Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Afghanistan
Delegate Name: Claire Volk
School: Fishers High School

Conflict minerals are mined by factions who use the revenues to fund campaigns against internationally established and recognized governments . These factions are often brutal so that in effect, conflict minerals fuel gang rapes and violence. While some conflict minerals like diamonds are valuable because they are precious, others like tungsten and coltan are in high demand for their roles in modern technology. Companies therefore put pressure on the markets and allow conflict materials in to meet demands . But nations from which conflict materials flow like the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola feel the political and humanitarian implications of these conflict minerals. Furthermore, the monetary income that goes to supporting military factions is money that does not profit the people of the nation. The UN has therefore been called upon to act to restrict the power of conflict minerals. Already, they have declared a zero tolerance policy against conflict minerals and supported the Kimberley Process .

Afghanistan has a wealth of minerals itself. Preliminary estimates place the wealth of minerals at a trillion of dollars. While these minerals have great economic potential for the yet unstable economy, there are fears that the newly-found minerals will propel Afghanistan into center stage for the African war zones associated with conflict minerals . Indeed, the minerals could very well be used by factions to try to dismantle the frail economic system. Afghanistan therefore supports measures against conflict minerals and follows the UN recommendations for dissolving the conflict.

The main prevention method that has arisen from this crisis is the use of the Kimberley System (K-P) which encourages the verification of the origins of minerals by companies seeking to purchase at-risk minerals . In regions of high conflict, mining industries should be evaluated by international organizations as being reliable or not. Certification of such industries and their minerals can assist companies in their purchases. K-P does not, however, specify humane treatment in its policy; to encourage better treatment of populaces, the process should incorporate humanitarian expectations. Furthermore, there is no permanent governing body to the K-P; it is suggested that they centralize their system to make further their abilities. The Kimberley Process has thus far only been applied to the purchase of diamonds, but the general process could be extended to different minerals as well. Such methods would incite mining industries to seek humane treatment for the attached privileges. As for the victims of conflict mineral fueled violence, relief organizations should be sent out to support their recovery.

Works Cited:

“Conflict Diamonds: Sanction and War.” un.org. United Nations Department of Public Information, 21 March 2001. Web. 8 Nov. 2011.

“Conflict.” globalwitness.org. Global Witness, n.d.. Web. 8 Nov. 2011.

“The Kimberley Process.” globalwitness.org. Global Witness, n.d.. Web. 8 Nov. 2011.

Wallstrom, Margot. “Conflict Minerals Finance Gang Rape in Africa.” guardian.co.uk. The Guardian, 14 Aug. 2010. Web. 8 Nov. 2011.

Williams, Michael. “Afghanistan’s newly found mineral wealth could fuel conflict.” guardian.co.uk. The Guardian, 16 June 2010. Web. 8 Nov 2011.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Argentina
Delegate Name: Tracy Scherdt
School: Ann Arbor Community High School

Conflict minerals, or conflict resources, are natural resources that are mined and traded in conditions of conflict, human rights abuses, and violations of international humanitarian law. The danger of conflict minerals is that they are scarce and in high demand. These minerals, subsequently, are valued by groups exploiting the mining and trading of such minerals because of the significant margin of profit that is gained. These groups frequently leave villages devastated and abuse the human rights of the citizens of the regions they occupy. Forced labor, sexual violence, civil wars, children soldiers, and devastated and famished villages are some of the tragic consequences of violence surrounding the exploitation of conflict minerals. Often the funding for these militia groups during wartime or conflict is through the mining and trading of minerals such as diamonds (“blood diamonds”), gold, coltan, cassiterite, wolframite, and others.

One important thing to conceptualize is that these minerals are in demand, and therefore surrounded by conflict, because first world countries use them with frequency incomparable to other countries of the world. These minerals show up in many common electronic devices. One solution that has been suggested is to educate the countries most frequently purchasing conflict minerals on the consequences of buying them from uncertified mining locations. The Kimberley Process (KP) was introduced in January 2003 to serve the purpose of reducing conflict around diamond trading, specifically, by verifying and certifying the origin of diamonds being traded. The Kimberley Process is backed by both the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Argentina, however, is not one of the 75 governments participating in the KP. Because of this, Argentina does not have much to say on suggestions of how to be more effective in the education of the international community to reduce demand for conflict minerals, but Argentina's allies who participate in the KP would suggest an expansion of the KP is in order and non-compliance by countries with violence associated with conflict minerals needs to be reconsidered.

Though Argentina mines gold and other minerals prone to conflict, there has been no recent violence surrounding this economic process. Some of Argentina's allies do, however, have major conflict which brings importance to the issue for Argentina and maintaining these relationships. Bolivia has had smuggling conflicts over gas and oil and Venezuela is one of the countries most looked at by the KP organization. The vast majority of Venezuela's diamonds have been smuggled out instead of certified by the KP because the conflict around these diamonds would not allow for a legitimate verification of the origin.

In the past, Argentina's peacekeeping efforts have helped to establish it's reputation as a "come-back" country, per sé. After it's Dirty War, Argentina made deliberate efforts to teach about and reduce noncompliance of international humanitarian law. Because of it's past peacekeeping operations, Argentina is versed and will be ready to take the same approach to the situations in regions with conflict minerals, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone, where peacekeeping operations are already in effect.

Argentina hopes that through contributions from all willing and able member states of the UN, peacekeeping efforts can begin to take effect and help stabilize the situations in zones of conflict mineral violence. Argentina suggests that like the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), countries that are able send humanitarian aid while others contribute forces to keep the peace and stabilize the situation, while protecting the citizens of the occupied villages and mining communities. Argentina will be likely to send police personnel and/or military personnel, as they did in MINUSTAH. Argentina calls for a greater effort from the UN as a body instead of individual members in order for peacekeeping to be undertaken more effectively.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Australia
Delegate Name: James Hurley
School: Royal Oak High School

One of the Leading causes for conflict in modern Africa is the locating, extraction, transport, and finally sale of conflict minerals. This process is one carried out continually across Africa, with hundreds of unwilling individuals relentlessly working, day after day, to keep up with the demand that the minerals cause. These minerals have funded… and continue to exploit the people of these African nations even today. The largest market for these diamonds can be found in what are referred to as “the three-T’s and Gold” the T’s standing for tungsten, tin, and tantalum. These minerals garner nearly $150 million dollars in profits combined for the illegal organization forcing the digging, with the actual workers only reward being further work and continued oppression. The most recent attempt at restricting even some of this illegal trade is the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) signed in 2003, which was an important attempt at curbing the ability to sell, distribute, or even export conflict diamonds out of suspect countries. While this process has yet to give any definitive results as of 2011, it is still an important step toward the regulation and control of diamonds in troubled regions, and hopefully a first step toward the full regulation of all conflict minerals.

Australia does not support the conflict diamond industry, and has continuously attempted to gain support for further restrictions on the process; in 2010, the Government of Australia released Due Diligence guidelines for “the process of regulating the supply chain of minerals from red flag locations to mitigate the risk of providing direct or indirect support for conflict in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.” These guidelines, which are quite extensive and through, list 5 important steps in the regulation of trade of minerals into and out of the Congo; step 1 is strengthening company management systems, step 2 is identifying and assessing risks in the supply chain, step 3 is designing and implementing a strategy to respond to identified risks, step 4 is ensuring independent 3rd party audits, and step 5 is publicly disclosing supply chain due diligence and findings.

Australia hopes that these minerals sale and distribution is stopped, and that all recrimination against the guilty party’s in these effected countries be brought to justice under the law. Australia pledges to uphold the tenets of the guidelines listed above, and hopes to both spread awareness of, and gain support in, the information provided. Australia believes with careful attention and patience, the corrupt individuals supplying these minerals will at the very least find their income slowly collapsing as control is established.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Brazil
Delegate Name: Aaron Bernard
School: Roeper School

The Federative Republic of Brazil would like to applaud this committee for attempting to alleviate such a pressing a matter. We hope that this conference will be able to achieve a meaningful discourse that has a mandate of progress. Violence associated with conflict minerals has been a long standing issue: particularly within the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Although the Second Congo War technically ended in 2003 this mineral rich region is still plagued by violence. The main source of conflict is over the minerals Tungsten, Tin, Tantalum and Gold. We the Federative Republic of Brazil deplore the violence, brought to nations by the conflict mineral trade, in the strongest terms.

We believe in order to truly ever solve this problem you must look at its root cause-the conflict mineral trade. That is why Brazil is an ardent supporter of the Kimberly Process. Along with Security Council resolution 1806 and 1952. The Kimberly process sets standards to attempt to trace the roots of diamonds, to insure that they are not use to fund violence. We would support further programs of this scale for other minerals. The previously mentioned resolutions specifically deal with the limitation of arms within the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This is an attempt by the United Nations to decrease the violence that is currently associated with the conflict mineral trade.

There is no simple solution to a problem this complex and destructive. However, with the co-operation of the international community, Brazil believes that the conflict mineral trade can be limited and then ultimately the violence associated with it will decrease. The Federative Republic of Brazil has the utmost hope that compromise and conciliation can be achieved at this conference in order to pacify such a grave concern.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Cameroon
Delegate Name: Rebecca Kost
School: Williamston High School

As a nation with considerable natural resources, particularly in the form of minerals, Cameroon cannot fully support extensiveregulation of these minerals. Regulating mineral production and sale worldwideis not a responsibility of the United Nations, and would prove to be counterproductive in regions of the world.

Cameroon has struggled economically in the past, but is now experiencing renewed hopefor a more prosperous future due to the mining of various minerals including goldand nickel. For a nation that has struggled with considerable poverty in the past, these economic developments are exciting. It is an infringement upon freetrade and national sovereignty for the United Nations to intentionally alter the supply or demand of a nations' exports.

Still, Cameroon recognizes a need to end violence throughout the world, andacknowledges that conflict minerals play an important role in civil wars. It should be noted though that conflict minerals are the by product of instability,and not the cause. The United Nations should offer aid to unstable nations to help defeat the problem at its root. In combating poverty early on, it stands to reason that instability could be headed off before resulting in widespread conflict.

