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2 October 8 th, 2016 To Delegates of Cerritos Novice 2016 Conference Dear Delegates, Welcome to Cerritos Novice 2016! It is my highest honor and pleasure to welcome you to our annual novice conference here at Cerritos High School. On behalf of the Cerritos High School Model United Nations program, I am proud to host another year of this long-standing conference. Here at CHS, we take absolute pride in this extensive program and its ability to create new and lasting friendships while also encouraging stimulating and intellectual discussion for high school students all across the globe. The CHSMUN program continues to strive for excellence as a nationally ranked MUN program. Our delegates have the opportunity to compete at conferences all around the nation and gain valuable knowledge. Our head chairs are selected from only the best seniors our program has to offer and they undergo a rigorous training process to ensure they are qualified to moderate and grade the quality of debate in each of our committees. Our chairs are the same delegates that represent our delegation at universities and conferences to the best of their ability. Our topic synopses have been reviewed and revised countless times to ensure that as a delegate you have the tools and understanding to be successful in committee. Our advisors and staff have put in countless hours to ensure you have an amazing experience at our conference and that you are encouraged to continue on in Model United Nations at your prospective schools. With 25 high school committees and 3 middle school committees, CHSMUN 2016 will provide a quality experience for beginners to learn and develop your skills as delegates. If you have any comments, concerns, or questions, please contact me. I look forward to seeing you at CHSMUN Novice 2016! Sincerely, Angel Nwosu Secretary General 2016-2017
3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome Statement ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 Committee Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 TOPIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 Nuclear Disarmament Background ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 UN Involvement ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 Bloc Positions -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 Basic Solutions ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 Questions to Consider ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 Sources ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9
4 UNODA A Note from the Director Delegates, My name is Christopher Gong and I will be your head chair for UNODA at the 2016 Cerritos Novice Conference. To start off, I am currently a senior at Cerritos High School and this is my fourth year in MUN. I am a hardworking student who is excited for college and aspires to major into the field of computer science. I am an active member of many school events and clubs such as, Computer Programmers United, California Scholarship Federation and Junior State of America. Outside of school, I like to practice my computer programming skills, and have made my own app. I am also a Life Scout in Boy Scouts of America. I have been to a great number of conferences varying from Mira Costa, to UC Davis, McKenna, and even Nationals in New York. Additionally, I have chaired as moderator in the last Fall conference and have much experience in MUN. Always feel free to ask questions or for any advice as this is a learning experience. I am so excited and honored to be chairing for this conference and cannot wait to meet you guys! Good luck and see you guys soon! Sincerely, Christopher Gong Director, UNODA Committee Introduction: UNODA was a committee first established in January 1998 through the General Assembly report, A/51/950, to serve as the Department for Disarmament Affairs. Created in 1982 through the General Assembly s second special session on disarmament (SSOD II), its name was changed to the Center for Disarmament Affairs which was under the Department of Political Affairs and in 2007, it became the current name of United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs The committee works on promoting nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, reducing weapons of mass destruction, and increasing peace worldwide. Historically, UNODA has supported implementation of disarmament in conflicted regions, and helping restore a civil society.
5 TOPIC: Nuclear Disarmament Background The main purpose and goal of the United Nations it to maintain international peace and security, and the topic of nuclear disarmament had been heavily debated through the age of nuclear weapons. The use of nuclear power as a weapon begun in 1945, with "Trinity", a test conducted by the United States. Even before the atomic age begun, there was debate on how nuclear weapons should be used if they could be produced easily. In the same year, the United Kingdom, Canada, and United States suggested for the establishment of an atomic energy commission overseen by the UN to make sure that atomic energy was used peacefully only. However, the two wartime uses of atomic power were both by the United States, with the Little Boy and Fat Man, on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. At the peak of the Cold War, over 65,000 nuclear weapons worldwide. In 1961 during the Cold War the women strike for peace marched in cities throughout the United States to protest against the use of nuclear weapons. After further research established that the Radioactive fallout demonstrated significant health risks, the General Public asked to stop the use of these weapons. The United States and Soviet Union both realized the great threat of nuclear weapons and created the Treaty of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The NPT was the first major worldwide action taken to prevent the weaponization of nuclear weapons, and instead to promote the use of nuclear research as a form of energy rather than destruction. The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) were also in order at this time between the United States and Soviet Union, the two nuclear superpowers in this decade. These conferences created the agreement of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, which was a provisional agreement among the two countries. Both John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev, the secretary of the Soviet Union at the time, signed the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT) in 1963. This treaty differed from the NPT specifically by forbidding the detonations of nuclear weapons above ground (and more explicitly, the denotation in outer space and underwater), to try to slow down the arms race and reduce the nuclear fallout discharged into the environment. This movement as office in politically through United States President Ronald Reagan who envision a world free of nuclear weapons. In 1982, a public demonstration in New York City Central Park to prevent the further use of nuclear weapons, especially in the Cold War, also help spread the cause. In 1991 and 1993, the bilateral Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I and START II) between the United States and Soviet Union limited the nuclear capacities of each nation. Most recently, New START, another bilateral reduction treaty between the same states went into effect in February 2011. The campaign for Nuclear Disarmament is an organization established in the United Kingdom advocating for the removal of nuclear weapons. Initiatives such as the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation, and the Wassenaar Arrangement have also been created.
