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CAIMUN 2021 United Nations Security Council Background Guide B 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 .................................................................................................................................. 15 Further Resources ....................................................................................................................................... 15 Bibliography ................................................................................................................................................ 16 Canada International Model United Nations 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 2 War in Yemen Topic Overview Ever since the unification of Yemen in 1990, divisions within society have constantly impeded the harmony that was once envisioned. In the most recent crisis, which escalated into a civil war at the beginning of 2015, the Houthi insurgency successfully obtained control of a large portion of Yemeni territory along with the support of a significant portion of the Yemeni population.6 Many causes have been identified to explain the ongoing conflict, one of which is the denomination division within Islam. The Hadi government forces belong to the Sunni sect, and the Houthi insurgents the Shia sect.7 This sectarian division drew foreign involvement as the Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia and the Shia-majority Iran were looking to expand their influence on the Arabian peninsula.8 To the international community, the war in Yemen was overshadowed by the Syrian Civil War and seen merely as another conflict in the Middle East for most of its duration. Around mid-2018, however, government and non-governmental groups began to heavily report the extent of the escalating humanitarian catastrophe.9 Yemen soon gained new attention from the international community, which has given the UN new opportunities to act on the crisis. The Security Council has a duty to act against the war in Yemen as political and humanitarian relief are in demand. A solution, however difficult, must be reached. If the Council fails to produce effective resolutions, the conflict will further intensify and leave a permanent mark on the Council’s reputation. 6 https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/war-yemen 7 https://www.cfr.org/sunni-shia-divide/ 8 Ibid. 9 Ibid. Canada International Model United Nations 3 Timeline of Events September 10, 2004 - Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi, founder of the Houthi movement, is assassinated as part of a government crackdown towards the Houthi people. Followers of al-Houthi consolidate their militias and begin resistance against the government.10 February 2, 2011 - President Ali Abdullah Saleh promises to step down after 21 years in power. This transfer of power occurred as a result of the Yemeni Revolution, which was a part of the Arab Spring protests that sprung all across the Middle East in the early 2010s.11 February 21, 2012 - The Houthis boycott the rigged election in favour of former Vice President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, whose government continued to oppress opposition forces and violate human rights. Although several deals granted Houthi forces autonomy and political representation, many Houthi leaders remain discontent with the Hadi government.12 January 24, 2015 - Houthi fighters seize the presidential compound in Sana'a, placing Hadi under house arrest and forcing him to resign. It also dissolved the parliament and created the Revolutionary Committee to maintain order.13 February 21, 2015 - Hadi escapes from confinement to his hometown of Aden, where he makes an address to the nation. In the speech, he reminds of his political legitimacy and denounces the Houthis. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon also began attending to the situation, subsequently calling for Hadi’s restoration.14 March 19,