Ultimately, the United Nations' response to conflict minerals cannot infringe upon the producer’s national sovereignty, as would happen with increased regulation. By “educating” nations on the dangers of providing a demand for the goods of some nations, many other states will suffer as well, resulting in more instability in the future. A stigma towards the exports of all African nations would develop easily, as well as decreased profitability for all nations if greater regulations were imposed.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Canada
Delegate Name: Zachary Hawley
School: Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy

Precious minerals have been the bane of many third world countries around the world. Violence associated with conflict minerals has forced the United Nations to directly address the problem. The United Nations Group of Experts on Congo created the Dodd-Frank legislation. Since the creation of this legislation, eastern Congo has shown reform. The cause of the problem in eastern Congo was corrupt government and violent military actions. The Congolese has been accused of smuggling minerals, prompting an investigation from the Security Council. Violence in these third world countries is fueled by corporate greed and capitalist consumption causing some of the worst violence the world has ever seen. These minerals are essential in the electronic world, making the demand rise and the violence to increase.

Canada has led the way in the global fight to end conflict mineral violence by setting up a complex system for tracking conflict minerals in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. Along with Canada, the United States have proposed the Congo Conflict Minerals Act to curb the demand of conflict minerals in the United States and Canada. The bill aims to make the companies mining the minerals disclose the locations of the mines and allow them to be inspected regularly.

Canada encourages those countries fortunate enough to have wealth and peace to assist in the global fight to stop these conflicts. With enough global support, the conflict minerals present in modern day electronics can be replaced by minerals from honest companies that do not cause strife. Independent support is not enough to solve this problem, countries need to unite to form a body that has the power and resources to solve this problem. The violence associated with conflict minerals can not be eliminated over night but with the generosity of the worlds countries, we can aim to end this conflict and bring peace to otherwise violent countries.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Chile
Delegate Name: Kelsey Dorgan
School: Mattawan High School

Conflict minerals are minerals mined in conditions of armed conflict and human rights abuses, most notably in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Profits from these minerals are commonly put towards the continued fight of the Second Congo War. These natural resources including; diamonds, cassiterite, gold, coltan, and wolframite, are used for many different purposes, and are in high demand. A large majority of these are mined and sent to many mulitnational electronics companies; they are then used to make devices such as: mobile phones, laptops, and MP3 players. While over ten million people globally are supported directly and indirectly by the diamond industry, the industry has been known for its truly substantial cost. The mining of these minerals have resulted in deadly scramble, people work in harsh conditions and receive little compensation if any for their labor.

There have been many attempts to put an end to this deadly industry including; The Kimbery Process. The Kimberly Process is the process, created by the U.N., that is designed to certify the origin of rough diamonds from sources which are free of conflict funded by diamond production. As a result ninety-nine percent of diamond are now conflict free. However, conflict minerals are still a major issue for many African countries.

Chile itself has a vast resource of minerals that are mined and exported. Chile is the world’s largest producer and exporter of copper. Large scale mining was started in Chile by the United States, and was later turned over to private companies, and is now being controlled by the state, Codelco, in Chile. Chile has never had an issue like the African countries face with the conflict minerals.

Chile has decided to play a role in the prevention of these conflict minerals. Juan Larraín of Chile, Chairman of the Security Council's Angola Sanctions Monitoring Mechanism, told correspondents at a news conference that it is very important for something to be done about the role played by conflict diamonds in prolonging brutal wars in parts of Africa such as Angola and Sierra Leone. Nothing has specifically been done, however, to stop the effects of these minerals and diamonds. They would be very willing to help enforce any new regulations of trade and mining.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: China
Delegate Name: Colin Rensch
School: Mattawan High School

The violence associated with conflict minerals has been a major issue for decades throughout the world, and recently the minerals in east and central Africa have been the objects of great dispute. China has been very fortunate not to have any violent conflicts related to its minerals and resources, and this is a result of China's strong government and economy. The nations where the problems associated with conflict minerals are most prevalent are nations with poor governmental control and struggling economies. One way to help prevent violence associated with minerals in these countries is to help in the development of the nations' economies. This can be done by creating more contracts between the companies of successful nations and the companies of struggling nations. Such actions would create more jobs, stimulate economic growth and stop the flow of funds received from minerals to militant groups.

One step that can be taken to reduce the demand for conflict minerals and resources would be to put trade restrictions on disputed minerals and resources, like the restriction already used to ban the trade of ivory. Imposing trade restrictions would force nations who have had or currently have mineral-related conflicts to shift their trade focus to other commodities. In response to the diamond crisis of the 1990s, the diamond industry began to monitor the flow of conflict diamonds. If similar procedures were put into place for other conflict minerals, then the exploitation of these minerals would decrease as well.

A more straightforward way to reduce the impacts of conflict minerals would be to place UN peacekeeping troops in nations having mineral-related conflicts. The troops would monitor the means of obtaining the minerals, the groups in charge of mineral trade, and the actual aspects of the minerals' trade. As opposed to generally trying to prevent violence, the troops would have a set responsibility and this would allow their efforts to be more effective. This plan would also allow for the protection of local communities who play an important role in the various conflict mineral industries but where corruption and brutal acts often occur without the knowledge of the international community.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Colombia
Delegate Name: Vera Kotlyar
School: Fishers High School

The Republic of Colombia’s economy is revolved around certain elements that several South American countries also produce: agriculture. The problem that Colombia holds with its economy is the severe production of illegal drugs such as cocaine. That production would be the largest illegitimate exports that Colombia obtains. The large amount of cocaine that is produced in Colombia proves to be a disturbance in the country’s economy and exposes an imbalance in the government and its legitimate actions towards the stop of this illegal drug. The problem of violence associated with conflict minerals is a grave problem and is the result of many deaths in many different countries, most of which are not closely associated with the Republic of Colombia.

The Republic of Colombia seeks and embraces diplomatic relations with all countries, regardless of their economic standings. Although Colombia’s economy is not of the strongest position, it would like to extend its official proposition to aid other countries in need of assistance regarding violence associated with conflict minerals. Colombia understands the severity of these violent actions and with whatever power it has it would be willing to support those other nations. The Colombian government has never resorted to the aid of other nations and it is now finding that the participation in foreign affairs deems to be beneficial for both sides in future situations.

The country of Colombia would like to extend its assistance to those nations and keep up its presence on other in international relations; therefore its latency would be required in other continents, including those such as Africa and Asia, wherever severe conflict is present. Due to the strength of Colombian’s military, it is willing to aid those in need. The government of Colombia understands the severity that this situation can pose in developing countries and other countries with a weaker economy than in Colombia. Colombia requests the assistance of the Security Council to aid the Colombian government in the discontinuing of certain elements of illegal production of cocaine in its own member state. Therefore the resources needed to aid other countries more in need of aid would be more prevalent since the stressors illegal production of this drug has on the Colombian government and its people.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Congo
Delegate Name: Matt Bain
School: Forest Hills Central High School

The DR Congo has had a long and bloody history with Conflict Minerals. Congo wants a complete end to the sale of conflict minerals, thus ending the conflicts. Rebel groups throughout the DR Congo are fighting throughout the country to get their hands on precious rocks, from gold, to minerals for laptops and phones. The export of gold alone is reckoned to be $1.2 billion annually with almost none of that going into the D.R.C.’s treasury. The Congolese army has been pushing rebel groups closer and closer to extinction but still needs support from the international community if it wants to end the conflict crisis.

Congo urges the U.N. to support electronics companies to exercise proper controls over their supply chains to ensure that companies knew where their resources were coming from and to help end illegal mineral sale. With less financial support to these rebel groups their campaigns and continued mineral sale would be slowed enough for the Congolese government to make progress towards ending mineral sale.

The government of the DR Congo believes it has the support of the international community and companies affected by conflict minerals. With support for our country we can end this crisis. We must get rid of rebel groups, as well as militant groups, that are supplying unknowing countries with conflict minerals. With the support of the international community this goal is not far out of reach.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Côte d’Ivoire
Delegate Name: Rachel Finkelstein
School: Williamston High School

The Ivory Coast is one of the largest producers of conflict minerals. The Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Liberia, and Angola also top the list.

Three hundred thousand carats of diamonds are mined annually by slave labor in the rebel-controlled regions of Ivory Coast. Conflict diamonds are sold to fund violent conflicts. An estimated 65 percent of the world’s diamonds come from African countries. Interviews with rebels have claimed that we do not use money from diamonds to fund terrorist movements. The rebels say they use revenue from taxes on cocoa, cotton and timber produced in their zone to fund their movement.They said the Ivorian gems could not be classed as conflict diamonds because the rebels were not making money from them. “When we talk of violations of the Kimberley agreement it is when the resources exploited are used to buy arms. Not us. We don’t exploit them,” they said.

The high demand in first world countries for conflict materials is the driving force of the harvesting of diamonds and other materials. Such a high need is causing the continuation of these materials to be cultivated. If the need for these goods were decreased, there would not be a need to mine the gems and other materials to fund terrorist actions.

The Kimberly Process has already cut down on much of the illegal trade. In 2004, the Chair of the Kimberley Process announced that considerably less than 1% of diamonds are conflict diamonds, reduced from approximately 4% before the establishment of the Kimberley Process. The Ivory Coast believes that the process already in place is effectively working to help with the conflict material situation.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Cuba
Delegate Name: Aaron Guimond
School: Mattawan High School

The main transit of most conflict minerals in West and Central Africa generate from Rwanda. Rebel groups like FDLR and CNDP organize these minerals then ship them all across the world. In 2008 due to increase exports in tungsten, cassisterite, and coltan Rwanda's minings sector increased by a rate of 20%. One group that is responsible for Rwanda's control over the Congo is the Clinton administration who allowed Rwanda and Uganda to invade the Congo. UN involvement should help put more pressure on Congo leaders Kegame and Museveni who are two leaders in the congo that have done nothing to help with Rwanda's involvement since 1996.

Cuba has over the years been unable to influence or establish peace in the Congo. Che Guevara an influential leader who is responsible for the Cuban revolution tried to influence Congo but was unsuccessful. Cuba can take part in combining with other African countries like Angola and Namibia to remove Rwandan leaders from taking advantage of Congo's minerals. Once Rwanda has moved out of the Congo Cuba can take part in educating , with help from other countries, the people in Congo so that they are able to establish a government that is unable to be overthrown. UN nations can decrease activity in Congo by directly locating where all diamonds, cobalt, etc… generates from. Also Cuba along with UN officials must investigate and punish the FDLR for their overthrowing of Congo's government and for their rape of their minerals.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Czech Republic
Delegate Name: Anna O’Toole
School: Mattawan High School

The high demand of conflict minerals throughout the world is resulting in a devastating war in many parts of Africa. Countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo are using the value of these conflict minerals to their advantage and taking over control of the country. This war is seen as the deadliest conflict since WWII. Armed groups are forcing people to mine and, in turn, are making millions of dollars to support the advancement of the war. The minerals that African countries are producing are seen in many new electronic devices such as cell phones, portable music players, and computers. As the demand for these minerals increases, the conflict with continue to rise and will only become more catastrophic.

