Topic: Combating the Rise of Xenophobic Violence
Country: Sri Lanka
Delegate Name: Taylor Westmoreland
School: Williamston High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Sri Lanka position papers GLIMUN 2011 committees
Although Sri Lanka acknowledges that conflicts often arise when people of varying religious, ethnic, cultural, and economic backgrounds interact, we are strongly opposed to the use of violence and intimidation in expressing these differences. We believe that under the guidance of the United Nations, all nations should put forth considerable effort into the promotion of peace throughout the world. Stated simply, Sri Lanka sees xenophobic violence as the manifestation of a form of intolerance—something we urge all nations to put an end to, regardless of politics.
As a nation that has long struggled against terrorism, we are sympathetic to the battles of our fellow nations however we maintain a strong belief that national sovereignty is of considerable importance and all decisions made in ending violence must not be at the cost of this sovereignty.
Sri Lanka feels that the decisions made in Durban in 2001 are a significant step toward the realization of our goals as an international community and we strongly support the use of the Intergovernmental Working Group. Despite this, we feel that this issue has not been entirely resolved. Equitable and effective international standards must be developed and enforced if positive change is to be made. Sri Lanka has taken on a leadership role in this issue and is eager to continue this work in the future.
Xenophobia is merely one of the many forms of intolerance that plague our world today. Just as racism has been acknowledged as being unacceptable, so should the problem before us today. Xenophobic violence must be ended if we intend to forge a greater and more peaceful world for future generations but the United Nations must work with individual nations to make this change. Few, if any, would argue that xenophobic violence is tolerable. Although wars occur, we can be hopeful that one day xenophobic violence will not. The solution is to develop and enforce concrete guidelines while maintaining sovereignty.
