BACKGROUND GUIDE Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC) Weaponization of Outer Space Dear delegates, Welcome to the Disarmament and International Security Committee of RAIMUN 2018! Our names are Enrique Rodriguez, Rodrigo Guzmán and Alonso Macedo, and it’s our pleasure to be in charge of directing this committee during the conference. We expect an intense and dynamic debate with a strong presence of diplomacy, in which the delegates can solve the problem with innovative and possible solutions expressing them in creative ways. We are more than excited to see how you are going to address a topic that was once considered a dream or fiction, but nowadays concerns nations worldwide in terms of development, security and peace. My name is Enrique Rodríguez and I am currently 19 years old and at the time. I’m in my third year studying economics at Universidad del Pacífico. I graduated high school in 2015, the same year that I started doing MUN, and until now, it is one of the biggest passions I have had. I have participated in several conferences during high school and university, taking part in Peruvian Debate Society for the 2016-2017 season. I believe MUN gives delegates a space to develop themselves as worldwide citizens, increase their general culture and knowledge, improve essential skills for life and, of course, it is an amazing opportunity to make new friends and meet lots of people! I believe the key to success in a committee such as DISEC is to keep endurance and presence during the whole conference without compromising diplomacy, and it’s one of the things I appreciate the most. I’m Alonso Macedo, and I am currently studying Economics at Universidad del Pacífico. I believe that my MUN experience is what drove me to choose economics as a field of study. In Model United Nations I learned that, as in economics, there is no single isolated problem, but nearly every issue that the international community faces is related in some way to many others. Thus, by taking deep consideration of how our daily decisions and attitude relate to the rest of the world and its problems, we can make decisions that make the world a better place. As a Director, I value first and foremost thorough preparation and research; delegates must know their country’s policies and needs very well, and every decision they take during the conference has to be made with them in mind, while they must also be willing to compromise and negotiate with diplomacy to achieve the greater good. My name is Rodrigo Guzmán. I am currently a first year Music Student, looking to specialize in Music Business and Production. I have been participating in Model UN since 2015 and joined Peruvian Debate Society in 2016. Since my incorporation to the team, I have had the opportunity to push myself to the limit debating conferences such as Harvard National Model United Nations twice, Harvard National Model United Nations Latin-America and MUNUR 17’. What I find interesting of MUN is the fact that helps you to know yourself, your capacity and limits, assuring the holistic development of social skills. As a chair, I like dynamism in the debate, as well as delegates that push the debate forward. Although diplomacy is a very important aspect of the delegate, negotiation and leadership will be two key points to define the way the committee is seen by me as a Director. We wish you the best of luck for the committee and we will make sure it becomes one of the best MUN experiences you could ever have. Hoping to see you in the first session! Sincerely, Enrique Rodríguez, Rodrigo Guzmán & Alonso Macedo Co-directors, Disarmament and International Security Committee [email protected] I. HISTORY OF THE COMMITTEE The Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC) is the first committee of the United Nations General Assembly. DISEC deals mainly with topics that center around “disarmament, global challenges, and threats to peace that affect the international community and seeks out solutions to all the challenges in the international security regime.” All Member States and observers of the United Nations are automatically part of the DISEC committee. The committee also considers all disarmament and international security matters within the scope of the United Nations Charter or issues related to the functions of any other organ of the United Nations, as well as principles governing the regulation of armaments. DISEC works in close cooperation with the United Nations Disarmament Commission and the Geneva-based Conference on Disarmament. It is the only main committee of the General Assembly entitled to verbatim records coverage. However, the committee does not possess power for authorized intervention of arms and imposing sanctions, unlike the Security Council. The very first General Assembly resolution, entitled “Establishment of a Commission to Deal with the Problems Raised by the Discovery of Atomic Energy”, was adopted on recommendation by the First Committee on 24 January 1946, in London. To date, DISEC has gathered in 72 opportunities to discuss topics of high relevance to international peace and worldwide stability, such as terrorism and violence in the Middle- East and Africa, eradication of weapons of mass destruction, illegal arms trade, cyber warfare and state capacity building and the peaceful uses of outer space, among others. Image 1: UN First Committee in Session (2018) Source: UN General Assembly II. HISTORY OF THE PROBLEM Since space exploration started in the second half of the 20th century as part of the “space race” between the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR), outer space has been seen by nations all around the world as a new territory for development, opportunity and militarization. Since “Sputnik 1”, the first satellite ever to be launched to outer space, deployed by the USSR on October 4th of 1957, the usage of space as a differential advantage jumped from sci-fi media and literature to reality. Nowadays, the deployment and use of satellites for navigation, communication and information purposes has increased exponentially. According to Online Index of Objects Launched into Outer Space by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), 4,822 satellites are currently in orbit worldwide, with the USA, Russia and China leading the number of satellites deployed, respectively; 163 being launched only in the first half of 2018; and approximately 13% not being UN- registered. International Space law’s bedrock document, the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, affirmed "the common interest of all mankind in the progress of the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes" and provided that "the exploration and use of outer space shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific development, and shall be the province of all mankind." However, the treaty does not specifically delve into the use of weapons in outer space or in its militarization, apart from the prohibition of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons. Nations worldwide have increased their dependence on the development and usage of satellite technologies for military purposes, including espionage, weapons testing, among others. As an increasing and tangible risk for the future of mankind, the international community has reaffirmed the importance of creating a strong framework dedicated to regulate and delimit the militarization of space and the use of the technology deployed in it. III. CURRENT SITUATION During the past decade, the International Community has renewed interest in space warfare. Recent developments in military and spacefaring technologies, along with heightened international tensions have increased the threat of military conflicts spilling out into outer space. On March 1st, 2018, Russian president Vladimir Putin announced that his government was in the process of updating its anti-missile defense systems. This prompted a response from US president Trump, which called the statement false, and denounced said action as illegal according to the now-defunct Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. Donald Trump’s reaction to the announcement showed genuine concern for the consequences of Russia’s new defense capabilities, and he was not alone. Experts are worried that increased defense systems may increase the likelihood of nuclear states taking the initiative and launching nuclear strikes first in the case of conflict. Furthermore, they conclude that the increased likelihood of nuclear war could launch another arms race between Russia and the USA, which could spill over into space. As if to prove the International Community’s concerns were right, on June 18th, 2018, US president Donald Trump announced the creation of a sixth branch of the US Military, the Space Force, stating: "It is not enough to merely have an American presence in space. We must have American dominance in space.” Later on, it was also revealed that the US Congress directed the Pentagon, in the 2019 defense bill, to begin work on a space-based missile interceptor, prompting many experts to condemn the actions of both countries as inciting a new space arms race and, potentially, a future conflict. Image 2: US President Trump announces the creation of the Space Force Source: Alex Wong/Getty Images IV. MAIN CAUSES OF THE PROBLEM This may be seen as a ‘recent’ or ‘new’ problem, but the truth is that the roots of this issue come from World War II, with weapons that could be made suitable for use in outer space. Since then, what has brought us to this point in DISEC is the constant ambition of space- faring nations to demonstrate their ability to exercise control over territory that has never been controlled before. A. WEAPONS RACE This cause has been present since the beginning of the polarization of the power of the countries and the territorial division, and it consists basically in the constant development and trial of weapons that are not necessarily permitted by previously approved conventions or treaties, this is a latent risk that can lead to the increase of the fragility of the international law, besides the creation of weapons that can have unrecoverable consequences to the world.