The Czech Republic sees the conflict revolving around mining in Africa as a big concern. Being a part of the European Union, the Czech Republic is taking steps to combat this issue and prevent its advancement. Recently, the EU has adopted a resolution to diminish the effect of conflict minerals. The new law will ensure that imported minerals are traceable. This will be used to fight illegal exploitation of conflict minerals in African countries and start the end of this long-standing war.

Although this law will help the issue, it is only a beginning. The Czech Republic believes that more must be done to resist the conflict and create peace. Because the world’s demand of these conflict minerals is so high and is unlikely to decrease, the best option to cure the mineral war is to intervene the conflict. With the strength of the United Nations as a whole, the conflict could possibly be solved simply through political pressure. If the conflict still exists after attempted resolution, Czech Republic sees it fit that foreign countries invade these war-torn areas and take direct military action. Through this, the problem will be solved and mining can be used in these countries as a safe way to benefit the nation and the people.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Denmark
Delegate Name: McKenna Kluemper
School: Fishers High School

Denmark does not agree with violence as a solution to any problem. Therefore as a country, Denmark feels very strongly that the reducing of violence associated with conflict minerals is a very important matter. There is no need to use violence when there are other options.

The people of Denmark believe that at the present, such a mineral as diamonds, most commonly found in Africa could be considered a conflict mineral. The reason being that there are tribes and countries in Africa that are trying to use the money earned from selling diamonds, is being used to support wars or other such violence. The useless killings and violence would hinder if money was spent to help build up towns or cities, more people would benefit from the sales, instead of that profit going towards bloodshed. The wars being funded by conflict minerals are often small feuds between a single leader or official in control of a region, who is corrupt or mislead. This leads to blind hate being focused on other people that could have little to no grounds.

Denmark believes that conflict minerals should not be tolerated. The allegation of Denmark feel that in buying conflict minerals, it is enabling bloodshed, killing, and the spread of hate. This can often spiral out of control and effect more than just those directly involved. No country should support the use of conflict minerals, because in doing so, and in buying that mineral, more lives will be unnecessarily lost. Denmark does no support the use of conflict minerals, and feels that helping to stop such violence is an important issue.

One possible solution to reducing the violence associated with conflict minerals is to stop buying conflict minerals all together. That would stop the funding of wars and in a way lesson the deaths caused by the fighting. However, that could backfire and create a sense of isolation for the group who wishes to sell conflict minerals. Isolating that group could in turn make them turn to other options of obtaining money, to fund the war. Those other options for funding a war could be not only less ethical, but also harder for the people caught in the middle of the war, such as families of the fighters. Another more safe option is to stop buying conflict diamonds, but also to help stop the arguments or feuds that are causing the wars. That way, the warring people do not have to turn to different sources for money. Of course after the warring has stopped, the minerals will no longer be conflict minerals and other countries can once again buy them. The mediator could be a group of people from both sides of the war, or it could be someone from a totally different country, that would be up to the warring peoples to decide. This is to ensure that there is no favoritism or biased mediators. A biased mediator would only start more warring. Which, is anti-productive, since the entire goal Denmark has in mind is to stop the wars and violence.

No matter which way the problem of conflict minerals is solved, no country should buy the conflict minerals. Enabling violence is not acceptable and Denmark thinks that it is almost as bad as the wars themselves. That is why both of the solutions offered by the people of Denmark, requires the refusal to buy the conflict minerals.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Egypt
Delegate Name: Madeline Hawk
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School

Conflict minerals are minerals or resources mined in conditions of armed conflict as well as abuses to human rights and international humanitarian law. Conflict minerals present a danger because of their high commodity, causing some governments to turn a blind eye. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), several areas are farmed for the precious resources they hold such as tin and coltan—both important resources for the development of cell phones, computers, and other popular electronics that the world covets. With the demand for these resources so high, whole villages are forced to dig for these minerals with little profit in return. Militias and renegade armies control these mines as well, overseeing the mining and selling the minerals in return for profit used to purchase weapons. The consequences of the mining of these minerals are people forced into hard labor, children forced or manipulated into becoming soldiers, sexual violence, and civil wars in the regions affected. In 2003, the Kimberley Process was created to prevent the illegal diamond (blood diamonds) trade. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme has been successful in reducing violence in Sierra Leone, and Egypt supports the effects of the Kimberley Process and hopes that the effects will permeate to other affected regions.

The Arab Republic of Egypt believes that the violence associated with the exploitation of natural resources in Africa is an issue that needs to be resolved at once. Egypt held a conference in Cairo in June 2006 to discuss conflict minerals and “promote peace, stability, and socioeconomic development in Africa”. Egypt is a supporter of the Kimberley Process and believes a similar process must be instated to reduce the violence in African nations. The international community must work together to send peacekeepers into regions affected by violence, and end the illegal exploitation of conflict resources.

The Kimberley Process is an effective example of how the international community can work together to reduce the violence in African nations that are associated with conflict minerals. An extension of the Kimberley Process to prevent not only the illegal diamond trade, but all illegal resources being mined, or a process similar to the Kimberley Process that prevents the mining and trade of illegal resources must be put to action. With the high demand for these minerals for everyday uses of developing nations (cell phones, computers), the mining for these minerals will not end, and if farming for minerals does not end, the violence—sexual and physical, child enlisted soldiers, and civil strife in these regions will not end.

The Arab Republic of Egypt believes the violations of human rights occuring in nations farmed for their resources is an issue that needs to be dealt with immediately. With the help of the international community, a consensus of a plan to prevent the mining and trade of illegal resources can be made. Once regulations are placed on mining and trade, the violence will decrease, and Africa will find the peace and stability it desires.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Finland
Delegate Name: Lydia Smyth
School: Fishers High School

Conflict minerals are in high demand around the world, and the money made from mining the minerals has caused violence and wars in many areas around the world, most notably in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The miners are controlled by rebel groups or the National Army, who use rape and violence as a way to control the miners and communities around mining sites. The control of the mines is important because the minerals are used for technological devices like cell phones, computers, and cameras. Companies that manufacture these types of products pay the suppliers money that, most of the time, goes to support the war in the Congo. Finland believes the demand for conflict minerals is not worth the violence that is stemming from controlling the mines. Companies that purchase these minerals for technology are one of the greatest influencers as to how much these minerals are needed. If the minerals are not bought as much, Finland believes the violence can die down.

Finland respects the United States for the Conflict Minerals Law, which states that any purchases of conflict minerals must be made publically known. The intent was that companies would start tracking the use of conflict minerals more carefully and that trade levels would be reduced. The Dodd-Frank Act has decreased the amount of profit received by armed forces for conflict minerals. Finland hopes that even more effort can be put into reducing violence by reducing trade. The United Nations needs to continue on this path, creating restrictions on where the minerals can be received from to reduce the profit for armed forces controlling mines. If companies purchasing these minerals can realize the violence the control of the mines causes, they might be more willing to work with the United Nations. If the companies reduced their purchases of the minerals voluntarily and the United Nations worked on the issue as well, the impact could be incredible.

The danger, however, is that once the armies are not receiving as much profit, they will move on to other means of getting money. Although conflict minerals are the source of the problem now, the armies will be violent even without the minerals available. While the United Nations is working to reduce the need for conflict minerals, they should also work to eliminate the violence. If the United Nations can work alongside the governments to ensure the safety of communities near mines, less damage will be done to the innocent people the armies are controlling now.

One concern Finland has if the conflict minerals are not is as high demand is that the unemployed miners will create more violence. When their only source of income is taken away, desperation and anger could lead them to revolt and cause just as much violence as the armed forces are now. The United Nations needs to set up other work opportunities for those who lose jobs with decrease in trade of conflict minerals. With another option for work, more violence can be avoided.

Hopefully this committee can work on creating a plan to eliminate violence over conflict minerals. By not only reducing the need for the minerals, but also targeting the main issue, the armies causing violence, many innocent lives can be protected.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: France
Delegate Name: Collin Mathias
School: Forest Hills Northern High School

With the dawn of the Information Age, cell phones and other gadgets of technology have required the use of minerals such as "tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold". Since these minerals are rare, militant groups have taken command of mines throughout the world to finance operations. At the same time though, legitimate mines do exist. Throughout the Great Lakes Region of Africa, both types of mines are scattered, mostly through the eastern portions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In 2010, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) passed Resolution 1952 that began to truly recognize conflict minerals throughout the DRC as a problem the world must solve.

France continues to maintain healthy relationships with many African nations and fights for the best situation in which they can grow. It was France that authored and proposed UNSC Resolution 1952 and recommended the creation of the Group of Experts on the DRC, with one specializing on the exploitation of natural resources. It was France as well, that pushes for multilateral training of Congolese police forces by the European Union (EU). And it is France that will ensure the DRC realizes its great "potential".

Recently, we have seen legislation such as the United States Dodd-Frank Act which has stressed the need for transparency in all American companies' dealings with conflict mineral areas. However, these types of acts have had unintended consequences. Entire legitimate mines have gone out of business as companies choose to avoid the DRC as a whole.

Instead, France would propose a two-pronged solution. The Kimberley Process has worked almost perfectly in the cessation of conflict diamond transactions. The best action for the entire world to enact would be to expand that process to include conflict minerals. At the same time, work must be done with the combined force of the United Nations Police Force (UNPOL)and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) to train DRC police forces. As the world works to ensure their sources of minerals are conflict free, the DRC can ensure legitimate mines continue operation.

A solution to reduce violence associated with conflict minerals can only be done through cooperation of the exporters and importers. France will work to combine the efforts of these groups to guarantee a safer tomorrow.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Gabon
Delegate Name: Susan Rusinowski
School: Royal Oak High School

Conflict minerals are natural resources that are traded and mined under inhumane conditions or violations of human rights. Almost all natural resources are in some way mined and traded through conflict, and it’s time to put an end to this abomination. Conflict minerals not only put the global economy at stake, but affect the regions in which these issues occur—almost exclusively in Africa. Consequences include, but are not limited to the destruction of villages/land, forced labor, military violence, war, famine, and decentralizing governments. As one of Africa’s stabilized countries, Gabon is capable and eager to step in and help attain peace.

