Topic: 2024-Indiscriminate Weapons
Country: Yemen
Delegate Name: Lore Dulin
The nation of Yemen is no stranger to the usage of indiscriminate weapons in conflicts. Yemeni Observatory For Landmine Removal finds that 370 civilians have been killed by landmines placed by the Houthis in 2019. In 2007, Yemen was close to declaring itself a landmine free nation, but with the escalation between the Yemeni government and the Houthis, mine laying increased drastically.
Yemen has supported international conventions such as the Mine Ban Treaty or the Ottawa Convention. In fact, Yemen was the first Arab country to destroy its stockpile of anti-personnel mines entirely. The Yemen Data Project has collected data on over 25,000 air raids carried out by the Saudi-led coalition. In 2022, one child was killed or injured on average every two days in Yemen by landmines.
Since the first United Nations General Assembly resolution was adopted, disarmament has been a priority. Indiscriminate weapons are a threat to civilians and national security. The United Nation has, and will continue to advocate for the cessation of the usage of indiscriminate weapons and urging all parties to comply with international law. However, the enforcement of initiatives to cease the application of indiscriminate weapons has not been where it needs to be. The United Nations must call for accountability and the enforcement of arms trade regulations.
The delegation of Yemen emphasizes the importance of comprehensive efforts and compliance with the existing treaties and conventions. The United Nations must monitor and work on enforcing regulations in arms trade. The delegation sees the necessity to support programs focusing on assisting victims of indiscriminate weapons and ensuring humanitarian aid is not hindered by the usage of these weapons.
For not only the benefit of the nation of Yemen, but for the global community, the United Nations must curb the use of indiscriminate weapons. A collective international response is crucial to prevent further civilian casualties and suffering, while working towards conflict resolution.
References
(n.d.). United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. Retrieved November 24, 2024, from https://disarmament.unoda.org/anti-personnel-landmines-convention/
(n.d.). Yemen Data Project. Retrieved November 20, 2024, from https://yemendataproject.org/data/
(2023, March 23). Save The Children. Retrieved November 24, 2024, from https://www.savethechildren.net/news/children-yemen-face-highest-risk-landmines-and-explosive-devices-least-five-years-save-children
Dashela, A. (2022, September 1). The Calamity of Landmines in Yemen. Carnegie Endowment. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://carnegieendowment.org/sada/2022/09/the-calamity-of-landmines-in-yemen?lang=en
Yemen: Houthi Landmines Claim Lives, Livelihoods. (2024, May 23). Human Rights Watch. Retrieved November 24, 2024, from https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/05/23/yemen-houthi-landmines-claim-lives-livelihoods
