Committee: GA

Agenda: Measures to lessen human casualties resulting from religious conflicts in the Middle

East

I.               Introduction

Throughout human history, religion has often been contributed to the provokation of

conflicts and wars. Historians and sociologists alike have coined these kinds of conflicts to be

‘religious wars,’ or skirmishes that have started with the main cause being religion. In

modern times, religious wars have been especially prominent in the Middle East, where lands

are divided, and mass casualties often occur because of the disparities in belief. Especially

putting in to factor the diverse types of religion that exist in this area (Christianity, Judaism,

Sunni Islam and Shiite Islam, etc.), the battles that occur in this region are extremely deadly

and chaotic, for in this case, people have their belief at stake.

One major conflict which the committee should focus on would be the continuing

conflict between the two nation-states of Israel and Palestine, who are both vying for territory

in the Gaza Strip. The war between these two nations started in World War I, as the

weakened Ottoman Empire collapsed, and the British Empire was left to deal with its

remnants. Both the Jews and the Muslims would continue to argue for their stake in political

and economic prosperity until modern times.

Another prominent religious struggle would be the ongoing Syrian War, where

Muslims of two different factions (the Sunnis and Shiites) and another religious group (the

Kurds) are committing acts of violence against one another, especially towards civilians,

through actions such as suicide bombing. The conflict would start as part of the Arab Spring

in 2011, when tensions escalated following the brutal suppression of the opposition against

President Bashar al-Assad. Increased political unrest and foreign intervention would lead to a

massive increase in civilian casualties and displacement, which would in turn affect European

nations through the rise of refugees.

The final religious conflict which the committee should focus on is the civil war in

Yemen. Also beginning as part of the 2011 Arab Spring, the war would have a stronger

political motivation rather than religious, as longtime dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh engaged in

a failed political transition that handed power over to Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.

Nevertheless, groups such as the Houthi movement, the most prominent cases of Yemen’s

Shiite minority, would take control of parts of the country, escalating religious tensions and

leading to a major religious war between the Shiites and Sunnis.

These three cases are the most prominent examples of religious conflicts that are

currently occurring in the Middle East. When taking into account the amount of suffering and

casualties that are occurring because of these religious wars, it is imperative that delegates

find an alleviating solution.

II.             Definitions of Key Terms

Religious Conflict

Also known as “Holy War,” a religious conflict is a disagreement primarily caused by

difference in one’s religion. Growing opposition between religions often leads to tragic

events, most notably war. These specific kinds of wars have dire consequences for a country

in two aspects: the war can cause massive amounts of human casualties, and also severely

harm the nation’s economy. This term is the main issue in this agenda, as well as being one of

the main point of contention in this committee. Delegates should focus on the cause and

effect of these conflicts, the specific processes, possible ways of prevention, and dealing with

tragic results.

Human Casualties

This term refers to people being killed or injured. Especially in the situation of war,

the term also refers to death and injuries suffered from the battlefield. Human casualties not

only bring unnecessary tragedy but is also detrimental for a nation in many different aspects.

III.           Background Information

The chair recommends that the committee focus on three main religious conflicts in

the Middle East: the Israel-Palestine conflict, the Syrian Civil War, and the Yemeni Civil

War. However, discussion regarding other wars (such as the conflict in Afghanistan) is also

encouraged throughout the session. Nevertheless, the background information discussed in

this report will focus mainly on the three conflicts listed above.

The religious conflict between Israel and Palestine started after the end of World War

I. It was during this time that the longstanding Ottoman Empire finally collapsed under the

political and economic burden. Consequently, the British Empire promised to the displaced

Arabs in the McMahon Declaration that they would provide assistance to help in the

establishment of an independent country, free from European interference. Meanwhile, the

British also agreed to help the Jewish establish their own country on Palestinian land through

the Balfour Declaration. One problem that sprouted was the fact that there were already Arab

people living on Palestinian territory. Nevertheless, the Jewish were able to persevere through

sheer economical power and strength, establishing the nation of Israel on Palestinian territory

in 1948. Although Israel was constantly pressured by the Palestinians themselves and their

Arab neighbors (such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, etc.), even going as far as engaging in wars

(such as the Six-Day War, Yom Kippur War, etc.), the Palestinians eventually lost most of

their territory to the Israelis (see photo below).