Gabon has lots of natural resources, with oil accounting for 80% of our exports, and more including diamonds, manganese, zinc, uranium, and iron. Gabon believes that the conflict associated with oil is the most crucial problem, because it is one without any solutions, and it affects everyone. Not only is oil fought over by all countries, but it is mined for all across Africa and the Middle East. Personal military armies protecting oil companies have risen all across these areas, and puts citizens in constant danger: conflict involving tribalism have created refugees all across Africa. Oil spills have also destroyed valuable land and precious resources. Gabon’s stable mining regulations are applicable to other areas, and will be of great help in solving this escalating crisis.

Gabon was one of the first countries to adhere to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a voluntary global compact established in 2002. This initiative is aimed at strengthening governments by improving economic transparency and responsibility in the mining sector. The EITI is a coalition of governments, companies, and other groups and organizations. The EITI sets standards for resource extractions, and Gabon believes that with more companies and governments supporting the initiative, resources would be mined in much safer conditions and related violence would be reduced.

Gabon’s government has created stable mining regulations, which helps to prevent conflict when trading and dealing with natural resources, particularly oil. Gabon instigated a new mining code in July of 2000, granted by the Ministry of Mines, Energy, and Petroleum. This grant permitted prospecting for two years, exploration with a license, and mining with a concession. Gabon’s Oil Ministry, in addition for being responsible for all regulation of oil, has also taken measures against conflict involving oil. As a member of the African Union, Gabon wants to help its surrounding region to maintain a stable economy, and create a safer region, and implanting Gabon’s mining code may be useful in preventing violence in other countries. Cooperation is another key to creating a safer region, and companies as well as countries need to raise their standards when it comes to creating and trading minerals. As an individual nation, and reaching out to other nations and assemblies as a whole, it is time to introduce new methods and standards for mining in order to prevent any further violence.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Germany
Delegate Name: Josephine Hamilton
School: Ann Arbor Community High School

Germany wants to stop the violence connecting to the business of conflict minerals. They have multiple projects working on tracking where the minerals are going, and to whom they are being sold to. There is a lot of violence relating to these minerals, villages are invaided, women are raped, and a lot of people are in danger because of the large profit coming from the business of these minerals.

The German government and the G-8 have supported projects with the Congo and Rwanda to devolp a system to track or, "fingerprint", where specific minerals origins are and where they are headed. They want to know where the minerals are, and want to inforce this system at all mining sites. By having a more concrete set or rules, hopefully the violence which is happening can retreat. If there is one system, one way that the mines are run, that may help bring order into the business, not letting private transactions go on.

The European Union, being a very influetntial allie, has the same views as Germany on the subject. They want to ban the illegal exploitation of conflict minerals, but have not made any real leway to doing so. The US, another allie, is trying to end the violence as well. President Obama signed legislation in July 2010 for this and now the adminstration has to follow up on it, they have also tried to limit the resources for rebels to rape and kill. Both allies have made a step to stop it, both addressing similar topics Germany is.

In 2008, the German Institute for Geoscience and Natural Resources began an intiative to certify sound artisanal mining sites and have a system to trace the minerals back to them. This with a couple other programs has enhanced the ability to trace the minerals. The German government also funded a project in which battalions are trained and deployed to minig sites where previously illegaly armed groups have been.

Through it all you can see that Germany is trying to make a step towards stopping the violence having to do with conflict minerals. They are funding projects and doing all they can to stop it, and to bring enthusiasm to the on going problem.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: India
Delegate Name: Rudyard Richter
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School

Columbite-tantalite, cassiterite, and wolframite: ores from which tantalum, tin, and tungsten are extracted. These ores feed economies across the world due to their importance in electronic products; their sale also feeds the economic needs of warring groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) such as the Lord’s Resistance Army and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda. Thus, these ores continue to feed conflict in the region surrounding the DRC in particular, as military groups violently abuse local populations—including children—to force them into mining these ores, often under dangerous conditions. There are currently entire branches of the United Nations devoted to combating violence surrounding these minerals. The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) is a peacekeeping mission focused on this goal. India has always been a major supporter of peacekeeping missions in the region around the DRC; as such, India continues to the single largest amount of military support to MONUSCO, and in the past has sent direct military aid to the DRC in an ongoing effort to resolve this problem.

Including military support, numerous efforts have been made to solve this problem. Many countries have already passed legislation focusing on preventing the importation of minerals from the DRC or the sale of products containing these minerals, by requiring verification of the sources of ore that companies use. The United Nations has also previously passed resolutions regarding source verification, specifically, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, preventing the sale of diamonds obtained from conflict regions, which India supports and complies with. Despite these efforts, however, legislation alone will make little progress. Groups selling these conflict minerals will simply continue to sell to other countries not participating in the legislative effort, and the conflicts will continue. Instead, more decisive, immediate military action should be taken to directly combat the groups in question, in addition to continuation of humanitarian aid. The only complete solution available is to directly eliminate the rebel groups that are terrorizing the people of the DRC through military action.

Military action is already receiving significant support from many countries. Many members of the United Nations have already proposed or backed sending additional troops to the region, with countries such as France pledging to contribute reinforcements to MONUSCO if a decision is made to bolster the military efforts in the DRC. The European Union (EU) as a whole has backed further military action, announcing that it will provide additional humanitarian aid and will also provide air lifts into the DRC for troops contributed by its member nations, and some members have even proposed sending EU forces to the DRC, if only to help stabilize the region until the UN can respond in greater force to the problem. In the surrounding region, the DRC has received troops from Angola, Chad, Namibia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe to help resolve conflicts both internal and external. Outside of the surrounding area, the DRC has received significant humanitarian assistance from Canada and Greece.

For any country to oppose military action would be improbable, excluding the local enemies currently opposing the DRC, who continue to take advantage of the situation, plundering resources, specifically Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda. While some countries may choose not to contribute troops to the effort themselves, this problem is becoming too severe to ignore—or even oppose military intervention. It has become clear that legislation will not be effective in addressing the crux of the matter: the abuses of the people of the DRC by rebel groups seeking to profit from the sale of conflict minerals. To permanently solve this problem, the United Nations must eliminate the groups terrorizing the DRC.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Indonesia
Delegate Name: Kate Ruehrdanz
School: Forest Hills Northern High School

The issue of conflict minerals namely pertains to the countries in sub-Sahara Africa. The exploitation of natural resources can be a key way for violent rebel groups to gain money, which they then use for their own malicious purposes. These rebel groups are very often the perpetrators of crimes against humanity such as rape, murder, and the use of child soldiers. The need to reduce this is clear. They Kimberly process has provided an effective and tangible solution to reducing conflict diamonds. In 2000, the UN created an important resolution which outlined the requirements for certifying rough diamonds as “conflict free”. Those countries who undertake in this process require that at every time rough diamonds are traded, they are accompanied by their certification as conflict free. Thus conflict diamonds are kept from being traded.

The reduction of conflict minerals could take important revenues from key rebel groups who terrorize and tear apart Africa. Here is a potential way to help take down a system which ends and countless lives. Instead of hurting people, the money made from these resources could empower them. This is an issue of justice, and here we have a means to changing a corrupt system.

A participant in the Kimberly Process, Indonesia has already taken steps to reduce trade of conflict minerals within its borders. Indonesia believes in the Kimberly Process and would support its use on other minerals besides diamonds. Indonesia has dealt with ethnic violence within its own borders and understands the importance of stopping it.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Iran
Delegate Name: Phillip Stone
School: Forest Hills Northern High School

The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that a country should not engage in a barbaric action such as war over earthly possessions as conflict minerals. So much has been lost to conflicts such as these, but not much has been gained. Many men, women, and children are lost to such conflicts while very few of the rewards are reaped by the loved ones of those who are lost. Our stance is simple, leave other countries out of the conflict, and let them handle their own affairs over conflict minerals. Many people are lost to the horrors of war, or to the emotional conflict that is set upon them after seeing battle. A recent event that is still embedded into our psyche would be the recent Afghanistan Weapons of Mass Destruction issue. Steps were taken, lives were lost, not one WMD was found. In short, lives were wasted in the search for absolutely nothing.

The United Nations should remember that all countries are funded with millions of dollars so each government can function and solve situations as they deem necessary. With this in mind, Iran recognizes the fact that the government of each country has their own problems, homelessness, poverty, and the list goes on. So why spend the hard earned money of the people on other countries? Use the money given to help the people of your country and leave the bloodshed of war behind. Let each government dictate their own response to things such as conflict minerals. That is why the people give their established government money, it should stay in that governments own power to decide what action will be taken, not an outside source.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Iraq
Delegate Name: Merrick Perpich
School: Ann Arbor Community High School

There are many countries where conflict is common, such as Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These groups from these countries that fight do not have governments to collect taxes, they support themselves by profiting off of “Conflict Minerals”; minerals mined in areas of human rights abuse and conflict. Some of these minerals include gold, coltan, and cassiterite. The minerals are necessary for making common electronics we all own, such as cell phones and laptops. Companies can often find these on the black market for cheaper than the legitimately mined equivalent, and the money the groups receive goes back into fueling the ongoing conflict.

For some time now, The UN has been taking steps to stop this. They are doing so by attempting to attack the problems roots. In November of 2010, The U.N. made its first efforts by passing Resolution 1952. This resolution lays out a strong international framework for companies to follow for purchasing minerals from the wider Great Lakes region. If companies do not follow these codes of conduct, they will be sanctioned. This was unanimously passed, and supported by all nations of the UN, including Iraq. The UN was also successful in passing bills like the Dodd-Frank bill, and as a result legitimate mining of minerals in the Congo has increased significantly While we may not have the infrastructure to be a leading nation in this cause, we are fully in support.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Japan
Delegate Name: Saranya Sundaram
School: Forest Hills Northern High School

Certain rare earth minerals have become a source of conflict, mainly on the continent of Africa. The most notable violence associated with these minerals resonates in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rebel armies and the Congolese military used profits from these minerals to fund the Second Congolese war that officially ended in 2003.Now, armed groups in the Congo earn hundreds of millions of dollars per year from the sale of these minerals. This money enables militias to purchase large numbers of weapons and funds their campaign of brutal violence against civilians, with some of the worst abuses occurring in mining areas. The most recent effort to end such violence came with the “Conflict Minerals Law” (The Dood-Frank Act) passed in May of 2010 in the US.The majority of these minerals, however, are still in electronic devices like cell phones, portable music players, and computers. Consumers are unknowingly financing armed groups that regularly commit atrocities, including mass rape.