6 Today, nine states possess nuclear weapons totaling to 16400, with the United States and Russia holding over 15000 of these weapons. To obtain the goals of the United Nations, nuclear disarmament is necessary. United Nations Involvement The United Nations has had an increased involvement in the role of the disarmament of nuclear weapons since the launch in 1945. In 1946, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution to establish a commission to control the use of atomic and nuclear weapons. This commission was the list with a goal to continue to develop atomic energy only for peaceful purposes. The United Nations has also established multiple nuclear weapon free zones, which are agreements that establish regions that prohibit the development of nuclear weapons. Most notably, the Middle East nuclear weapon free zone, proposed in the 1960s, help establish a greater peace an area known for weapon proliferation. This Zone was created to try to prevent launch of weapons of mass destruction to protect civilian life. In 1968, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was signed by 189 countries, including the Big Five countries. The three main points in the NPT is non-proliferation, disarmament, and energy. The NPT was created originally to prevent the reproduction of nuclear weapons, and it works continuously to stay true to this goal. Disarmament of countries who are already in possession of nuclear weapons is also very important. With the help of the United Nations, countries such as South Africa and Belarus, who had originally taken upon the weaponization of nuclear weapon, have now disbanded them. Lastly, using nuclear power for energy can be very beneficial instead of the bleak future after the use of nuclear weapons. The creation of nuclear power plants, which are thermal power stations that produce up to 2017 MW of power, can further help the development of society instead of causing destruction. One of the greatest vacancies of this treaty is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which still causes issue today. In addition, the goal of the United Nations is to remove atomic and nuclear weapons to ensure the safety of civilians. Recently, in December 2012, the general assembly adopted another resolution on nuclear disarmament. This resolution encouraged for the establishment of a meeting for all member states to attend for the discussion progress towards nuclear disarmament. Discernment of nuclear weapons is also largely overseen by the United Nations office for disarmament affairs. GC57/RES13 was adopted on September 20th 2013 which states that the IAEA has the right to safeguard the entire nuclear cycle. Whereas before they only had access to declared nuclear facilities. The additional protocol allowed the UN to further inspect all nuclear facilities in order to detect any possible secret illicit nuclear activities. In 1959, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was created. This is a selfgoverning organization under the UN to promote peace and safety while using nuclear energy. The IAEA was created to also prevent launches of nuclear weapons, and to protect those that have already been exposed to the radiation. More recently, the IAEA has encouraged the reduction of nuclear arsenals from all countries, especially the United States and Russia. Currently, scientists estimate that our worldwide nuclear arsenal has enough weaponry to blow up the world 5 times over. The IAEA has also begun a change in process of nuclear weapons,
7 especially regarding their deployment. Having warheads ready to launch within 45 minutes is only inviting an accident to occur. Since the creation of the agency, the IAEA has also been strengthened and confirmed as a legitimate agency. The legal authority of the IAEA has been increased since its conception, and continues to grow as one of the more powerful organizations in the UN. In 1998, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) was created as a part of the Security Council. The UNODA specifically focused on promoting nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation, strengthening disarmament of weapons of mass destruction, and decreasing weapons in areas with high conflict. Over the years, it has offered special sessions on disarmament, as well as providing up to date information on issues of a global disarmament. Bloc Positions Western Bloc: The Western Bloc holds nuclear weapons, but still believes in the reduction of warheads present at the moment. Countries in this bloc disapprove of the use of nuclear weapons, especially the actions of countries such as North Korea. Western bloc countries believe that there should be a restriction on nuclear weapons, but countries such as the United States should continue to hold these weapons. Most of these countries promote the use of nuclear technology for energy and peaceful purposes. Latin Bloc: Currently, the Latin bloc holds no nuclear weapons, and holding nuclear weapons in this area is not allowed due to Nuclear Weapon Free Zones. The Latin America Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Treaty constraints these countries not to have nuclear weapons, which begun in November of 1963. Since then, there have been no major complications of nuclear weapons in this area, and these