The conflict between the two different nations continues to this day and is being

further escalated through foreign intervention. In March 2018, United States president

Donald Trump publicly announced that he would move the US Embassy in Israel to

Jerusalem, a symbolic gesture of recognizing Israel as the proper owner of Palestinian land.

His nomination of Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel further provoked controversy, for the

city is known to not belong to any certain country (including Israel). Currently, Jerusalem is

being overseen by the United Nations as a central foundation for many religions, including

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

    Aside from the political consequences, the conflict between Israel and Palestine has

resulted in many humanitarian consequences. Since its beginning in the 1950s, this religious

conflict has led to many human casualties. It had been recorded in 2000 that there had been at

least 101,558 Palestinians and 11,962 Israelis injured due to the war; numbers have continued

to rise since then. Additionally, it has been confirmed that 9,600 Palestinians (2,177 children

among them) and 1,251 Israelis (134 children among them) have been killed by the

belligerent side. Another humanitarian consequence would be the destroyed lives of the

living civilians. Continued warfare between both sides has made it nearly impossible to live

according to the basic humanitarian needs which are guaranteed for all human beings, and

increased terrorism has threatened not only the Palestinians and Israelis, but the whole world.

In the current status quo, human rights infringement have mostly been focused on the Israeli

government restricting the fundamental human rights of Palestinian civilians, as Israel has the

upper hand when it comes to power.

    The United Nations, along with other non-governmental organizations, has put much

effort into lessening the effects of religious warfare on the civilian populace. Through the

General Assembly Resolution 194, the UN was able to protect the rights of Palestinian

refugees and allow for their compensation for their losses due to war. Likewise, UN

Peacekeepers were stationed on the border between Israel and Palestine for military aspects.

Furthermore, organizations such as the UN Refugee Works Agency were established for

those who had lost their home due to the war.

    Before moving on to the Syrian Civil War, it is important to know the religious

conflict between the two denominations of Islam: Sunni and Shiite. The division between

these two factions occurred because of the difference in electing a new leader. Whereas the

Shiites only accept legitimate blood vessels of the prophet Muhammad, the Sunnis pick out

their caliphs in democratic ways. This disparity in picking a new leader has led to centuries of

religious conflicts in the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia leading the massive allies of Sunnis,

while Iran being the leader of the Shiites. The two nations continued to conflict in the modern

era, and most of the religious conflicts between the two Islamic denominations, to this day,

have the two nations’ grabbing of power underlying them.

    One of the most prominent examples of conflict between the Sunni and the Shiite is

the Syrian Civil War, which started as part of the 2011 Arab Spring. Opposition to the Shiite

president Bashar al-Assad culminated into a huge Syrian Civil War, with the main

belligerents the the Syrian Arab Republic (under the al-Assad regime, mainly Shiite,

supported by Iran and Russia), Syrian Opposition (mainly Sunni, heavily supported by

Turkey and Saudi Arabia), the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and the

Democratic Federation of Northern Syria (predominantly composed of ethnic Kurdish).

According to the United Nations, as of 2016, there had been more than 4,000,000 people who

have died because of the Syrian Civil War. Estimated numbers have risen over the years, but

the large number of casualties has made it extremely hard to discern the correct number.

Although the UN and NGOs such as Doctors Without Borders have strived to lessen the

effects of the conflict on the civilian population, an immediate end to the war is necessary to

prevent further casualties. Additionally, terrorist groups such as ISIL have actively worked to

cause casualties not only in the Syrian region, but also in places such as Europe and North

America.

