Disarmament and International Security
TOPIC: Arms Trade in Conflict Areas
The legal and illegal trade of SALW are difficult to manage because states’ are unable to agree on measures that limit the trade of SALW or to follow through with those agreements. Since the end of the Cold War, vast stockpiles of SALW have spread throughout the world with little action focused on deterring the trade of these weapons. There are many actors, both state and non-state, that sell and produce SALW, but even more that are willing to buy. The influence of lobbies, NGOs, and international organizations has led to a lack of consensus; however, the problem does receive more attention because of these groups. The large and growing supply of weapons, continuation of conflicts throughout regions of the world, and conflicting state interests exacerbate the trade of SALW.
Economic and Financial
Topic: Economic Models for Relief in Post-Confict Areas
The in-kind distribution methods for humanitarian relief used by most NGOs prevents the world’s poor from always receiving the aid that they need and wastes donor money. Past relief programs indicate the successes and shortcomings of different aid mechanisms, and highlight the need for proper evaluation and research. The aid supply chain, consisting of donors, distributors such as NGOs and local community organizations, and the end beneficiaries, currently places large emphasis on the capabilities of donors rather than the needs of the world’s poor. Donor influence and a lack of consideration for alternative methods perpetuates NGO use of the current in-kind programs.
Legal
Topic: Extradition and Rendition
No state has an extradition treaty with all other states in the global community. Since the current extradition system is based on treaties, this leads to criminals avoiding trial and fair punishment by seeking refuge in heaven states. In addition, extradition between states that do have bilateral treaties is a complicated and lengthy procedure. Suspects can only be extradited for crimes that are stipulated in the treaty and no country can be forced to extradite its own nationals. This leads to states not cooperating or complying with extradition requests, even though the United Nations has strongly defended the need for international cooperation regarding extradition through GA resolutions 2840 and 3074.
Special, Political and Decolonization
Topic: Freedom of Express at the International Level
The freedom of expression is recognized as the fundamental human right to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas. This basic freedom allows for the autonomy, self-fulfillment, and effective participation of individuals in the political life of a democratic society. Limitations on the freedom of expression require SPECPOL to closely examine the problem, with the responsibility for free and unrestricted states, transnational corporations, NGOs, and the international community to find new avenues to ensure access to the basic right without infringing upon state sovereignty.
Security Council
Topic: Regime Change
State secession, succession, and recognition are not conducted uniformly in the modern system of international relations. Since the development of states and the modern international system, the ideals of state succession have been constant, but in practice, states act independently when new states arise, differing from Yugoslavia to Georgia. New states, old states, and the international community all have their self-interest at mind and therefore act differently from each other depending on the situation. There are numerous situations that cause states to change in the first place or can cause the lack of consensus about statehood. However, continuing the current ad hoc process of recognition and succession will lead to conflict, humanitarian problems, and global security concerns.
