Topic: Countering the Threat Posed by Improvised Explosive Devices
Country: Belgium
Delegate Name: Alex Encalada-Stuart
School: Grand Rapids City High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Belgium position papers GLIMUN 2017 committees
Addressing the security and humanitarian issues posed by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) is integral to promoting safety within the international community. Belgium is committed to ensuring a reduction in the number of casualties caused by these devices, particularly among civilians, who are disproportionately affected by the indiscriminate nature of IEDs.
As of 2016, improvised explosive devices have been deployed in roughly half of the world’s countries, and are especially favored among armed non-state actors, including terrorist organizations, for their versatility and relative ease of construction. IEDs pose serious security and humanitarian threats in the asymmetrical conflicts in which they are implemented. From 2012 to present, IEDs have made up 105,071 casualties, 59% of those caused by explosive conflict. Approximately 80% of total IED casualties are civilian deaths, making these devices a serious threat to communities and humanitarian aid initiatives. Additionally, the presence of IEDs after the resolution of a conflict can continue to cause fatalities, create political and economic instability, and fracture peace-building efforts.
Belgium has lead and engaged in several initiatives dedicated to countering the threat of IEDs, both in the European Union and the United Nations. On 23 December 2016, Belgium signed on a 3-year European Defense Agency research and technology (R&T) agreement, designed to improve IED detection methods. While IEDDET’s main objective is to improve the operational mobility of armed forces, the technology it pioneers could also be utilized in IED cleanup and other measures to prevent civilian casualties. In addition, Belgium co-chairs the UN working group, coordinated by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), dedicated to developing mine-clearing standards and assessing training and equipment needs, along with other crucial tasks.
Belgium supports greater international cooperation on counter-IED (C-IED) research and initiatives to aid affected countries. Furthermore, due to the unconventional nature of improvised explosive devices, we believe it is necessary for this committee to continually update standards on dealing with the threats posed by IEDs, particularly as it pertains to Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (IEDD). Belgium thus advocates for broadening the role of UNMAS in dealing with the threat posed by IEDs, in order to encompass multiple aspects of the issue. Ultimately, international cooperation and a comprehensive initiative on the issues of IEDs is necessary to ensure continued security in vulnerable regions.