    Finally, the Yemeni Civil War, which also began following the 2011 Arab Spring is

also worth noting. Longtime authoritarian president Ali Abdullah Saleh handed political

power over to his deputy Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi following protests against his rule during

the Arab Spring. However, the political transition was a risky one, and groups such as the

Houthi movement used the opportunity of a weakened presidency to engage in a so-called

‘coup d’etat’ and outright rebellion against the government. Since the Houthi were part of

Yemen’s Shiite minority, whereas the government and most of the population were Sunni,

religious tensions would escalate and culminate into a civil war between various religious

factions in Yemen and foreign influence (with Saudi Arabia attacking Yemen civilians). The

war continues to this day, resulting in massive casualties.

    One similarity between the three wars is that they originally started as political conflicts

within the region, and eventually spread following the addition of religious ideals. Delegates

should be able to recall this during discussions regarding possible solutions.

IV.          Past Actions of the United Nations and other Non-Governmental Organizations

UN Refugee Works Agency

The UN established a subsidiary organization called the United Nations Relief and

Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinian refugees to encompass the fundamental needs of a

human being such as education, health care, basic shelter, etc. The UNRWA mainly work to

protect and provide about 5 million of Palestinian refugees the guaranteed fundamental rights

of a human, but also provide assistance to other displaced persons resulting from conflicts in

places like Syria and Yemen.

Doctors Without Borders

     This non-profit organization provides medical aid to both displaced refugees and

citizens residing in areas of conflict, with emphasis on areas such as Syria and Yemen. The

organization first started to work in the Syrian region in 2009, and as of 2018, has expanded

its facilities to eight operating clinics in northern Syria.

Camp David Accords

     These agreements, officially titled the “Framework for Peace in the Middle East,”

were signed by Israel and Egypt in 1798, and has meaning as one of the first treaties to

brokered by the country of Israel and one of its Arab neighbors. Although it was able to

formally end the violent war that had existed between these two countries, other Arab nations

were less keen on taking Egypt’s lead. Many Middle Eastern nations rejected the accords and

expelled Egypt from the Arab League as ‘punishment for cooperating with their Jewish

enemies.’ Nonetheless, the Camp David Accords are one of the most prominent examples of

cooperation that was able to form in the Middle East following hard effort and compromise.

2014 Fatah-Hamas Agreements

     These agreements, conducted between the two Palestinian factions of Fatah and

Hamas, allowed for the reconciliation between the parties and formation of a unified

government in Palestine. They are another prominent example of how debate and

compromise can lead to the implementation of a peaceful government in the Middle East.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 2139

    This resolution, approved by the UN Security Council, demanded that all parties

currently participating in the Syrian Civil War allow access to humanitarian aid to all places.

It was voted in a unanimous decision and is an example of how humanitarian aspects can be

compromised upon by multilateral parties.

V.             Major Countries Involved

Iran

A leading Shiite power in the region, Iran is responsible for funding the Shia-friendly

parties in religious conflicts in the Middle East. Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution

which saw the formation of a new theocracy, Iran began to see itself as a new Muslim leader

in the political situations of the Middle East, which put it directly into conflict with Saudi

Arabia, who also saw itself as the leader. In Syria, Iran has supplied help to the al-Assad

regime, whereas in Yemen, the country has given aid to the Houthi rebel movement.

Israel

The main religion of Israel is Judaism. Israelis believe that God had promised them a

land in Palestine and currently claim that the Palestinian land was originally theirs. Due to the

immense wealth and power of the Jews, Great Britain had originally promised them to help

set up their own land in Palestine in the 1917 Balfour Declaration. In the year of 1948, the

Jewish state of Israel is established and from then on the Israelis dominated the land of

Palestine. The nation joined the UN in 1949.

