Topic: Protecting Civilians in Conflict Zones
Country: Canada
Delegate Name: Api Sen
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Canada position papers GLIMUN 2018 committees
The United Nations has been requested by numerous African, European, and Asian countries for the help of protecting its civilians that are in hostile conditions due to uncontrollable warfare. Many nations’ citizens are experiencing traumatic casualties that are resulting in both; indirect and intentional losses. Additionally, children and women are major factors being involved in the crisis. Children are used as soldiers and acts of terrorism, and women are being held against their will as victims of sexual violence and, or targets of the wars occurring. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has faced this problem head-on and realizes the significant horrors these civilians are facing. A major element of this belongs to the fact that enforcing these rules are rare when it comes to the nation as a whole. Many health care workers are hesitant in supporting the civilians in need due to posts that are set up are often attacked and workers are taken hostage or killed; many of which are citizens of UN countries. Attacks like these are on an uprising after the United States bombing of Kunduz, Afghanistan medical sites. These attacks also often lead to terrorist activity and a downfall for human rights. Therefore, if the UN acts properly, DISEC will be able to bring these civilians into safety.
Canada has taken numerous initiatives to aid in the protection of the civilians suffering major consequences in the stated conflict zones. Canada and Switzerland are working in the implementation of UNSCR 2286 which provides countries an opportunity to collaborate to discuss the best practices possible. Overall, this proposal supports the effect of other countries to join Canada in the battle to protect these civilians. Canada has also been a major supporter of international law and ending targeted attacks upon innocent civilians, humanitarian, and medical personnel. Therefore, Canada is fully committed to finding those who do not follow the international law upon humanitarian rights; therefore we are providing assistance with the funding of documentation and evidence collecting. And in being a national leader in the department of security, Canadian Armed Forces are trained to follow humanitarian laws, furthering the effect Canada has on foreign nations and their views alongside the treatment of humans.
Canada proposes that the United Nations provide these civilians inside the boundaries of the stated conflict zones with the support of peacekeepers who will protect the lives of those necessary. Many civilians were prompted as to be in danger due to guerilla-style warfare, and the use of humans as weapons against others. Women and children are seen as inferior to those battling and therefore used as either child soldiers or sufferers to sexual violence. In response, Canada is aiding with the support of UNICEF’s program to end child soldiers by providing $2 million in hopes to prevent recruitment of children. Canada is also fighting to end sexual violence against women in these areas. Canada calls upon DISEC and the United Nations to adopt comprehensive, gender-sensitive preventive, protective, and prosecutorial measures in order to create safe environments that allow women to feel safe and comfortable with themselves and those around. These inhuman engagements have proven to being major issues, and Canada hopes that with the contribution of the United Nations and the Disarmament and International Security Committee, together we can put an end to this.
