Topic: Combating the Spread of Small Arms and Light Weapons
Country: Jordan
Delegate Name: Stephanie Tkaczyk
School: Williamston High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Jordan position papers GLIMUN 2014 committees
The greatest issue that small arms and light weapons (SALWs) pose to the globe is their ability to cause tension and insecurity between groups and individuals in separate countries. The harmful incidences made easier by international groups possessing SALWs in large amounts include: murder, rape, torture, dismemberment, and recruitment of child soldiers. Currently there are about 600 million SALWs circulating the globe and there is not much being done to stop their increasing presence in more and more nations every year. It is hard to pinpoint the exact locations of these SALWs as well because common groups that use these types of weapons, like rebel factions and terrorist groups, have been efficient at remaining out of the public eye.
Jordan is passionate about dealing with the prevention and monitoring of SALWs because Jordan is in a location where ignoring the issue could lead to serious problems with neighboring countries. The country of Jordan is located right in between Iraq and Israel; this also catches Jordan in the crossroads of what the Christians, Jews, and Muslims call the Holy Land. This leaves Jordan right in the middle of the quarrels and issues happening with the terrorist groups and rebels of these nearby nations. Even though Jordan, along with Egypt, is one of the only two countries to have made peace with Israel, it still is a risk for Jordan to be around all of the SALWs that are likely to be circulating around its country’s borders.
Jordan believes that the issue would best be handled by continuing and increasing the use of buyback programs. These programs would pertain to the exchanging of these illicit weapons and ammunition for food, medicine, farming equipment and other items such as these. These programs should be increased once we improve to better monitoring of the SALWs. To improve the monitoring of these weapons Jordan will offer any resources and information it can to aid the programs being put into effect. Jordan also expects to be aided in these prevention efforts by the Egypt who can relate to Jordan’s perspective on the issue and the United States who has always been an ally to Jordan.