Palestine

Palestine’s main religion is Sunni Islam. Prior to the end of World War I, they had

been occupied the land of Palestine but was invaded by Israel through justification by the

Balfour Declaration. The country was also promised by Great Britain for help in making an

independent country, contradictory to the promises made to Israel. The invasion of Israel and

the resulting religious war has led to an influx of Palestinian refugees.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is one of the leaders of Sunni Islam (one of the major denominations of

Islam), and is infamous for instigating religious conflicts with their Shiite counterparts (led

by Iran). The country had bombed Yemen in 2015, increasing the intensity of the Yemen

Civil War and making it into an international war.

Syria

Syria is one of the most prominent countries where tragedy has occurred due to

religious conflict. As a result of religious civil war between the al-Assad government and

Syrian Opposition, there has been an influx of Syrian refugees around the world, creating

international social issues. Also, participants of the war including ISIL have expanded their

floor to conduct terrorism around the world, creating mass havoc and fear.

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is the country who has the fundamental responsibility for

creating the religious conflict by agreeing to contradictory promises to both Palestine and

Israel regarding support on establishing an independent country in the Palestinian region.

United States of America

As a member of G2 and also G8, the United States of America has been a leader of

the modern world, thus affecting the whole world in many diverse aspects. The current US

President Donald Trump had announced himself to be pro-Israel and publicly nominated the

Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel, to the opposition of many. In recent times, the US is in a

more amiable relationship with Israel, to the disapproval of the Palestinians.

Yemen

    Known as the poorest country in the Middle East, Yemen is currently in a state of

civil war between President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi and the rebel Houthis, who have

different religious beliefs. With the war continuing since 2011, there have been many civilian

casualties, with the number escalating following a recent famine and blocked food imports.

The death of former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh in 2017 has only intensified

tensions, and the current future for the nation looks bleak.

VI.          Future Outlook/Solutions

One point that the delegates should be aware of is the fact that one cannot force

another to abide by a particular religion. According to the United Nations Universal

Declaration of Human Rights, belief in a religion is a basic human right that should not be

infringed upon. Therefore, the delegates should strive to find a solution that can willingly be

followed by all nations without any infringement to a particular religion or nationality.

Possible solutions include:

allotting land for displaced people (such as Palestine) to set up a new territory

allowing compromise between nationalities who are currently in a state of conflict

(through holding talks or inducing them to open bilateral meetings)

focusing on the humanitarian aspects of the conflict and providing economic aid to

civilians

sending organizations such as the UN peacekeepers to protect civilians who are in

desperate need of care

These are just some of the possible solutions that delegates could take advice from, but it

is not necessary to abide by them. As much as the current status quo is focusing on the

conflicts arising in the Middle East, it is imperative that delegates find a solution that all

member states could be satisfied with. However, one should also note that in real life, this

problem has yet to been solved. It is the sincere wish of the chair that the delegates can find a

creative and successful solution, all the while standing by their country’s own stance.

VII.        Conclusion

In conclusion, initiatives such as the Camp David Accords and the 2014 Fatah-Hamas

Agreements have formed the basis for cooperation between Middle Eastern states.

Additionally, initiatives such as the UN Refugee Works Agency have been implemented in

order to bring aid to civilians on a humanitarian level. Nevertheless, tensions continue to arise

between countries in the Middle East following failed compromise and the heightened usage

of violence.

In the current status quo, there is much interest focused on the religious conflicts

arising in the Middle East due to political, economic, and cultural reasons at stake. This

environment has compelled countries such as the United States to intervene and try to force

out a compromise. Delegates should be aware of the current international political

atmosphere and use it to develop their own feasible, plausible, and concrete solutions to this

massive problem at hand.

Committee: General Assembly

Agenda: Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological

(Biological) and Toxin Weapons

I. Introduction

A biological weapon is one of the three weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) along

with chemical and nuclear weapons and can create dire consequences on the civilian

population when used in a harmful way. These weapons are disease-producing agents that

have the capacity to harm humans, animals, or plants. Although both nuclear and chemical

weapons have been used before on a mass scale (nuclear weapons in Hiroshima and

Nagasaki, while chemical weapons are sparsely used in regions such as Syria), biological

weapons have not yet been used on a scale that has been considered disastrous by the United

Nations. Nevertheless, they still pose a massive threat because of the fact that a small dosage

can result in massive casualties.

