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The Disarmament and International
Security Committee (DISEC)
BACKGROUND GUIDE
Nuclear Weaponry Free Zones
Director:
Assistant Director:
Devante Kerr
Latoya Reynolds
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January 7, 2017 | Queens, NY
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INTRODUCTION
First Committee
The First Committee deals with global challenges that may threaten the peace of the international
community and searches for solutions to resolve these issues. The committee was created in 1949
after WWII as a variety of weapons of all sorts had surfaced in the world; it deals with international
security matters including those that involve other sectors of the United Nations, as well as to
oversee regulations and disarmaments.
This committee works hand in hand with the UN Disarmament Commission as well as the
Geneva-Based Conference on Disarmament. In the past there have been efforts to improve the
organization and effectiveness of the Disarmament and International Security Committee through a
variety of meetings where resolutions were drafted and ratified.
Throughout the course of history, many nations have come to a consensus and ratified
several resolutions, such as the Central Asian Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (CANWFZ), and African
Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (ANWFZ) to solve the situation the world faces with Nuclear
Weapons. Despite this information, it is vital that we create a solution that satisfies the needs of the
majority and work together in such way that we preserve the integrity and unity of the UN as well as
Global peace efforts. Any use of chemical weapons, by anyone, under any circumstances, is a grave
violation of the 1925 Protocol and other relevant rules of customary international law.
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TOPIC HISTORY
As World War II progressed death tolls began to rise, countries started to sink into debt and
families started to fall apart, the United States found a way to put all the turmoil to an end. The first
nuclear atomic bombs successfully used to cause mass destruction were dropped on the Japanese
cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima resulting in the deaths of over 200,000 innocent civilians. A
conflict erupted over political positions of Communism and United States almost immediately after
the fact. During this time the U.S. and Soviet Union participated in the popularly known as Nuclear
Arms race where they competed to obtain the largest number of nuclear weapons.
Currently only five nations: The United States, Russia, China, Great Britain, and France,
have managed to retain nuclear armament. Conversely there are those nations that are suspected of
having nuclear weapons like Israel, Iran, Pakistan, and North Korea. There are also those that have
surfaced in extremist groups similar to that of the well-known Islamic State of Syria(ISIS) from the
black market as well as an abundant amount of countries with capabilities to create such weapons.
Many regions such as those in the Middle East like Egypt who wanted “the establishment of
an effectively verifiable Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction, nuclear, chemical
and biological, and their delivery systems.” along with Asian countries and many others have shown
their efforts in attempting to decrease nuclear armament within their countries and other
surrounding countries.
As a general outlook on nuclear weapons there are a variety of views about what should be
done with these weapons. Some believe in the Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) of Nuclear
weapons, in which a nation could be protected by having vulnerabilities that are commensurate with
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the opposing parties. Nations are pushed to build their arsenal, but the use of them is rather
frowned upon. This was during the peak of Nuclear production during the Nuclear arms race theory
implemented by John F. Kennedy and the Soviet Union cooperated. This theory of MAD is
unfavorable to third world nations or those who are developing nations.
One of the biggest and most vital works pertaining to the issue of Nuclear Proliferation is
the NPT (The Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons) although it seems to be
ineffective and ineligible to change. It was put into effect into 1970 and had explained that the main
P5 (France, Russia, United States, United Kingdom, and China) could keep their nuclear weapons.
All other nations aren't allowed to withhold armament and promotes the redirecting of fissionable
material such as uranium for things other than military service. That's one of the most significant
arguments being discussed throughout the UN, how can nations contain the ability to keep nuclear
material and prevent nuclear weapons from being made and then used. Another treaty is Partial Test
Ban Treaty, which ban nuclear weapons tests in outer space and underwater. The Comprehensive
Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) also was established to ban nuclear weapons in those places, but
was never enforced.
