Topic: UN's Role of Addressing Sectarian and Ethnic Conflict within a Nation
Country: Mozambique
Delegate Name: Drew VanHouten
School: Forest Hills Central High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Mozambique position papers GLIMUN 2008 committees
Throughout the world’s history there have been many, many wars but they are all eventually solved because the war is fought over something, and when one side gets what they want the war is over. This however is not the case with wars between two sects or ethnicities. These wars are usually based on the want to obliterate the other entirely. There have been many instances of this happening and the UN has done nothing to intervene in countries such as Rwanda, Darfur and Sudan. Had the UN put the effort in to solve these conflicts before, they would have saved millions of lives
Mozambique has long been a proponent of peace. We have a diverse population in language and religion and have showed that it is possible to live in peace with one another regardless of race or religion. We want to promote education about the outside world and other races. One of the main reasons that there are ethnic conflicts is because people are afraid of each other. If we get rid of that fear we get rid of the need for conflict. Also we believe everyone should be taught to have a sense of unity with one another. If everyone has a sense of unity then there would not be any strife or conflict between religion or race.
My country believes that the only thing that will oppose us will be certain ethnic groups or religious sects who are bent on wiping other ethnicities or sects from the face of this Earth. Otherwise my country advocates that who wouldn’t support us. No country wants war between its own people.
Mozambique is believes that the UN needs to more effectively combat ethnic insurgents who would wish to cause others harm. Also the UN needs to develop policies for negotiation or communication with these people. If they had a policy for dealing with ethnic cleansing many conflicts could have been peaceably solved without bloodshed.