Japan realizes that, as a nation, its economy rests on the design, manufacture, and sale of electronic equipment and technology. However, Japan complies with the shared views and responsibilities that the G8 has put forth. It therefore, as a member, shares the views of the G8 on the issues of conflict minerals in Africa. According to the G8//Africa Joint Declaration Shared Values, Shared Responsibilities created at the G8 Summit of Deauville, Japan along with the G8 believe that “Transparency in payments and revenue collection linked to extractive resources and sound financial governance on the management of these revenues are essential to taking full advantage of domestic resources and ensuring delivery of public goods and services for citizens.” Simply put, Japan believes in full transparency of payments and revenue in connection with extracted resources (minerals). The G8 (and Japan) also encourage “full implementation of international and regional initiatives to tackle illegal exploitation of and trade in natural resources in Africa…and address the illegal exploitation of and trade in mineral resources and promote sound natural resources management.” Japan therefore, supports the use of international initiatives to rid trade of resources connected with exploitation and violence.

Though Japan is quite sound with the responsibilities of the G8 and the initiative to stop violence in connection with traded minerals, it also has limits on these efforts. The economy of Japan is dependent on the technological businesses and their success, and major tampering with business regulations could lead to financial ruin for the businesses and the economy. Japan is more than happy to ask for transparency from their companies and businesses, but is not so willing to compromise their economy by making major changes to businesses and trade.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Kuwait
Delegate Name: Emily Dean
School: Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy

The country of Kuwait is not associated with conflict minerals. There have not been any recent issues with conflict minerals, nor have there been in a long time. Kuwait doesn’t use conflict minerals, but instead they resort to natural resources, such as solar energy.

Kuwait is currently working on a new “ultra-green airport”. They are going to build it in 2012 and cover it in solar panels. The windows that will be installed into the building will be glazed glass and they will reflect the sun’s rays, while the solar panels absorb the sun’s energy and use it to power the airport.

Kuwait borders the countries of Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, all of which are experimenting with conflict minerals. Despite the fact that there are conflict minerals in those countries, Kuwait has decided to not be associated with them. They have instead decided to stay close to natural resources, and use what they already have.

Because Kuwait does not use conflict minerals, there is no violence in the country due to such minerals. However, in the bordering countries of Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, there are conflict minerals. The conflict minerals in these countries have caused great problems, such as small battles that almost result in war. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are allies, so naturally Kuwait supports Saudi Arabia, and helps with conflict mineral violence.

Iraq and Kuwait, however, are sitting on rocky ground. They were strong, close allies during the Iraq-Iran War, but shortly after, when Iraq invaded Kuwait, they were no longer allies. Today, they are still no longer allies; therefore Kuwait does not sent aid to Iraq when they suffer conflict with precious minerals.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Latvia
Delegate Name: Stephen Dozeman
School: Forest Hills Northern High School

Africa is a continent torn by war. Different ethnic groups fight eachother, arming themselves to the teeth to carry out horrible atrocities against their neighbors. Much of the money that fuels this war comes from the lucrative trade of conflict-minerals, which is heavily centralized in central and western Africa. Gold, along with other rare minerals, are plentiful in the area, but the people who control them are often warlords and criminals, withdrawing such resources for their own profit through the use of forced labor. It’s a vicious cycle with far-reaching consequences. The media does little to cover the issue, partly because this has gone on so long that it’s hardly news anymore. Fortunately, there have been efforts to stop it that have been met with some limited successs. The Kimberley Process has been particularly affective in reducing violence, and has significantly reduced the amount of blood diamonds being traded in addition to improving conditions for miners.

Latvia maintains a position that we should be putting forth larger efforts to rid the world of this issue. The European Union and NATO should both be putting forth resources to end the blood-diamond trade and reducing violence in Africa. While there have been steps to reduce conflict minerals and violence associated with them, we should be working to eradicate conflict minerals completely.

Steps that can be taken to reduce such violence take many forms. One step that could help this issue significantly would be to increase regulations to make it more difficult, if not impossible, to make a profit off of conflict minerals, and make sure there is a legitimate face to the diamond trading industry. There should also be higher standards for the areas where the diamonds are mined from, including more safety measures and better health care. In addition, we need to ensure that everyone is benefiting from the buying and selling of such resources, not just a small fraction of people at the top. The more people who benefit from this trade, the better off it will be. Latvia hopes that in the near future, this lucrative trade will be a thing of the past, so that the oppressed can benefit from their own country’s resources.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Lebanon
Delegate Name: Kaleb Pifer
School: Mattawan High School

Conflict minerals are those which are mined in situations of intense armed conflict and abuse of basic human rights. The term primarily applies to the East Congo and most of the profits that are gained from these mines go right back into the war there. So, not only do these mines degrade the basic human spirit, but they also provide funding to brutal wars. In addition, the mines themselves are often targets of attacks due to their incredible value to whomever own them.

Lebanon knows that encouraging the sale of these minerals will only serve to exasperate the problem; however, the minerals themselves are not the problem. By themselves they are simple parts of the earth that hold value for various purposes. The true problem is the people whose greed drives them to fight over the minerals. Thus, Lebanon proposes that the United Nations steps into a direct role in an attempt to prevent the mines from being used for nefarious purposes and instead allows them to be run by groups deemed to be appropriate and benign. In this way, the minerals may still be used, but without the fear that people were hurt or abused in the process. Of course, protection would also have to be provided to the mines in order to prevent the groups who previously held them from regaining control.

Lebanon hopes that with this plan, all will be satisfied. People don't have to worry that the minerals they're buying are “tainted” by the greed of other men, and those who need these minerals for their products can still get them.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Libya
Delegate Name: Farid al-Sabeh
School: Roeper School

As a country which fought against rebel forces in the bloody Second Congo War, the Libyan Republic knows all too well of the disastrous consequences that conflict minerals hold. Indeed, the situation in Congo – which was driven mainly by the trade of conflict minerals – exists as the deadliest military conflict since World War Two. That the existence of conflict minerals finds its roots in, and is perhaps further perpetuated by, instability in certain regions is beyond debate. Libya therefore commends that the UN brings this important topic into discussion.

Various processes have been conversed upon by the General Assembly which have already helped in diminishing conflict minerals. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), for instance, has rendered diamonds one of the most highly monitored minerals in the African continent; only approximately 1 percent of purchased diamonds are currently conflict diamonds. The KPCS is an example of a schematic which serves to halt the production of conflict minerals by ceasing their involvement in the international market rather than by means of direct intervention.

The Libyan Republic recognizes the Kimberley method as one which effectively controls conflict minerals while both allowing legitimate mineral industries to continue operating and ruling out the need for potentially troublesome direct intervention means like the imposition of embargoes. It is therefore hoped that the objectives defined within the KPCS will be further realized in the process of ameliorating one of the most disastrous consequences of instability in the African continent.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Malaysia
Delegate Name: Ruby Smith
School: Williamston High School

Indonesia must find a fairer method of managing its natural resources that will prove more sustainable than in the past. Since the 1960’s the exploitation of Indonesia’s natural resources has brought both economic wealth, and environmental concern which has unfortunately lead to turmoil often turning violent. In a resource-rich society it is important to preserve some of the natural assets for future generations.

Corruption and rule breaking are often behind mineral exploitation as it mainly benefits a small circle of businesspeople and corrupt officials. This had created the conditions for violent conflict. As seen in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, a culture clash over timber resulted in a massacre where indigenous Dayaks killed more than 500 Mandurese immigrants.

The lure of a quick profit is powerful, especially if there is a lack of awareness about the long-term negative impacts of extraction. This can include erosion, deadly floods, pollution from mining, and loss of resources. For Indonesia, we feel as though, in order to combat the forestry industry we must downsize need. This can be true for other countries rich in resource like Venezuela, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, and Libya all of which may be insufficiently handling one of the world’s main resources, oil. The Ivory Coats is a pinnacle example of violence due to minerals. They have been in a civil war since 2002 where diamonds are illegally mined and smuggled out of the country. Indonesia is in favor of the United Nation’s embargo on the diamond trade that will continue until April 30, 2012.

Indonesia introduces recommendations for possible resolutions that provide countries the means in which to audit and control minerals in a fair manner. Some ideas include, focusing law enforcement efforts to intervene in illegal extraction, while imposing a tougher punishment for resource crimes, also reduce the capacity of large processing companies, encouraging extra training for the police in investigating environment related crime, and finally consider offering debt write-offs in return for curbing illegal resource extraction. Government audits must create stricter guidelines on companies. Governments must be aware of the where mineral originates, to forego conflict and tension. Governments must be able to work closely with the natural resource industries so the entire country can benefit both economically and environmentally.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Mexico
Delegate Name: Adrienne Zaya
School: Mattawan High School

The armed conflict and human rights abuses brought on by the collection of scare or rare minerals are two major outcomes of conflict mining. Violence has erupted within many nations, including the Congo, Sierra Leone, and others, which has resulted in a significant humanitarian loss. Conflict minerals bring both social and economic devastation to small communities, to the area of conflict, and to the country in which the violence lives. The Congo, for example, has had conflict minerals such as “blood diamonds” within the country for nearly twenty years. In a study done by the International Peace Information Service, IPIS, many mines within this country have armed individuals at the site, and these people extort, tax, and force many civilians to work in these mining locations. Often times, many men, women, and children, are killed as a result tunnel collapses, mudslides, or overwork and minimal rest. Rape, beatings, dismemberment, and other forms of violence are only a small part of the conflict mineral world. As a response to the crisis at hand, the international community has taken both a direct and indirect intervention to reducing the violence associated with conflict minerals. Peacekeeping and reduced demand for such minerals have both proved to be successful methods of attacking the problem.

As a nation that relies heavily on the mining industries as a form of economic prosperity, the United Mexican States understands every danger that follows the mining trades. Harvesting commodities such as silver, gold, and others, is risky for the miners and for those who run the mines. The thought that such tragedies could occur in the nation of Mexico is devastating.