countries promote for the reduction of nuclear weapons worldwide. African Bloc: The African Bloc has similar views in regards to nuclear weapons; they wish for the peaceful removal of most or all nuclear weapons. In the early 1990 s, nuclear weapons were produced by South Africa, but since then, they have been withdrawn and nuclear weapon program concluded. The African Bloc is currently bounded by the African Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty, which prohibits the development of nuclear weapons on the African Bloc. Asian Bloc: Most of the Asian Bloc is against the development of nuclear weapons, aside from Russia. The Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (CANWFZ) treaty prevents the further development of nuclear weapons in many of these states. This treaty was signed by all Big 5 nations. Countries in the Asian Bloc express sentiment against the further development of nuclear weapons.
8 Basic Solutions The regulation of further development of nuclear weapons is imperative in nuclear disarmament. The first basic solution in nuclear disarmament is the removal of the large stockpiles of weapons, some that can be fired within 30 minutes, from all countries, specifically the United States and Russia. These countries have a large excess of nuclear weapons and material, which is inviting and tempting for a rapid launch. Another solution would include the further security of nuclear materials, especially those that can be weaponized. From the first development of nuclear weapons, six weapons have been lost and never found. There must be an increase of security on these materials to reduce preventable proliferation. A third solution would include resuming multilateral disarmament negotiations, such as the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. This treaty which was signed in 1996, still has not entered in force because of specific states that have not signed the treaty. There also must be further enforcement on these treaties, especially as countries have left the treaty after developing nuclear weapons. The promotion of peace talks, especially with countries that have not signed the NPT and the CTBT can also improve nuclear disarmament. The ratification of these two treaties should be the main priorities within the next few decades. Another potential solution also includes the increase the UNODA s inspection capabilities. This can be done through having strengthened safeguards or training new inspectors to ensure that there are no hidden nuclear facilities. As current UNODA inspections aren't fully efficient in some countries, solutions should be made to allow inspections without infringing national sovereignty as well as have more effective inspections. Delegates can also recommend forming partnerships between organization focused on developing safeguards. Many organizations such as the National Nuclear Security Administration or the Center for Strategic and International studies have focused on developing safeguards are unorganized in the implementation of their safeguards guidelines. By helping organize and facilitate organizations it can serve as another potential solution. Nuclear disarmament is not an end unto itself. These nuclear disarmament steps will not only enhance the prospects of strengthening nonproliferation but also their compliance measures. Questions to Consider 1. Does your country have a nuclear program? If yes, what does it do? 2. What is your country s policy on nuclear disarmament? 3. Has your country ever had an issue with nuclear disarmament? 4. What's is your country s overall position in nuclear arms? Should they be discarded or continue in development? 5. What ideas do you propose to convince nations to drop arms and what would you provide as an incentive?
9 Sources 1. "Treaties & Regimes." Treaties. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2016. 2. "TREATY FOR THE PROHIBITION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN LATIN AMERICA." Latin America Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Tlatelolco). N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2016. 3. "The Reagan Vision For a Nuclear-Weapons-Free World." The Reagan Vision RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2016. 4. "Treaties & Agreements Arms Control Association." Treaties & Agreements Arms Control Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2016. 5. "Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I)." Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I). N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2016. 6. "Fact Sheets & Briefs." START I at a Glance. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2016. 7. "START I Arms Control Association." START I Arms Control Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2016. 8. "President Reagan Legacy and U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy." The Heritage Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2016. 9. "Disarmament and International Law." International Law, Power, Security and Justice : Essays on International Law and Relations (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 10. Reducing and Eliminating Nuclear Weapons: Country Perspectives on the Challenges to Nuclear Disarmament. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Web.