Topic: Reducing the use of Indiscriminate Weapons in Conflict
Country: Algeria
Delegate Name: Joeita Macfield
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Algeria position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
According to the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, indiscriminate weapons are defined as weapons that employ a method of combat that cannot be directed at a specific military objective, or that have effects that cannot be limited as required by International Humanitarian Law. International Humanitarian Law is a set of rules which seeks, for humanitarian reasons, to limit the effects of armed conflict. Currently there are two groups of indiscriminate weapons: weapons whose use is currently prohibited by a treaty — anti-personnel landmines, chemical weapons, and biological weapons — and weapons whose use is not currently protected by a treaty — incendiary and nuclear weapons. The use of indiscriminate weapons can lead to massive civilian casualties and can cause long-term socio-economic problems for the local people. Amnesty International shared that the Syrian American Medical Society said that its staff treated more than 50 civilians with symptoms indicating exposure to chemicals after the Islamic State (IS) fired mortar and artillery shells into a town in Aleppo governorate. The United Nations Global Issues stated that every year, landmines kill 15,000 to 20,000 people. 50 current nuclear weapons could kill 200 million people. Due to the uncertain outcomes of indiscriminate weapons, the nation of Algeria advocates the elimination of indiscriminate weapons.
The first French nuclear weapons tests were conducted in Algeria between 1960 and 1965; 14 nuclear weapons tests were conducted at two Algerian locations. Currently, however, as a nation that does not possess nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons, Algeria is a party to all relevant nonproliferation treaties and organizations — including the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zone Treaty. Furthermore, Algeria signed the treaty of The Biological Weapons Convention, which prohibits the development, production, and stockpiling of an entire category of weapons of mass destruction. Regarding the concern for nuclear weapons, Algeria supports security guarantees for non-nuclear states, reinforcement of the implementation of Article I of the Treaty on Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons, in which the states’ parties are committed to not assist, encourage, or induce the non-nuclear weapons states to acquire such weapons in any way. As Algeria is presently facing threats from Islamic groups that are fighting against the government, the government reported the seizure of two landmines that were believed to have been intended for use along the country’s roads in August of 2016. Algeria’s government is working to secure those affected areas to make them safe for civilians.
In regards to both groups of indiscriminate weapons, Algeria favors to reduce and soon eliminate the use of indiscriminate weapons. Moreover, efforts must be made to raise public awareness on biological and chemical threats. Algeria is also looking to develop international and regional cooperation to set up a global chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) forensic analysis and response capabilities and to set up the necessary legislation and regulation to prevent and fight nuclear, biological, and chemical risks according to standard CBRN defense. Laws must be made to prevent these risks. Vice-President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Christine Beerli, stated in a speech given to the United Nations Security Council debate on the protection of civilians in 2016 that “it is obvious that political action ultimately determines the fate of civilian populations. If there are no political solutions to armed conflicts, then many millions of people will continue to endure the personal tragedy and humanitarian consequences of armed conflict, for years, decades, or even lifetimes.”
