Topic: Protecting Humanitarian Workers in Conflict Zones
Country: Japan
Delegate Name: Eamon Whalen
School: Forest Hills Northern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Japan position papers GLIMUN 2011 committees
The state of Japan is firmly committed to the protection of humanitarian aid workers. In light of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Tohoku, Japan is fully aware of the importance of international aid organizations and their mission. During the past year, Japan has received aid from 116 nations and 28 non-government organizations to assist with disaster relief efforts. While aid workers in Japan did not experience malicious behavior, Japan recognizes the rise of anti-humanitarian sentiment in other nations and pledges its full support to finding a solution.
Throughout the last thirty years, Japan has consistently ranked in the top five contributors of financial aid and humanitarian workers. A combination of more “home grown” terrorism and increasingly unstable working environments has made humanitarian aid an increasingly more dangerous practice. In the interest of our own humanitarian aid workers and those of the rest of the world, Japan proposes more international pressure be placed on nations where such violence is occurring. Countries receiving aid should be morally, ethically, and legally obligated to protect aid workers. It is, we feel, the job of the UN to enforce this protection.
Increased violence towards humanitarian aid workers is detrimental is numerous ways. For one, aid workers are simply unable to provide help if they are under attack, kidnapped, or killed. Also, the countries that are receiving aid either have to spend money to protect the workers or face international scrutiny for not doing so. Finally, areas that have a reputation for being violent towards aid workers are less likely to receive the help they so desperately need. This cycle of need and abandonment must be prevented before it spins out of control.
In the short term, Japan proposes the UN increase pressure on nations receiving aid to protect aid workers. The protection of aid workers must be made a top priority. Nations that fail to comply with UN standards would lose certain representation and power within the UN. In the long term, Japan would like to see more emphasis put on the reduction of xenophobic sentiment around the world. Through international cooperation, Japan feels as though conflict prevention is, in the end, the best way to protect humanitarian aid workers. The state of Japan stands firmly committed to protect aid workers within its own borders and around the world.
