Topic: Children and Armed Conflict
Country: Somalia
Delegate Name: Maxwell Bradford
School: Cranbrook Kingswood
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Somalia position papers GLIMUN 2009 committees
As of 2008 Somalia has no national-level armed forces. Without a military it is impossible for this country to enforce even the most basic human rights. Consequentially Somalia is primarily run by militias. This has led children to participate in military struggles over illegal arms trade. It is absolutely crucial that the United Nations participate in ending this atrocity. If the United Nations were to use military force to help stabilize the situation in Somalia, there could only be positive outcome. The widespread death and lack of governmental influence has left Somalia a war-torn and devastated country in the eastern coast of Africa. Enacting Marshal Law while completely demilitarizing the country would be the first step to a stable and functioning country.
Stopping the violence is crucial to stopping the flow of illegal weapons. In a Marshal Law Situation it would be easier for the military to remove and raid all of the illegal weapon caches in Somalia. With the weapons in the country being removed and the flow of weapons into the country at a standstill the United Nations could then start to create an actual government. The situation in Somalia is dire, and we call upon the United Nations to help our nation become a self governed and safe place for the Somalia youth. If the violence continues the future for Somalia will remain bleak. The fighting, insecurity and widespread killing needs to stop. For the United Nations to not focus primarily on the reality that Somali has child run militias committing widespread murder is unjust. The children of Somalia need the aid of the United Nations to help repair what little they have left in their country.
