Topic: 2024-Indiscriminate Weapons
Country: Indonesia
Delegate Name: Karim Heydarzade
Committee: Disarmament & International Security Committee (DISEC)
Topic: Indiscriminate Weapons
Country: The Republic of Indonesia
School: Portage Central High School
Indiscriminate weapons are weapons whose effects cannot be controlled. Indiscriminate weapons can lead to indiscriminate attacks which may put the lives of innocents at risk. Examples of indiscriminate weapons generally include bombs, landmines and even nuclear weapons because they can often not distinguish between enemy or civilian. Thus, it is important to discuss and reduce the use of indiscriminate weapons.
Indonesia strongly opposes the use and expansion of indiscriminate weapons, especially nuclear weapons. Indonesia has signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Indonesia has, without failure, supported disarmament. There are many events which led to Indonesia coming to such conclusions as indiscriminate weapons, especially nuclear weapons, have had lots of impacts on Indonesia. Indonesia is in a part of the world where nuclear tensions were high, especially during the cold war which influenced Indonesia’s advocacy for disarmament and the establishment of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) to ensure no such thing happens again.
Indonesia would like to propose multiple solutions to the UN. We advocate for more countries to sign and ratify the TPNW. We also believe the UN should increase global awareness about the treaty and its benefits in reducing nuclear risks. Indonesia also wants the UN to set up better systems to ensure countries follow disarmament treaties, such as checking if nations are complying and punishing those that break the rules. Indonesia also encourages the UN to assist in the creation of nuclear-weapon-free zones, similar to the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) in other regions as well.
Indonesia also advocates for several specific actions that member states should undertake in their own countries to prevent use of indiscriminate weapons. We encourage countries to adopt or strengthen national laws that prohibit the development, possession, and use of indiscriminate weapons. These laws should follow with the international treaties mentioned. Indonesia also believes that member states should educate their populations on the consequences of indiscriminate weapons to prevent future tragedies and misapplications.
Bibliography
“Canadian Red Cross Home.” Canadian Red Cross Home, https://www.redcross.ca/how-we-help/international-humanitarian-law/what-is-international-humanitarian-law/weapons-and-international-humanitarian-law. Accessed 25 November 2024.
“Indonesia.” The Nuclear Threat Initiative, https://www.nti.org/countries/indonesia/. Accessed 25 November 2024.
“An Indonesian diplomat’s call to prioritize nuclear disarmament.” UNITAR, https://unitar.org/about/news-stories/stories/indonesian-diplomats-call-prioritize-nuclear-disarmament. Accessed 25 November 2024.
“Indonesia | Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.” International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, https://www.icanw.org/indonesia. Accessed 25 November 2024.
“Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) – ASEAN Main Portal.” Asean.org, https://asean.org/our-communities/asean-political-security-community/peaceful-secure-and-stable-region/southeast-asia-nuclear-weapon-free-zone-seanwfz/. Accessed 25 November 2024.