Compared with the other WMDs, biological weapons have been utilized for a

relatively long time in human history. The earliest usage of ‘biological warfare’ was seen in

the Mongol Dynasty in the Early Middle Ages when the bubonic plague was used by the

government to attack defenders in a siege. As scientific technology advanced, biological

warfare became more sophisticated, and these weapons slowly developed the capacity to

inflict mass casualties with only a few doses.

Although the Geneva Protocol (1925) strictly forbade the usage of these weapons, the

treaty did not mention prohibiting the development, production, and stockpiling of these

weapons. The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC, 1972), which strived to curb the usage

of the weapons, has also had limited results because of its flawed verification mechanisms.

This has led to a comparatively lax regulation on biological weapons compared with the other

two WMDs. The issue remains dire to this day as biotechnology continues to develop, and

nations are engaged in a military race to see who can develop better weaponry.

II. Definitions of Key Terms

Biological Weapon

A biological weapon is a disease-producing agent, such as bacteria, viruses, toxins, or

other chemical agents against humans, animals, or plants. Usage of biological weapons

including bioterrorism is difficult to control and predict because there is a possibility of the

disease becoming pandemic, and therefore strict regulation is imperative.

Bioterrorism

Bioterrorism is defined as terrorist acts involving the use of harmful agents and

products of biological origin, as disease-producing microorganisms or toxins. This specific

type of terrorism is targeted to kill civilians on a grand scale, which is against the core values

of multilateral agreements signed by many member states of the UN.

Although bioterrorism is rarely used in modern times, there have been sparse

incidents. A prominent instance would be on 21 August 2013, when there was a gruesome

chemical attack that inflicted civilian casualties in Ghouta. Furthermore, in 2017, the Syrian

al-Assad government used biological/chemical weapons in Khan Sheikhoun that led to the

deaths of several civilians, evoking the anger of other nations around the world.

Anthrax

Anthrax is a disease caused by exposure to the spores of the bacteria Bacillus

anthracis that became entrenched in the host body and produces lethal poisons. Anthrax is

one of the most popular and deadly types of biological weapons, and the development of this

disease was the turning point of biological warfare. In the case of the United States of

America, 17 anthrax infections were confirmed according to the Center for Disease Control

and Prevention.

III. Background Information

In 400 B.C., Scythian (Eurasian nomads) archers infected their arrows by dipping

them in decomposing bodies or blood mixed with manure to commit genocide in regards to

the enemy. This battle was the first recorded instance in human history where biological

weaponry was used. Since then, people would repeatedly continue to use biological arsenal in

many other battles. For example, during the siege of Kaffa (in modern-day Ethiopia) in 14th

century AD, Tatar forces (Turkic-speaking people living in the Russian region) hurled

infected corpses into the city to infect the enemy forces. Moreover, during the French and

Indian War, British forces planned to spread the diseases in the Native American district by

giving out blankets that had been used by smallpox victims. These examples were the

primitive way of how biological weapons were used in warfare.

Development of biological warfare reached sophistication during the 1900s. During

World War I, the German Army developed anthrax, glanders, cholera, and a wheat fungus

specifically for use as biological weaponry. A few decades later, in World War II, Japanese

forces operated a secret biological warfare research facility (Unit 731) in Manchuria that

carried out gruesome human experiments on prisoners. The scientists at this facility exposed

more than 3,000 victims to the plague, anthrax, syphilis, and other agents in an attempt to

develop and observe the disease. Some victims died from their infections, while others were

executed for unknown reasons.