The first Nuclear Weapon Free Zone treaty was issued in the year 1961 for Antarctica
through the Antarctic Treaty System by a collective agreement by UN members. Within the
parameters of this treaty Antarctica is only used for scientific research and cannot be used by other
nations for purposes that are in the same area as Military Activity. This treaty was more successful
being the first because to the world Antarctica is more secluded and about completely inhabitable
for permanent residence.
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On July 15, 2009, a Nuclear Weapon Free Zone was put into effect in Africa with a total of 39
members. To this day and is also the most recent treaty into getting rid of nuclear armament. The
steps taken in The Pelindaba Treaty is indefinitely active and will remain that way taking the world
one step closer to freedom from Nuclear Weapons.
Within this treaty the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is indeed addressed
along with other points brought up. These include avoiding the negative effects on the environment
by radioactive material in Africa avoiding instances that occurred during WWII, furthermore it
acknowledges how other Nuclear Weapon Free Zones have succeeded in special reference to those
implemented in the Middle East.
Nuclear Technology
Nuclear Technology is known to be one of the deadliest and most catastrophic types of
weapon to mankind. The user having the ability to wipe out cities and even leave this targeted region
devastated for decade. Despite this, not all is bad about nuclear technology; giving aid to everyday
life in areas such as science and technology, food and agriculture, water resources and medicine, and
more internationally recognized clean and alternate energy.
CURRENT STATUS
The black market is an illegal trade or trafficking of limited or controlled commodities. Some
of the commodities traded include drugs, weapons, organs, and even the act of prostitution. Nuclear
weapons are one of the many commodities that spread through the black market. Groups that have
used the black market as their trading route include ISIS and, Aum Shinrikyo, Al-Qaeda; which
could all obtain nukes. There is a short supply of very expensive of nuclear weapons or nuclear
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material but it exists in various amounts of countries. Another term that also deals with unsecured
nuclear material is “loose nukes” referring to nuclear weapons are poorly guarded from the former
Soviet Union. The “loose nukes” may lead to the threat of groups of terrorists or groups of people
that may choose to steal and sell them into black markets all over the world.
Since there are stockpiles of raw nuclear materials or weapon are located all around the
globe, there was a Nuclear Security Summit in Washington of 2010 to focus on how to add more
security and tighten the control on these centers. The United States led the summit where 47
counties and three international organizations participated. Countries like Ukraine, Canada, Malaysia,
and Mexico have agreed to tightening security. However, many other countries like Iraq, Saudi
Arabia and Israel still adamant and keep their current conditions.
The black markets around the world hold many of the nuclear raw materials and weapons.
About 93 countries have an active black market with the United States, China, Mexico, Spain, Italy,
Japan, Canada, India, United Kingdom, and Russia in the top ten. Out of these 93 countries some
are known to have nuclear weapons in their black markets. Countries like Iran, Iraq, Libya, and
North Korea have been looking for the raw materials within these black markets. With the newfound demand of these materials and weapons the threat for nuclear proliferation and threats to
international security greatly increase.
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BLOC POSITIONS
Middle East
The middle region is a prominent region that should be mentioned in the debate. In 1974,
Iran proposed the idea of a nuclear weapon free zone. Despite this, it was regarded as an
‘hypocritical’ action in the Nuclear weapons world, after stating they would reduce Nuclear material
they proceeded to gain more. When the IAEA Safeguarded (International Atomic Energy Agency)
under the NPT (Nuclear Proliferation Treaty) was put into effect, the nations of Libya, Syria, Iran,
and Iraq were all found to not comply with the guidelines. A conference was issued in 2012 to be
held on the treat but was postponed by the United States. To this day, the conference has still not
been rescheduled, which has started to affect countries such as Egypt.
