Topic: Protecting Civilians in Conflict Zones
Country: Poland
Delegate Name: Alex Shier
School: Forest Hills Central High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Poland position papers GLIMUN 2018 committees
From the first clash of civilizations thousands of years ago, to the meat grinders of the World Wars, civilian have always been caught in the crossfire. Innocent people, who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time continue to die even today, sometimes in the thousands in conflicts around the world like Syria and Yemen. As war has become more mechanized, fast moving and expensive, one thing has never changed: civilians die.
There has been a rise in civilian casualties in the last 30 years, more as a result of increasing terror attacks, than routine conventional war. There were 62 attacks in 2001, and in 2017, there were more than 1000. This dramatic rise in civilian deaths from terrorism stems mostly from the conflicts in the Middle East, particularly in Iraq and Syria. Increasing radicalism among European nations that have become bastions for refugees are also part of this growing problem. Poland is a participant in the Global War on Terror, and has deployed soldiers to Iraq and Afghanistan in order to engage terrorists wherever they hide.
With respect to the unfettered killing in Syria, Poland has staked out a clear position. We support the ceasefires like we saw in the Idlib Province earlier this year which allowed for the evacuation of civilians, and the prevention a massacre. As the Polish foreign minister has stated: “We want to look for ways of ending this conflict [Syria], of holding those who use chemical weapons and other WMD’s accountable, and of making sure that Syria’s civilian population is protected”(1). We believe that this vision can be projected onto other conflicts around the globe. First we must halt the fighting for a time, and if that cannot be done, then we should hold those who commit war crimes accountable (including killing civilians), and ensure that they are not harmed under any circumstances.
During our time here in committee, Poland will support resolutions that first and foremost quiets the guns. We believe that in order to prevent civilian casualties to the greatest of our abilities, we recommend a temporary ceasefire in regions that need them, in order to evacuate civilians. Second, an increase in private donations to conflict-torn regions is needed, without the money passing through the hands of a government. If this body wishes to accomplish something meaningful around the world, then these steps must be taken within a resolution.
Citations: (1) “Poland to Look for Ways to End Conflict in Syria: FM.” Polskie Radio Dla Zagranicy, 27 Apr. 2018, www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/360869,Poland-to-look-for-ways-to-end-conflict-in-Syria-FM.