After the two world wars, highly restrictive regulations regarding the usage of

biological weapons were agreed upon by the UN and its member states through multilateral

treaties and various accords. However, there were no clear regulations on the development of

biological weapons, which led to nations such as the United States to continue research on

offensive biological weapons during the 1950s and 1960s. This accumulation was projected

in the Vietnam War, where the United States air force used chemical agents such as Agent

Orange to devastate the plant wildlife and inflict biological harm on the civilian population.

Meanwhile, Viet Cong guerrillas retaliated by using biological weapons of their own: needle-

sharp punji sticks dipped in feces that caused severe infections after an enemy soldier had

been stabbed.

Although biological weapons may be incapable of causing mass destruction in regard

to infrastructure, buildings, or equipment, they are nevertheless capable of causing mass

deaths, especially amongst civilians who are unprotected. Consequently, many agreements

have been signed by member nations in order to prevent this specific type of catastrophe.

After the observation of massive and agonizing deaths of the soldiers during World

War I and realization of the horrendous consequences of biological weaponry, The Geneva

Protocol of 1925 was signed by 108 nations. This was the first multilateral agreement that

extended the prohibition of chemical agents to biological agents. However, due to the lax

regulation in regards to the production of biological weaponry, leading to continuous

development by nations, many felt the need to form a further agreement to solidify

restrictions on the manufacture of biological arsenal. Subsequently, the Biological Weapons

Convention (BWC), the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning the development,

production and stockpiling of an entire category of WMDs (in this case, biological weapons),

was signed on 10 April 1972. As of January 2018, there have been 180 nations that have

either ratified or agreed to be party to this convention.

In April 2017, the usage of chemical weapons in the Syrian village of Khan

Sheikhoun led to the deaths of at least 74 civilians. In response to the attack, US President

Donald Trump ordered a missile strike on Syria, further escalating violence in the region. The

indiscriminate nature of these weapons, as well as the potential for starting widespread

pandemics and the difficulty of effectively controlling the aftermath, has contributed to mass

panic amongst civilians in war-torn areas.

IV. Past Actions of the United Nations and other Non-Governmental Organizations

The Geneva Protocol

This is a treaty prohibiting the use of chemical and biological weapons in

international armed conflicts. Its other purpose was to forbid Germany, the defeated side, to

manufacture or import these types of weapons following the end of World War I. Similar

provisions were included in peace treaties with Austria, Bulgaria, and Hungary that were

made during this period.

Biological Weapons Convention

The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) is a treaty which outlaws the usage of

biological weapons and is currently the only one of its kind. However, unlike other treaties

that deal with the issue of WMDs, there are several nations that have yet to agree to the

convention. Furthermore, the treaty itself has been breached several times, with countries

such as Iraq and North Korea having used biological weapons despite being a party to the

convention.

A major flaw in this treaty that the delegates should consider is its lack of concrete

verification mechanisms to allow for the destruction of biological weaponry, whereas other

conventions dealing with WMDs, such as the Chemical Weapons Convention, provides clear

mechanisms for destroying chemical weapons.

V. Major Countries Involved

Syria

Syria’s constant civil war between the al-Assad government and the Syrian Arab

Republic (the opposition), has led to political instability and increasing foreign intervention.

Consequently, chemical weapons (a type of WMD) were frequently used in large-scale

operations. On 21 August 2013, there was a gruesome chemical attack in Ghouta.

Furthermore, in 2017, the Syrian government used the biological/chemical weapons in Khan

Sheikhoun that led to deaths of several civilians. Currently, the al-Assad regime does not take

responsibility for such actions.

United States of America

The country is known to have one of the most sophisticated and developed biological

arsenal in the world. During World War II and the following Cold War, the government of

the United States developed the offensive Biological Warfare (BW) program, which

incorporated toxin weapons armed with anthrax and Q-fever. Aside from the BW program,

the US would conduct further research into the development of biodefense weapons, some

aspects which are considered to violate the BWC.

In recent times, US President Donald Trump ordered a missile strike on Syria in

retaliation for the usage of biological/chemical weapons by the al-Assad regime, further

escalating violence in the Middle Eastern region.

