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United Nations Security Council CAIMUN 2021 United Nations Security Council Background Guide A CANADA INTERNATIONAL MODEL UNITED NATIONS Tenth Annual Session | May 28-30, 2021 Dear Delegates, Othman Mekhlouf My name is Emily Ni, and it is my utmost pleasure to welcome you Secretary-General to the United Nations Security Council at Canada International Model United Nations 2021. Five years ago, I stumbled into the esoteric world of Model UN with the Angel Yuan intent of seeking academic enrichment. Twenty conferences later, at the Director-General end of this long journey, I can confdently say that the impact that Model UN has had on my life extends far beyond any intellectual beneft. Now, Nikki Wu I can only hope to instill the same passion in you, the delegate, as my Chief of Staff directors did for me. Cherish the memories you make as a delegate, and learn today so that you may lead tomorrow. Alongside me, Betty Pan will be serving as your Chair. Betty is a senior Matthew Leung Director of Logistics at West Point Grey Academy and is equally as excited to witness a weekend of riveting debate. Together, we look forward to welcoming you virtually come May! Madeline Kim USG of General Assemblies CAIMUN prides itself on its high level of educational discourse and professionalism. In the United Nations Security Council, delegates should come prepared with a comprehensive understanding of their Mikael Borres committee’s mandate, the topic at hand, and their country’s foreign USG of Specialized Agencies policy. These topics require thorough research and knowledge to allow for constructive debate; your work as a delegate will not only beneft Alec Yang yourself, but the committee as a whole. USG of Delegate Affairs The entire dais team welcomes you to the United Nations Security Council at CAIMUN 2021. Please do not hesitate to contact any of us at Caitlin Adams [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns; I look forward USG of Delegate Affairs to a weekend of rewarding debate. Godspeed, Emily Hu USG of Media Emily Ni Director of the United Nations Security Council — CAIMUN 2021 Table of Contents Committee Description .................................................................................................................................. 2 Topic Overview ............................................................................................................................................. 3 Timeline of Events ......................................................................................................................................... 4 Historical Analysis ........................................................................................................................................ 6 Current Situation ............................................................................................................................................ 8 Past Involvement ......................................................................................................................................... 10 Potential Solutions ....................................................................................................................................... 12 Bloc Positions .............................................................................................................................................. 13 Discussion Questions ................................................................................................................................... 14 Further Resources ........................................................................................................................................ 15 Bibliography ................................................................................................................................................ 16 Canada International Model United Nations 2021 1 Committee Description Following the two World Wars, delegates from over forty-six countries met in San Francisco in 1945 to prevent such tragedies from reoccurring. In the international system of their creation, “the maintenance of international peace and security” is entrusted to a body known as the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).1 As an organization belonging to the United Nations (UN), the UNSC consists of fifteen members. The United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), France, Russia, and China are the five designated permanent members given their status as victors of the Second World War2 and are commonly referred to as the P5. All substantive matters of the UNSC require consensus among the five permanent members, should one strongly disagree with the draft at hand, they can single-handedly defer it. This ability is known as the veto power. The other ten members of the Council are temporary and elected to two-year terms on a regional basis. The current temporary members of the UNSC are Belgium, the Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Indonesia, the Ivory Coast, Kuwait, Peru, Poland, South Africa. Whereas the General Assembly and other international organizations create non-binding resolutions, the Security Council is unique in that all Member States of the UN are obligated to comply with its decisions.3 This power is monumental and unprecedented, yet has rarely been exercised to its full extent. For better or worse, the veto power held the Council in paralysis during the Cold War,4 as the Communist bloc of the Soviet Union and China actively opposed almost all resolutions sought by the Western bloc of the US, UK, and France. This level of dysfunction has dialled down since the end of the Cold War in 1991, and many regard the Council to be on an upward slope towards restoring its legitimacy.5 However, the Council’s inaction towards crises such as the Rwandan Genocide of 1994 and the Darfur Genocide of 2003 continues to draw significant criticism. The Security Council is a central figure in international relations today. Beyond dealing with day- to-day issues regarding international affairs, it also responds to the crisis on an hourly basis as an authoritative voice. The Council handles many of the world’s most sophisticated issues, and its success is not only expected but also crucial to the stability of the international community. 1 Hurd 2008, p. 83. 2 Kennedy 2006. 3 Lagon, Arend 2014, p. 27 4 Manusama 2006, p. 20 5 Ibid. Canada International Model United Nations 2021 2 Enforcing the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in Syria Topic Overview “Chemical weapons are something that scares everybody.” -Abdullah II, King of Jordan Although all weapons that employ explosion and combustion are chemical in a way, the term “chemical weapons” specifically describes chemicals applied in warfare for their toxic properties.6 Common types of chemical agents include Sarin, Chlorine, Phosgene, and VX, all of which are either lethal or at least permanently harmful. Infrequently employed by a variety of militaries prior to the 20th century, the first large-scale weaponization of chemicals occurred during the First World War. Together with trench-based tactics, chemical weapons revolutionized the atmosphere and impact of warfare. Although the use of chemical weapons continued, its frequency declined significantly following the War. In recent years, the chemical weapon problem has been most explicitly present in the Syrian Civil War, which began in 2011 with protests against President Bashar al-Assad. Today, the civil war is described as a mixture of conflicts, most prominently featuring rebel groups against Assad’s government and sectarian strife between terrorist groups, religious militias, and competition for influence among the US, Russia, and Iran.7 While the war is ongoing, neither the government nor the rebels appear to be on a clear path to victory. Yet both sides remain dedicated to their cause and are highly unwilling to compromise, often enacting military plans at the cost of Syrian civilians. The Security Council has a reputation to restore. Overlapping alliances revolving around the conflict have severely complicated the Council’s role. While choosing an action or another may cause a member of the Council to impair its foreign relations, the failure to act will accelerate an already escalating humanitarian crisis. 6 Coleman 2005, p. 27. 7 Gilsinan, 2015, n.p. Canada International Model United Nations 2021 3 Timeline of Events January 13, 1915 — German artillery units fire T-Stoff shells containing xylyl bromide against Russian forces at Bolimov, in current-day Poland, marking the first military use of chemicals in the First World War. February 8, 1928 — The Geneva Protocol of 1925 enters into force, becoming the first treaty to place a blanket prohibition on chemical weapons. July 31, 1941 — As part of the Second World War, Nazi Commander Reinhard Heydrich initiates the “Final Solution,” a genocide against people of the Jewish faith and other minorities through chemical agents. Although not extensively employed on the European battlefield, over ten million people fell victim to chemical agents in German concentration camps. January 9, 1962 — The US Air Force deploys a weapon codenamed “Agent Orange,” a herbicide and defoliant chemical, in Vietnam against agricultural areas during the Cold War. April 29, 1997 — Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) enters into force, formally prohibiting large-scale ownership and production of chemical weapons and creates the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). July 17, 2000 — Bashar al-Assad is inaugurated as the President of Syria
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