relief in affected countries.
Possible Solutions:
When coming up with solutions, it is important to take into consideration key issues
regarding landmines, and focus on how to solve them. Researching past UN resolutions
can help provide you with an idea of what actions the UN has taken in the past and which
ones have worked and which ones have not. Focus on the best way to solve the problem
and prevent it from escalating in the future. Make your proposal as specific and detailed as
possible. The more detail you include in developing your solutions, the easier it will be to
effectively discuss and present your solutions in committee. After developing your own
solutions, you will have the opportunity to work with other delegates and merge your ideas
to draft a solid resolution.
SOCOMUN XXIV
Although the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) works with many
countries to remove landmines, there are various countries that have not signed the treaty
including United States, Russia, and China. One possible solution would be to find specific
incentives that can be used to encourage these nations to sign the treaty. Another solution
might be to develop an entirely new treaty and include why this new treaty would be more
effective than the first. You could consider researching new technologies or methods that
can be used to disarm landmines in a less expensive way. For example, chemical
degradation is a process that inserts certain chemicals into the landmines causing them to
gradually decompose over time. Consider including specific NGOs in your solutions, such
as War Child International and Human Rights Watch, as these organizations can help
countries work towards eradication of the landmines and humanitarian assistance. Also,
keep in mind that funding will not be an issue since any solutions approved by our
committee will be assumed to receive funding from the UN. While these are just a few
basic ideas that you can use as a starting point, don’t forget to be creative and unique when
it comes to forming your own solutions!
SOCOMUN XXIV
Questions to Consider:
The following questions are available as a helpful guide to your research and preparation
for the conference. You do not have to answer them explicitly at the conference.
However, I would highly recommend using these questions during your research to help
you develop a deeper understanding of the topic and your country’s position.
1. What is your country’s policy on landmines? Is your nation affected by landmines? If
so, how?
2. Are there past UN resolutions either written or supported by your country?
3. Does your country have stockpiles of landmines?
4. If your country has landmines, is it trying to remove them? If so how exactly is your
country eradicating these landmines? Are there any specific technologies or
mechanisms your country is using?
5. Has your country signed and/or ratified the Mine Ban Treaty? If not, why doesn’t
your country support the treaty? What can be changed to make the treaty more
effective or should there be an entirely new treaty drafted?
6. What specific non-governmental organizations can work with nations during the
process of eradicating landmines or preventing development of stockpiles? What do
these NGOs do and what countries would they be employed in?
7. What are some cost efficient ways to get rid of landmines?
8. Does your country believe land mines should be eradicated entirely, or not? Would
any potential conflicts or disagreements arise if they are banned completely?
9. How can we provide medical aid to nations that have victims of land mine
explosions?
10. What can the international community do to prevent landmines from causing further
destruction, and protect lives of innocent civilians endangered by these weapons?
11. How can we help the nations that have landmines continue to develop economically
and environmentally, considering these weapons inhibit development?
SOCOMUN XXIV
Works Cited
"10 Countries With The Most Landmines - Listverse." Listverse. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr.
2014. <http://listverse.com/2008/08/11/10-countries-with-the-most-landmines/>.
26 Years of Clearing the Debris of War and Helping Millions of Families Return
Home." The HALO Trust. The Halo Trust, n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.
"Deactivation of Landmines by Passive Degradation (Biodegrable Landmines)."
Deactivation of Landmines by Passive Degradation (Biodegrable Landmines).
N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. <http://www.metts.com.au/landminesdoc.html>.
"ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS OF ARMED CONFLICT."
Africa Environment Outlook 2. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.
<http://www.unep.org/dewa/Africa/publications/AEO-2/content/203.htm>.
"Facts About Landmines." CARE. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.
<http://www.care.org/emergencies/facts-about-landmines>.
"Global Issues at the United Nations." UN News Center. UN, n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.
<http://www.un.org/en/globalissues/demining/>.
"History of Landmines." / Landmines / Problem / Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.
<http://www.icbl.org/index.php/icbl/layout/set/print/Problem/Landmines/Historyof-Landmines>.
"ICBL - International Campaign to Ban Landmines." ICBL - International Campaign to
Ban Landmines. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. <https://www.icbl.org/intro.php>.
Khamis, Alaa. "Robots to Find Landmines." Robohub. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.
"War Child International -Stop Landmines." War Child International -Stop Landmines.
N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.
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<http://www.warchild.org/Interactive_Galleries/Landmines/landmines.html>.
"Land-mines: A Deadly Inheritance." Land-mines: A Deadly Inheritance. N.p., n.d. Web.
17 Apr. 2014. <http://www.unicef.org/graca/mines.htm>.
"Landmines." Landmines. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.
<http://disarm.igc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=148:lan
dmines&catid=49:resources&Itemid=41>.
"Landmines and Measures to Eliminate Them." Landmines and Measures to Eliminate
Them. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.
<http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/misc/57jmm9.htm>.
"Movement to Eradicate Landmines Unveils Unique Campaign." VOA. N.p., n.d. Web.
17 Apr. 2014. <http://www.voanews.com/content/movement-to-eradicatelandmines-unveils-unique-campaign-146080155/179402.html>.
"The History of Landmines." The History of Landmines. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.
<http://members.iinet.net.au/~pictim/mines/history/history.html>.