The United Mexican States recognizes that active participation within international organizations promotes security for all nations in need, and that the international law must be followed, especially when it comes to human rights. Therefore, the UN and perhaps all of the international community should continue the processes established in order to decrease said violence. Although Mexico cannot become fully active and physically intervene in the reduction of violence with conflict minerals, Mexico would be willing to help further or revise a previously established resolution or find a new solution to the reduction of such afflictions.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Netherlands
Delegate Name: John Dood
School: Forest Hills Northern High School

Conflict Minerals have been a problem for a long time. Cell phones, jewelery and hard drives all require mass amounts of these minerals and the demand for them is high. Security Council Resolution 1857, called for restrictions to be placed on all individuals and entities buying conflict minerals from illegal armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Although many countries and private companies have enforced zero-tolerance conflict-free policies the problem persists.

The Netherlands has worked with many of the countries that are affected by this man made endemic. We have created mutually beneficial relationships and established civilized governance in this area. We have facilitated the purchase of legally obtained minerals to bring economic life to Africa. (especially Ghana) We have never supported the taking of minerals by force and have taken humanitarian initiatives to improve conditions of life in countries near the Congo.

The Netherlands has established a commission to investigate conflict minerals coming from Africa,Netherlands-based Center for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO).We have also taken some measures to crack down on companies that were still not complying to conflict free regulations. Judith Sargentini, our member of the European Parliament, is working hard to push initiatives to stop this atrocity.

The Netherlands believes that with the help of the non-government organization (NGO) companies can stop buying conflict related minerals and return the Congo river basin to peace. We hope to work with the African Union and the European Union to impose regulations on companies that receive raw materials from the affected area.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: North Korea
Delegate Name: Levi Teitel
School: Roeper School

​Minerals and resources found in Central Africa are a big asset to African nations’ economies, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo’s. Contrary to the wealth it produces, the resources contribute to the area’s human, political, and security problems. Violent militias control the mining sites, as well as the villages, who rape, illegally tax, and coerce workers. Children, as well as others, are forced to work extremely long shifts in the dangerous mines. The minerals that are mined greatly contribute to the greater world’s economy, providing metals for producing electronics. The minerals help multinational capitalist corporations thrive in the world economy.

​Countries such as Nambia, the DRC, Sierra Leone, Botswana, among others, are directly affected by the mineral industry, as well as international agreements concerning it. This industry somewhat affects other parts of the world, other countries are concerned with this issue, and will help these countries. Canada, Russia, the European Commission, and Israel have been the chairs of the Kimberly Process, which certifies the process of conflict-free minerals. While it is great that these countries are eager to help, these countries should not legislate the certification of these minerals, and by doing so they could are quite possibly making matters worse in Central Africa.

​If conflict minerals are regulated, they would pose harmful effects on the world economy, although, they would also regulate gangs in control of the mineral industry. The DRC should be able to control the violent gangs, although, the Congolese should have a right to control these minerals, regardless of the Kimberly Process. It is unjust that the large, capitalist corporations are buying out the DRC’s natural resources, because they are a threat to the nation’s economy. The UN must address the root of this problem, and control the trade of conflict minerals, which is in part related to rapacious international electronics manufacturers, such as Apple, Nokia, Samsung, Sony, and others, which in their goal to maximize profits, have cut first or second party agreements with local warlords who seek to control conflict minerals to fund their own aggressive militias, which continue to enslave local peoples and make war on their neighbors.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Pakistan
Delegate Name: Georgia Bayerl
School: Williamston High School

The violence associated with acquisition of conflict minerals grows more and more severe as technological advances require more and more minerals such as gold, tin and tungsten. The desire for precious metals and jewels such as diamonds, gold and silver also influence and incite these kinds of violence. The United Nations knows that it cannot stand idly by as innocent African civilians are forced at gun point to mine minerals for the western world. It is one thing for a nation’s commodity of minerals to allow for a steady economy but the money being made from these so called conflict minerals is not going towards the well-being of the people, but rather towards insurgents who are using this revenue to promote violence and inhumane acts against the people forced to mine for them.

Pakistan as a country does not rely on these minerals, but we are still concerned with any actions taken towards reducing violence associated with them. In 2009 a combination of the Taliban’s and some Islamic militants spread their control from the western border, pushing it closer to the capital. By 2009, this insurgency posed a serious threat to the safety of our civilians. Then Pakistan launched a head-on fight to take back the militant-held regions. With strong public support in the offensive against the militants the army unleashed air and ground attacks. The people in the militant-held areas are at risk of being forced to mine conflict minerals. The safety of our civilians being victimized from this violence is a very serious concern in Pakistan, as is the continuation of violence in other countries suffering from the same violent actions.

One of the methods the United Nations has currently incorporated in their previous attempts to stop violence over conflict minerals is the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. This certification process helps ensure that only diamonds mined through humane and legal operations can be imported or exported by any country. Pakistan would be in full support of an extension of this system to include other minerals important to the world economy that may be conflict minerals. We do not however support any sort of United Nations military action as it requires great organization and detailed planning to ensure the security of the civilians in these areas, which only an individual nation is capable of providing for their people. Relief aid is something that Pakistan would consider as an option to minimize the effects of this violence on civilians, however we believe that the most important thing to end the ability for continued violence over these conflict minerals is for every country to ensure that their minerals were mined legally and humanely within their borders.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Portugal
Delegate Name: Anna Kidder
School: Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy

When natural resources, especially minerals, are scarce yet in high demand, harvesting them can be quite profitable. However, this pursuit can lead to humanitarian disasters when rogue groups force locals to harvest valuable minerals. This violence has been reduced before with the “Blood Diamond” crisis through the Kimberly Process. The international community must again take action to help end current and prevent future brutality associated with conflict minerals.

Although the Kimberly Process has dramatically reduced the “Blood Diamond” disaster, it hasn’t done enough, and does nothing to prevent warfare over other conflict minerals, such as Tungsten or gold. Portugal is eager to support resolutions further averting the illegal mineral trade. We also encourage countries to strictly monitor mineral trade and prosecute those who profit from it. Conflict minerals do nothing for the people suffering under those who benefit, nor for the country involved.

The United Nations needs to take action now. We must work together to end the horror caused by conflict minerals; the war, the rape, the destruction. Portugal encourages that we take the Kimberly process as an example for ending the devastation caused by all conflict minerals, not just diamonds. We can learn from areas where the process has both failed and succeeded. However, we must take even more action than that. Developed countries, including ourselves, must step in to eliminate the market for illegally harvested minerals. To directly end the fighting, we advise the United Nations send peacekeeping missions to affected countries.

Now is the time to end the violence. Portugal comes prepared to help aid the in the effort of preventing conflict minerals, and is eager to discuss the issue with similarly inclined countries. People are the most valuable resource our world has, and we are ready to restore and protect the rights lost by those enslaved by the people who take advantage of natural resources.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Qatar
Delegate Name: Madeline Bolton
School: Royal Oak High School

Conflict minerals include any commodity that creates disagreement. They include cassiterite, columbite-tantalite, oil, water, tungsten, coltan, diamonds, and gold (just to list a few examples). Coltan is a mineral used in cell phones, computers and other electronics. Slavery is often used to mine some of these minerals. Especially diamonds, in Angola and Sierra Leon are mined by slave labor and are used to fund rebel groups (otherwise known as blood diamonds). To prevent the use of slave labor from happening, in 2003 the Kimberly Process was adapted. IT requires certification as to where diamonds originate from. This has decreased the amount of blood diamonds entering the market.

Some forget that conflict minerals also include water and oil. Countries in Africa want to use the Nile's water all for themselves by building dams. Countries like Sudanese, and Ethiopia have started plans for building dams. Ethiopia's plan for a dam, the Grand Millennium Dam, sparks conflict with Egypt and Sudan. Oil, otherwise known as black gold, is also a major conflict mineral. Rebel groups, different countries, and governments fight for their share of the oil. Rebel groups damage the oil pipes to express anger toward government, which also creates conflict .

Qatar's main source of revenue is oil. The oil industry is controlled by the government, so there isn't much conflict involving Qatari oil, since their government is stable. They are trying to lessen their dependence on oil by pursuing renewable resources. Qatar has already signed and agreed to pursue renewable recourses for income, such as biofuel. Qatar is in favor of the Kimberly process. Although not applicable to their own country, they encourage other countries to adopt the policy. Qatar supports the equal distribution of water. Qatar has problems itself with proving water for its people. The only source of water is groundwater. Because of new technologies, Qatar now depends on treated water rather than groundwater.

Political intervention is a solution to conflict minerals. If Qatar and other willing and able nations support tightening regulations to ensure the legal production of the minerals, the illegal production of the minerals could be reduced. To reduce the need of conflict minerals, companies that use the minerals need to be educated on where and how the minerals are illegally produced. When educated, the need for legal minerals will increase, making the companies want to require a certificate of origin. This is outlined in the Kimberly process, but it only applies to diamonds. If this same policy were applied to other minerals, conflict could be reduced.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Russia
Delegate Name: Cody Colvin
School: Forest Hills Central High School

The Russian Federation acknowledges the problems created by the race for highly profitable minerals such as diamonds. We understand that the greed of well-equipped military factions has taken a violent toll on citizens of predominantly African nations, namely the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Russia proposes that the conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo be handled delicately. As the Special Political committee can only do so much, Russia proposes that violence not be used. The only ethical method for the United Nations to settle this issue is to encourage peace talks and international correspondence encouraging peaceful disengagement of this issue. Russia strongly believes that one of the main issues is the impunity that armed forces seem to enjoy. War crimes are going unpunished, and if there is one way to ensure that aggressors are brought to justice, it is to make sure that they are punished for their crimes.

Russia urges the government of the DRC to ensure that its security sectors are strengthened. Russia urges them to resolve the problem of the occupation of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, the rebel group that is responsible for much of the violence associated with conflict minerals. A constructive collective effort of governments of established nations of the Great Lakes region is imperative to ensure that lasting peace is achieved.

The government of the DRC should move on strengthening its national army so that it can retain strong security in areas far from the center. Had their forces been strong enough and large enough to secure the eastern region of the country, then there is a strong possibility this problem would have never arisen in the first place.