Southeast Asia
In the region of Southeast Asia, the Southeast Asian Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty
(SEANWFZ), also known as the Bangkok Treaty, was implemented in 1997. The countries that
ratified these treaties are obliged not to: Develop, manufacture or otherwise acquire, possess or have
control over nuclear weapons, station nuclear weapons, test or use nuclear weapons anywhere inside
or outside the treaty zone, seek or receive any assistance in this nor take any action to assist or
encourage the manufacture or acquisition of any nuclear explosive device by any state. The idea of a
nuclear weapon free zone in southeast Asia was proposed by the Association of Southeast Nations
(ASEAN) and signed a Declaration on Zone of Peace, Freedom, and Neutrality (ZOPFAN). It has
only been signed 10 countries but is open to signatures from the five Nuclear Weapon States.
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Latin America
In the Latin America region, Costa Rica was the first nation to speak of an arrangement to
control Nuclear Weapon at the Organization for American States (OAS) back in 1958 and others
followed over next two years. After hearing about Africa’s NWFZ treaty, Latin America’s only
supporter Brazil mentioned to issue a treaty within their own region. In the end, The Treaty for the
Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (LANWFZ) better known as
the Tlatelolco Treaty was put into force on April 25, 1969 with a total of 33 members. The treaty
aims to:
Prohibit and prevent in the region “(a) the testing, use, manufacture, production, or
acquisition by any means whatsoever of any nuclear weapons, by the Parties themselves,
directly or indirectly, on behalf of anyone else, or in any other way, and (b) the receipt,
storage, installation, deployment, and any form of possession of any nuclear weapons,
directly or indirectly, by the Parties themselves, by anyone on their behalf, or in any
other way.”
African Region:
The African Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty (ANWFZ) also known as the Pelindaba
Treaty was signed 25 April 1969. In 1961, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) had
arrogated a resolution identifying Africa as a de-neutralized state. Later the Organization of African
Unity (OAU) had, endorsed by the UN, set to create the Declaration on the Denuclearization of
Africa. The treaty was signed on April 11, 1961 in Cairo by 47 of the 53 nations along with four of
the five nuclear weapon states (excluding the Russian Federation).
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QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
1. Has your country taken part in the treaty (if any) to its respective area?
2. What are the specific protocols to the treaty?
3. How has this resolution affected life in your country?
4. What has your country done in the past to assist the effort?
5. Is Nuclear Proliferation a prominent problem in your country? Why is it a problem?
6. Does your country have any amount of “loose nukes” available? Do you have amounts of
uranium and plutonium in your country?
7. What’s your country’s thoughts on the NPT (Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear
Weapons)?
8. Does your country involve with the growing demand for nuclear raw materials?
9. What was your country’s past action against nuclear weapons? What countries agree with
your country’s idea?
10. Were your country’s actions taken against nuclear weapons successful? If not, why?
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WORKS CITED
1. "Central Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zone (CANWFZ)." Central Asia Nuclear-WeaponFree-Zone (CANWFZ) | Treaties & Regimes | NTI. N.p., 22 July 2016.
2. "Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean
(LANWFZ) (Tlatelolco Treaty)." Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin
America and the Caribbean (LANWFZ) (Tlatelolco Treaty) | Treaties & Regimes | NTI.
N.p., 22 Sept. 2016.
3. :"Arms Control Today." Iran and a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Middle East | Arms Control
Association. Arm Control Association, n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.
4. Cosma, Maria. "MAD and NUTS About Nuclear Weapons." The Centrist Party. N.p., 6
Dec. 2012.
5. "Safeguards to Prevent Nuclear Proliferation." Nuclear Proliferation Safeguards. N.p., Apr.
2016.
6. Tierney, Caitlin. "NWFZs: Pursuing a World Free of Nuclear Weapons." NWFZs: Pursuing
a World Free of Nuclear Weapons. N.p., 7 Sept. 2010.
7. "Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean
(LANWFZ) (Tlatelolco Treaty)." Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin
America and the Caribbean (LANWFZ) (Tlatelolco Treaty) | Treaties & Regimes | NTI.
N.p., 22 Sept. 2016.