Russian Federation

The Russian Federation is another country infamous for having a large arsenal of

biological weapons along with the United States of America. The country produces a large

volume of bacterial toxin, combines various viruses, and creates a lot of genetic engineers.

During the period when it was called the Soviet Union, the nation’s offensive

biological program was the largest in the world. It employed scientists, engineers, and

technicians to develop biological weaponry. However, following the fall of the USSR and the

formation of the Russian Federation in 1991, the newly-formed government prohibited

programs that promoted biological warfare. Nevertheless, Russia still possesses a massive

amount of biological arsenal.

French Republic

The French Republic was one of the very first nations to know the dangerous

consequences of biological weapons, and prominently developed such weapons during World

War I for usage against Germany. However, after following the end of the war, France signed

the Geneva Protocol in 1925. Instead of developing biological weapons, the nation increased

its budget on the advancement of diverse nuclear missile programs (another type of WMD).

Germany

Germany was the first nation to use and develop chemical/biological weapons in

modern history, by employing them during World War I. Due to the advancement of germ

theory, German scientists and engineers were able to sophisticate the technology of biological

weapons. Prominent examples of biological weapons they were able to form include anthrax

and glanders, which led to the deaths of millions of innocent civilians.

VI. Future Outlook/Solutions

It should first be recognized that although much effort has been made by member

nations to limit the number of biological weapons, implementation of treaties has been

stagnant and lacking. One of the most prominent cases includes the Biological Weapons

Convention, which currently has no proper organization to see the verification and

application of its clauses. It is absolutely necessary that treaties such as the BWC be

implemented in modern society in order for the effective prohibition of biological weapons.

Thus, delegates should use case studies (such as the implementation of the Nuclear Non-

Proliferation Treaty and Chemical Weapons Convention) to figure out a solution that would

lead to a better execution of already-existing clauses.

Another possible solution that the delegates could refer to is possible sanctions when

it comes to member states that do not abide to existing treaties. This example can be seen in

the case of nuclear weapons (also classified as weapons of mass destruction), where the

United Nations has imposed economic sanctions on countries that refuse to give up on their

nuclear arsenal production, as in the case of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Although relatively risky when compared to other possible solutions, delegates should

consider this as a possible solution when cooperation is not in order and economic force is

required. For example, if there are a small number of countries that refuse to abide to the

clause in the BWC that prohibits the manufacture of offensive biological weapons, the

committee could urge economic sanctions on these countries to force them to abide by the

clause. Undoubtedly, if the delegates reach upon a compromise before coming to this stage,

then there is no need to incorporate sanctions, which should be used as a last resort.

Furthermore, the enacting of additional, more binding treaties that would effectively

enforce the prohibition of the manufacture and storage of biological weapons may be useful.

Should the delegate feel that current multilateral treaties are not sufficient enough, it is

possible to develop a better agreement that would be approved by all countries and lead to

more efficiency. For example, delegates may write a new treaty which solves the current

flawed verification system of the BWC. However, delegates should be aware that the creation

of a new treaty would require the approval of most of the delegations present in the

conference.

VII. Conclusion

In retrospect, humans have acknowledged the dangers that arise from the indiscreet

usage of biological weapons. Thus, they have strived to limit these weapons through treaties

such as the Geneva Protocol and the Biological Weapons Convention. Furthermore, many

member states have agreed upon the limitation and prohibition of such weapons through

bilateral or multilateral treaties conducted amongst themselves. However, many of these

agreements are filled with flaws and loopholes that allow for the continued production of

such weapons, and frequent violations of the Biological Weapons Convention has made it

become a weak enforcer when it comes to the limitation of biological warfare.

Therefore, it is up to the delegates to cooperate and resolve their differences in order

for a more effective kind of agreement that would allow for the complete limitation, if not the

prohibition, of the usage and storage of biological weapons.

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