As far as reconsideration of the mandate of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), Russia believes that the current competencies are adequate. We do not fully support the strengthening of the legal abilities of United Nations forces in the region. However, Russia is willing to reexamine the mandate, even though we believe that it would have to be edited in a painstakingly intricate manner so no possibly devastating mistakes could be made- mistakes that expands abilities that shouldn’t be expanded, for example. Russia believes that the issue is delicate. Extension of the mandate by one year is a measure that we do support. In order for a lasting peace to be achieved, the mission must remain.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Serbia
Delegate Name: Eric Satterlee
School: Forest Hills Northern High School

Due to the demand for electronics in the Information Age, resources used to build these products are becoming more and more valuable and profitable. So profitable in fact, that they have become conflict minerals. Conflict minerals are minerals that are mined under violent conditions and often associated with severe human rights abuses. The eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are the hot spots for this illicit activity. As these minerals are passed through many middlemen, it can be difficult detect conflict minerals in the supply chain. This results in the continued sale of conflict minerals, fueling the violence and human rights abuses.

The Republic of Serbia believes further international action is required to stop the sale of these conflict minerals. Laws in place now, such as the United States Dodd Frank Act, have actually had an adverse effect on the mines not associated with conflict minerals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Many of these mines have actually gone out of business. Putting many people out of work and subjecting them to poverty. The international community needs to be more careful when writing these laws and attempt to understand what consequences might be incurred when they are implemented.

The supply chain of these resources need to more closely monitored and audited. This would help companies more selectively choose where to obtain necessary resources from and not just ignore entire regions, putting innocent people out of work and legitimate companies out of business. This would require a multilateral effort on the part of nations that extensively use these resources.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Somalia
Delegate Name: Leon Pescador
School: Ann Arbor Community High School

Africa has seen more than enough violence stemming from conflict minerals over the last few decades. The Congo area especially. Rapes, murders and massacres are only some of the terrible actions that have been caused by this violence over precious materials. Although Somalia has not seen any of this conflict mineral-related violence within its own borders, it strongly approves of working with other sovereign nations to reduce it from happening elsewhere.

During the summer of 2010, the Congolese Army and United Nations peacekeeping forces “have been conducting operations” against the Ugandan rebel group Allied Democratic Forces, also known as the ADF. Violence caused by the ADF has uprooted around 60,000 people from their homes and there are now many refugees in the region. Additionally, the ADF soldiers are “being accused of being involved in illegal gold and diamond trading.” Intelligence found on the ADF reveals that they are also linked to the terrorist group based in Somalia, Al-Shabab.

The ADF is also linked to other armed rebel groups including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda or FDLR for short, who “reportedly receive 70 to 75 percent of their money from selling illegal minerals.” The ADF’s power has also expanded Al-Shabab’s area of operations. In August of 2011, Al-Shabab launched several terrorist attacks in Uganda’s capital, Kampala. Even though some of the worst violence in Africa has past, if the ADF and FDLR expand, it could ruin many more lives and could turn many more civilians into refugees.

The transitional government of Somalia requests other sovereign nations join in creating legislation that will prevent companies from purchasing conflict minerals and penalizing those that continue doing so. Somalia also requests that the United Nations send more troops to the region to assist the Congolese government in eradicating ADF and FDLR bases as well as smuggling roots to prevent these rebel groups from profiting of conflict minerals. If the ADF and FDLR are gone or severely weakened, the region has a new opportunity for a more stable environment, especially for civilians.

Furthermore, the outcome could help Somalia by weakening Al-Shabab and it’s grasp on nearby countries. Somalia would also like to commend other countries that have taken steps to reduce violence associated with conflict minerals, such as the United States, who recently passed laws trying to prevent the buying of minerals from eastern Congo and groups in that region.

Finally, if said legislation is passed, it could usher a new era of peace, stability and prosperity for Africa.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: South Africa
Delegate Name: Freida Blostein
School: Royal Oak High School

The issues surrounding conflict minerals are multi-fold but they trace back to a central economic lynchpin. These natural resources are both the boon and bane of Africa, encompassing the enormous potential for growth and the restrictive realities of regional warfare that trouble our continent. In order to promote the further development of our national and world economies we must separate the humanitarian crisis of conflict minerals from their immense value as a resource.

On this note, South Africa urges the international community to recognize the relative inefficiency and danger inherent to all encompassing embargos and sanctions. Due to current lack of adequate structures and avenues the industries involved in mineral trade cannot be monitored adequately. Therefore the illicit and malignant aspects of trade are barely impacted while the legitimate economies of sovereign states suffer. It was these concerns that led South Africa to spearhead the Kimberly Process as a method to regulate the diamond industry without inflicting economic damage.

The Kimberly method is one vivid example of how creation of industry driven or third party mechanism can monitor and enforce standards for mineral industries. The United Nations can stand as the central vehicle to assist and encourage the creation of such mechanisms as well as finding funding from the international community. The Center for International Cooperation has outlined a plan for one such mechanism within the Congo. A wider scope of mechanisms on national and regional basis would aptly regulate conflict commodities.

The United Nation’s involvement in stemming conflict mineral violence can also be found in promoting industry responsibility, the notion of due diligence. By placing regulations directly on companies and requiring realistic audit schematics we can minimize the evasion principles that come with embargos while capitalizing on their benefits.

Finally, the most effective strategies will stem from the efforts of regionally based organizations, whether this be large groupings such as the African Union and European Union, or even the more specialized South African Development Community, East African Community or the Intergovernmental Authority of Development. Bilateral and small grouped agreements can also contribute to these workings. Maintaining an open flow of trade through such agreements and entities will limit the opportunities and profits of illicit and immoral trading.

These are the long term solutions, necessary as we look ahead to the future. The basis of all peacekeeping exists in these forward thinking goals, which address the roots and cruxes of issues. In the short term of course, the conflicts associated with these commodities will continue to crop up. South Africa stands ready, as usual, to provide the necessary assistance. The presence of the peacekeeping troops of the United Nations can serve as a deterrent for conflict or as a means of containing them. It is only as a unified continent that Africa will rise to its economic potential. We will stand and rise together, regionally promoting legitimate and beneficial trade.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Sri Lanka
Delegate Name: Adam Puja
School: Williamston High School

The mining and importation of conflict minerals has been a problem for all nations worldwide. Conflict mineral mining is found mostly in Africa, where luxurious minerals such as diamonds and gold are present with weak centralized governments. There are accounts of rebel groups taking over entire villages and enslaving citizens to mine for these minerals. Through the distribution of conflict minerals, rebel groups have been able to fund their own civil wars, causing violence in epic proportions. Often, people are murdered and raped by these rebel groups as they furiously mine for more diamonds and minerals, hence the name “conflict minerals” being used to describe them.

Sri Lanka firmly believes that international support of countries such as Congo is necessary to resolve the link between these minerals and violence. With our support to these nations, we can help rid the inexcusable behavior of rebels, and free slaves who are being forced into labor. Sri Lanka is in full support of processes that track down the origin of minerals, such as the Kimberly Process. These processes are a great first step towards preventing violence with luxurious minerals, but are still only a first step.

Sri Lanka is convinced that an expansion of the Kimberly Process, not only on diamonds, but other resources such as gold and wolframite, would be the best solution to this problem. By tracking these minerals more efficiently, we can differentiate between conflict minerals and legally obtained minerals. This could cut off rebel funds immensely, while encouraging and prospering other countries’ economies. With the rebel’s funds at a standstill, the violence in countries like Congo would decrease.

With this in mind, the UN needs to take affirmative action against these rebels. Millions have died to due civil unrest in Africa, which is primarily funded and caused by rebel groups who enslave the native peoples and fund civil wars. But where are these funds coming from? They are coming from industries that chose to buy these conflict minerals, weather knowingly or unknowingly. If there is any better solution, it is to hold industries accountable for their actions, and to keep a minimum standard for different governments to uphold.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Syria
Delegate Name: Matt Gebhardt
School: Forest Hills Central High School

The issues concerning violence over conflict minerals, primarily in the region of West Africa, are grotesque. People in villages are forcefully taken away and enslaved to mine conflict minerals, primarily diamonds, coltan (tantalum), wolframite (tungsten), cassiterite (tin), and gold, to finance civil wars between rebellions and their respective governments. The nation of Syria sees these problems to be important and would like to see resolutions be passed to solve the problem. The Kimberely Process, established in 2003, has served as a decent solution to verify the origin of rough diamonds and that they aren’t used for funding conflict. Syria would like to see the Kimberely Process be expanded and helped financially; however, we refuse to be members because of the General Assembly’s decision in November of 2009 to allow Israel to oversee the Kimberely Process. Israel is guilty of trading “blood diamonds” in the Ivory Coast to finance their own military. Israel falsely denies these truths, thus Syria will absolutely not stand for it.

The nation of Syria would like strongly encourage the United Nations to remove Israel as the overseer of the Kimberely Process due to their corruption. After that is accomplished, Syria would like to suggest that the Kimberely Process be expanded to not only cover “blood diamonds” but the other minerals as well. In addition, we believe that there must be direct intervention in the region, which would require UN peacekeepers to maintain stability and to protect local people from coercive armed groups.

Syria is not the only nation that sees Israel’s leadership an abomination. Iran and North Korea, along with other Arab States, are other nations who support our motion. Israel is guilty of dealing with “blood diamonds” themselves, so it is unjust that their treacherous nation heads the Kimberely Process. Also, Syria believes that most countries, especially current members of the Kimberely Process, would agree that expanding the Kimberely Process to cover the other minerals is a viable solution.

A nation that opposes our motion is Israel, who tricks the world declaring that they will be an excellent leader; however, they will deliver more chaos to the region and continue their dealings in “blood diamonds.” Any nation who supports Israel as the leader of the Kimberely Process is a nation who opposes our stance. Hopefully, we can sway the minds of the General Assembly into their right sense.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Thailand
Delegate Name: Dillan Nayee
School: Fishers High School

Violence associated with conflict minerals usually occurs within unstable countries. Recently, however, influence on conflict in the region by regulation of industry. Primary conflict minerals include cassiterite, coltan, wolframite, and gold. They have numerous uses in the automotive, aerospace, defense, and software industries. Because of the important uses of many of these minerals, they tend to be very valuable, and for the regular care that is taken concerning human rights to be decreased. Overall, the Kingdom of Thailand believes that in order to establish a more peaceful environment in the most efficient manner, an end needs to be put to the funding of conflict through the mining and selling of these minerals.

