Topic: Containing and De-Escalating Sectarian Conflict
Country: United Kingdom
Delegate Name: Ally Gilbert
School: Mattawan High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All United Kingdom position papers GLIMUN 2015 committees
The United Kingdom recognizes sectarian conflict as a global issue and approaches the subject of debate with caution. Sectarian conflict is typically thought to occur between groups with different religious beliefs. As all delegates have been informed, current examples of such conflict include the rise of ISIS, the Syrian War, the Central African Republic’s unholy war, and the division of faith in Latin American nations. The United Kingdom itself has handled sectarian conflict in Ireland and its religious and political identities. The idea of sectarian conflict, however, can be extended to disagreeing groups beyond religion. In recognizing the broad range of conflict at hand, the United Kingdom believes that the Special Political committee must work towards a resolution to solve sectarian conflict as a whole, rather than focus on definite conflicts.
A major sectarian conflict in the United Kingdom materialized due to religion—Catholicism in Ireland mixed with British Protestantism to create disaster in Northern Ireland. (The United Kingdom today includes Northern Ireland but does not include the Republic of Ireland.) Following Irish independence from the United Kingdom in 1922, a strict Catholic sect developed in Northern Ireland. The Catholic church gained corrupt power from the Irish identification with Catholicism, and such power reigned consequences on those who disagreed with the church’s moral monopoly. Ireland fell to Anglophobia—the nation strongly disliked the English Protestants, leading to larger, more violent feuds. To solve this sectarian conflict, The British and Irish governments were brought together to negotiate peace agreements; the United States served as a mediator during these negotiations. The United Kingdom has been troubled with sectarian conflict but has overcome it and hopes that the Special Political committee can create a resolution that addresses future sectarian conflict that may arise.
The United Kingdom hopes to see a resolution that sets peaceful guidelines for how to contain sectarian conflict when it occurs. Such resolution should maintain open communication between nations and sects and ensure international conflict be mediated by the United Nations so to remain nonpartisan. The United Kingdom’s ideal resolution involves international diplomacy when sectarian conflict arises. The United Kingdom would like to see the establishment of prepared humanitarian aid should sectarian conflict cross boarders and require such help. For regions already affected by sectarian conflict, the resolution should also guarantee that they be provided humanitarian aid. The United Kingdom wishes to make it clear that humanitarian aid should not be required of every nation in every conflict but those capable and affected by the appointed conflict. That said, the United Kingdom will consider the thoughts of any country also working towards a peaceful and unbiased resolution to solve sectarian conflict.
