Topic: UN's Role of Addressing Sectarian and Ethnic Conflict within a Nation
Country: Afghanistan
Delegate Name: Harry Stern
School: Ann Arbor Community High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Afghanistan position papers GLIMUN 2008 committees
The United Nation’s sole objective is to attain and maintain peace throughout the world. Of course, this is an extremely difficult task but the progress the organization has made so far is remarkable. One of the major issues the UN is addressing in many countries is sectarian and ethnic conflict. A couple examples of this issue include the civil war and genocide in Rwanda and the Yugoslav wars in 1992.
In Afghanistan sectarian and ethnic conflict is a primary obstacle against attaining peace. The Taliban is the cause of this conflict and has been for the last decade. There motive is to establish a pure Islamic society, initializing heavy restrictions on all citizens of Afghanistan such as women aren’t allowed to be in the presence of man who isn’t a blood relative, girls are not allowed to attend school, and any frivolous activity is banned including card playing, and listening to music.
After the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States, it was realized that immediate changes were necessary in Afghanistan. An anti-terrorism coalition headed by the U.S. supplied war materials and support to the Northern Alliance, which is an organization of various Afghan groups who are against the Taliban. Fortunately, the Northern Alliance has been able to retake much of the country, and since 2000 the alliance has been working with the United Nations to develop a new government. The Taliban has been driven out of the country into areas near the Afghanistan Pakistan border. Although the Taliban has been driven out, Afghanistan still remains a “failed state” with illegal opium being their primary crop and thousands of innocent civilians being killed by the violence between U.S.-U.K. troops and the Taliban rebels.
Lately the UN’s role in the country has been trying to set up a stable government, and registering voters for 2009 and 2010 elections. Other efforts include promoting the rule of law, and training of police. Unfortunately, the UN’s role is very limited because of the violence, drug production, and immediate dislike of foreigners by Afghanis.