The people of Thailand have recently been discussing methods to reduce violence associated with conflict minerals. Thailand has actively taken part in attempts to stop problems associated with the sale of these minerals. In the past, these problems were ubiquitous. More recently, however, there has been legislation that is seeking to limit the corruption that is preventing these problems to be tackled. Thailand believes that results can be sought after these minerals have ceased to sell. Without the vending of these minerals, money will not be provided to groups that are seeking money through violent approaches. Thus, violence associated with conflict minerals will stop.

The Kingdom of Thailand believes that there needs to be more regulations that will limit the trade with violent groups that are known to be funded by conflict minerals. An idealistic approach of combating the problem of the violence would involve stopping the international corporations that fund the continued buying and selling of these conflict minerals. Limitations would have to be made by each and every one of the countries participating in this affair. Thailand’s companies would have to cut down on oversea shipping of these minerals.

There would need to be an overall limitation with trading with violent groups associated with these minerals. By stopping trade with the violent groups, we could establish a basis of not encouraging the groups to seek the minerals as much. This idea would be less violent, more direct, and an inexpensive way to stop violence associated with conflict minerals rather than sending in peace keeping troops. Abuses caused by this trade must be stopped. The Kingdom of Thailand knows the devastation that conflict minerals can cause, and we would like to lessen this destruction. Through the responsibility of the corporations and international transparency we could reduce violence associated with conflict minerals.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Turkey
Delegate Name: Louis Hochster
School: Ann Arbor Community High School

Conflict minerals are minerals mined under conditions of various human rights abuses including slave labor, sexual assault, and massacres. Various ores classified as conflict minerals are columbite-tantalite or Coltan from which tantalum is extracted. Tantalum is used in the production of capacitors. Cassiterite contains large quantities of tin which are used in solder and cans. Wolframite is the main ore of tungsten. Tungsten is very dense and is used in weights. Also a very small amount is used in the vibration function of cell phones. Gold is used in jewelry electronics and as currency. Also blood diamonds are frequently classified with conflict minerals. A single ton of tungsten can sell for over $20,000 (USD) as a result the mining of conflict minerals is a great lure to many militant groups as a way to finance their exploits.

Most of the mining of conflict minerals is done in the eastern half of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) which is part of the Great Lakes region of Africa. The Great Lakes region is where almost all of the conflict mining takes place, although most of it is done in the DRC.

The Republic of Turkey in 2010 voted to pass Resolution 1952 which extended the measures of Resolution 1807 (2008) which included an arms embargo, financial and travel sanctions. Furthermore Resolution 1952 also recommended that all States especially those in the region regularly publish statistics on natural resources such as gold, cassiterite, coltan, wolframite, timber, and charcoal. In addition Resolution 1952 encouraged the DRC to continue to take measures to address the threat of corruption within the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Republic of Turkey does not in any way support these groups, and it calls out to its fellow States to stop the atrocious human rights violations taking place in the DRC and other places in the Great Lakes region.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Ukraine
Delegate Name: Carl Korth
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School

As technology and understanding of chemistry has advanced in recent decades, so has the demand for wolframite, columbine-tantalite, cassiterite, and gold. The demand for these minerals have become the principal cause of conflict in the areas in which they are mined, leading to the minerals being collectively termed “conflict minerals”. One of the largest sources of these conflict minerals, is central Africa. The minerals of central Africa, principally the Democratic Republic of the Congo(DRC), has driven conflict by motivating groups to commit violence to obtain wealth. And the wealth that they obtain from the sale of conflict minerals is used only to finance more violence. The civil war in the DRC continues to claim more lives as the demand for these minerals remains strong.

Ukraine believes that the United Nations, as an international peace organization, has a responsibility to prevent the financing of the conflict in central Africa. Regulation to prevent minerals involved in conflict from being sold on international markets is essential in stemming the cash that drives violence and provides the arms with which it is committed. There are multiple sources for these minerals throughout the world, and an international armed peacekeeping effort would only serve to give rebel groups greater legitimacy in the eyes of the local population. Legitimacy, that currently they don't have as they enslave villages and carry out rape and murder on a horrific scale. Regulating the market to force companies to acquire minerals from areas that are not being exploited by conflict is the best option.

Substantial support has been demonstrated by the consumers who buy the electronic goods used in conflict minerals. As recognized by the United States Congress in ordering the Securities and Exchange commission to provide regulations for companies in utilizing conflict minerals in their products. The European has also been steadily increasing their debate over the extent of legislation for conflict minerals.

The people of Ukraine also know that the majority of the companies involved in exploiting the minerals from central Africa are based in the developed countries of the West, and that there will be significant opposition from them. This should not however, be allowed to sway the opinion of the United Nations. The ease of producing a profit should not be paramount to human lives.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: United Kingdom
Delegate Name: Dimi Tcholakov
School: Fishers High School

The United Kingdom believes several actions must be taken to reduce violence associated with conflict minerals. This violence connected to conflict minerals is primarily in the eastern portion of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The United Kingdom has not had regulations concerning the trade of conflict minerals in the past, which has led to this problem in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These problems have been largely caused by conflict in the area since 1998, with the beginning of the Second Congo War. This conflict officially ended 2003, but fighting still continues in the eastern area of the country. In more recent times, however, there is more legislation that seeks to limit the minerals’ influence on conflict in the region by regulation of the industry. The primary minerals that are considered conflict minerals are cassiterite, coltan, wolframite, and gold. They have numerous uses in the automotive, aerospace, defense, and software industries. This causes these minerals to be very valuable, and for the regular care that is taken concerning human rights to be decreased. An end needs to be put to the funding of conflict through the mining and sale of these minerals.

The United Kingdom has recently taken a very strong focus on the problem that is being caused by the sale of conflict minerals, especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the past, this problem was not as clearly identified, and not nearly as prevalent as it is today. More recently, however, there has been legislation that is seeking to limit the corruption that is preventing these problems to be tackled. The UK Bribery Act will play a role in curbing the corruption both in the UK and internationally. When corporations are limited by regulations from doing business with the producers of conflict minerals, the money of the violent groups will end, and the violence will stop as a result of this.

The United Kingdom thinks that the best plan of action to combat the problem of the violence caused by conflict minerals is to fight it at the international corporations that fund the continued use of this brutal strategy. There needs to be more regulations that will limit the trade with violent groups that are known to be funded by conflict minerals. Some things that will help achieve this greater regulation are limitations set on British companies working overseas. There needs to be greater transparency in international trade, especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in order to limit the effects of conflict minerals on the citizens of that country. The abuses caused by this trade must be stopped. The United Kingdom is also closely monitoring the Dodd-Frank legislation on conflict minerals and wants to see how it is implemented, and how much of an effect it has on lessening the problem. The United Kingdom knows the devastation that conflict minerals cause, and it wants to lessen this destruction. Only through greater international transparency and corporate responsibility will this problem be solved.

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Venezuela
Delegate Name: Meredith McKeown
School: Ann Arbor Community High School

Tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold. These four minerals often referred to as “3Ts and gold” are components of all cell phones, as well as nearly all computers, televisions, and other electronic devices. Because these minerals are in such high demand there is much violence surrounding them, and according to the International Rescue Committee death, related to these minerals has resulted in over 5 million civilians and an estimated 45 thousand deaths per month occur. Diamonds can also be referred to as a conflict mineral accounting for an immeasurable amount of violence. In 2003, the United Nations formed a plan to try and combat the killing and ill treatment, they called it the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). It set standards for tracing the line of where a diamond came from and being able to prove that. The long term outcome was somewhat of a failure due to nations not cooperating and too few people following the strict plan, thus the certification fell apart.

The Venezuelan government supports efforts to keep the source of origin clean for diamonds and works to maintain a country with as little violence as possible. Currently Venezuela is on of the top producer of petroleum oil, and is estimated to have over 99.4 billion barrels of crude oil. The history of oil in the Bavarian Republic of Venezuela is spotted with property disputes and violence. Currently the state oil company, PDVSA, controls the petroleum sector. In 2005, in a attempt to try and avoid property disputes, the government informed companies with operating service contracts for mature fields that they must migrate the contracts to joint ventures that conform to the 2001 Hydrocarbons Law. The government threatened to seize fields operating under the services contracts on December 31, 2005 if oil companies did not sign transition agreements to migrate their contracts. Later in May 2009, the National Assembly passed an oil services sector law reserving to the state all primary hydrocarbons activity. In a effort to reduce violence in Venezuela the government enacted a plan to seize weapons and destroy them, a total of 2,213 bladed weapons, 113 pistols, 107 revolvers, 445 improvised firearms, 43 shotguns, two submachine guns, 60 grenades, and 5,432 rounds

of ammunition. In another effort to combat violence the prison system has been completely reformed with new buildings being built, x ray machines and closed circlet security cameras being installed, as well as weapon detectors placed at the entrances. However, President Hugo Chávez clams "The thought of Venezuela being one of the most dangerous countries in the world is untrue. And it is false that here there is more violence, compared with 11 years ago. Eh?"

Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Yemen
Delegate Name: Maxwell Petit
School: Royal Oak High School

Ladies and Gentlemen, a new resource is being quickly becoming a center of violence over procuring this necessity of life. I’m speaking of course about water. Water control has become the cause of difficult political relations between nations in the modern world. Such as the harsh relation between Sudan and Egypt, Sudan because it can control the amount of water that reaches Egypt by the Nile, is a large threat to their nation. Even the United States is guilty, infighting between their states over water, where Arizona sent militia to stop a dam building on the Colorado River. Nations that have a source of water are highly protective of it. The nations with out a reliable source are looking to claim a source, such as Israel recent invasions over water. The international community is lacking any useful international law for addressing this. The conflict over diamonds has been solved time and time again; the Kimberly process is in place and works. This committee should do what its meant to do, and reduce violence over resources, lets start with water.

The republic of Yemen believes water as a vital part of human life should be shared and no nation punished for its geographic location. We are all entitled to life; governments must make sure every nation has the ability to give water to its people. Regardless for its lack of economic strength to buy water.

The nations with excess water could have their cost covered to transport water by willing and able nations. There is plenty of water in this world. Yemen wishes for distribution in which no one dies of dehydration, and every nation has equal opportunities to access fresh water. Our world has made brave strides; we have a duty to make sure humanity as a whole doesn’t regress because of child like hoarding.