Topic: UN's Role of Addressing Sectarian and Ethnic Conflict within a Nation
Country: Venezuela
Delegate Name: Nell Cunningham
School: Traverse City West High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Venezuela position papers GLIMUN 2008 committees
Ethnic conflict is one of the greatest threats to the stability and prosperity of a state. Without internal peace we cannot expect a state to participate actively on the world stage. Most attempts of the solving of internal, ethnic conflict have involved the complete alienation of one of the waring groups. History has taught us that the method of ignoring one group of people while favoring the other will simply lead to one of two ends, either continuing conflict or the rise of a dictator. As world leaders it is our responsibility to ensure that those countries experiencing such conflict are given a fair opportunity to solve their dilemmas.
It is the goal of the United Nations to prevent violence in all its forms, however, more than often not the UN stands idle, ignoring the voice of those trying so vehemently to be heard. The United Nations is most powerful as a forum for discussion between conflicting groups. Excluding any groups from this participation is not only in direct opposition to the spirit of the United Nations, but also is not a rational way to deal with conflict resolution.
As an international body we must work to include the entirety of the global population. We must engage in discussion with those threatening the proletariat, no matter who that threat might be. We must look beyond such labels as “terrorist,” and see that they are a legitimate organization and should be treated as one when brought to the negotiating table. Having stated this, Venezuela will not allow any organization whatsoever to harm its citizens, in any way. The moment a group engages in the act of killing or harming innocent civilians that group compromises all of its legitimacy and should be punished. Governments are by no means above this same rule, and can therefore be overturned by the people just as all other groups are subject to disillusion should they become violent.
Each group that maintains its legitimacy should be given the opportunity to represent the people it is fighting for, therefore elections should play a key part in the resolution of conflict. A group that is allowed to participate in a fair election will come to understand the feeling of the entire nation and will thus be given the representation in the government that it seeks to change.
In an area of conflict calling for greater number of UN troops is not an effective manner of combating violence. Only through calm and decisive negotiating can a real and lasting peace be archived. Therefore Venezuela feels engaging in negotiations with all groups, from freedom fighters to political parties, is the best method of bringing peace to the world.
