Linjapaperit

(position papers)

Delegate                                                                                                      Student

Kingdom of Sweden, GA4                            Juha Jaakkola, Lammi High School

Position paper for the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly Plenary

The issues for the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly are: Reviewing United Nations Peacekeeping operations, the question of the occupied Syrian Golan, Possibilities of international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, Providing study and training facilities to the inhabitants of non-self governing territories.

1. Reviewing United Nations Peacekeeping operations

Currently UN has 120 160 personnel in 14 peacekeeping operations. Sweden has participated in several UN peacekeeping operations since 1960´s. Over 80'000 Swedes have been taking a part in UN peacekeeping operations over the years. Currently Sweden has about 530 troops in Afghanistan taking part of ISAF, the International Security Assistance Force. Sweden has been in command of a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) association with Finnish troops in Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan since March 2006. Sweden also have participated in United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and current SRSG (Special Representative Secretary-General) Staffan de Mistura is a dual citizen of Italy and Sweden. Sweden has: 5 military observers in Congo in United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MUNOC), 6 military observes and one medical assistant in UNMOGIP (United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan) and 7 military observers in Middle East taking part in UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organization).  In Sudan Sweden has taken part in two different missions UNMIS (United Nations Mission in Sudan) and UNAMID (United Nations - African Union Mission In Darfur). Sweden has 3 military observes and 2 staff officers in UNMIS, who work in JMCO which is the top level military body engaged in preparing the way for negotiations between the parties. In UNAMID Sweden has only 1 staff officer. UNAMID is concentrated in Darfur in western Sudan, whereas UNMIS focuses on southern Sudan. Swedish Dag Hammarskjöld (Second United Nations Secretary General 1953-1961) died when his aircraft crashed in Northern Rhodesia on a peace mission in Africa. Sweden has three individual police officers in MINUSTAH (United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti) Sweden also has troops in UNMIK (Kosovo) and UNMIL (Liberia).

2. The Question of the occupied Syrian Golan

Golan Heights is a highland in the Middle East. Israel conquered two-thirds of it during the six-day war in 1967 and has since been occupied by Israel. Before the occupation, Syria had used highlands as a firebase for the cannon fire focused on Israel. During the war Israel was ready to give up the Golan Heights in exchange for peace with Syria, but Syria refused to negotiate. In 1973 during the Yom Kippur War, Israel agreed to return 5% of the occupied area to Syrian civilian control. This area was a demilitarized strip of land that runs along ceasefire line and was under the military supervision of the UN peacekeeping forces. In 1981, Israel extended its laws to include the occupied area. This was condemned by Security Council in UN Resolution 497. However Israel asserted its right to retain the area by appealing to the UN Resolution 242, which allowed a permission to retain safe boundaries from threats. Syria is still insisting Israel to return Golan Heights even there hasn't been military activities since 1974. Strategic meaning of the Golan Heights is large militarily and as a source of water. In 2008, in United Nations General Assembly, a motion which dealt with reaffirming the UN Resolution 497, was accepted by votes 171-1. Israel voted against the resolution. New resolution required Israel to desist establishment of settlements and to impose Israeli citizenships and identity cards on the Syrian citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan. Sweden has taken part in UNDOF (United Nations Disengagement Observer Force) operation, by sending 1066 troops (2005) which included two infantry battalions and two logistic battalions. There were also about 60 Swedish military observers from UNTSO.

Force commander in UNDOF has been from Sweden three times: 1982-1985, 1986-1988 and 2000-2003. Sweden has had good relations with Israel but nowadays according to Israel, Sweden is the most “anti-Israel” government in Europe. Every year since 1981 UN´s General Assembly adopts resolution titled “The occupied Syrian Golan” reaffirming the illegality of the Israeli occupation and annexation. Sympathy of EU and Arab League stands on Syrian side in the question of the occupied Syrian Golan while USA is still a good friend of Israel. US president Obama is more open minded to Arab world as previous presidents.

3. Possibilities of international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space

The question became important in 1957 when Soviet Union launched the first Sputnik into outer space. According to the UN outer space doesn’t belong to anyone. However in 1976, Ecuador, Columbia, Brazil, Republic of the Congo, Zaire, Uganda, Kenya and Indonesia assembled in Bogota, Columbia and made “A statement of Bogota”. In this statement they insisted the rights to have tenure to orbit under these nations in outer space. This statement hasn’t been recognized internationally. Sweden has been a member of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space since 1959 and has had the opportunity to follow closely the development of international cooperation in space activities. The first UNISPACE conference (United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space) was held in 1982. Sweden is dependent on international co-operation to get space projects off the ground. Sweden is convinced that developing Earth observation applications and building up the competences to use them worldwide would play a key role in promoting a global sustainable development. The main goals of Sweden's Earth observation activities are to support research and technology, to secure the continuity of global data and to promote the use of satellite information for societal applications, in particular environmental monitoring, forestry, meteorology and topographic mapping. Sweden has a strong capacity to contribute to the global environmental programmes. The Convention on Registration of Object Launched into Outer Space indicates the importance of information on every object launched into outer space. This information includes the names of the launching states, the registration numbers, launch dates and locations etc. Sweden has signed this convention.  

4. Providing study and training facilities to the inhabitants of non-self governing territories

Non-self governing territories are countries which are non-decolonized. They have been gathered in to a list which was first made in 1946. Currently the list contains 16 areas. There are many reasons why certain areas remain nondependent. Most of the countries profit from the financial and military support given by their administrating countries and some of the countries are in such dimensions that they are not capable of being decolonized. The living conditions in non-self governing territories are often bad and many of them don´t have access in to Internet. UN has worked hardly to complete decolonization process in remaining 16 non-self governing territories without results.

Delegate                                                                                      Student
Kingdom of Sweden, GA5         Anne Matoniemi, Lammi High School

Position paper for the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly Plenary

The Issues before the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly Plenary 2011 are the following: Financing of the United Nations Mission in Sudan; The question of the admission of Taiwan to the United Nations; and Financing of the United Nations Stabilizations Mission in Haiti. Sweden, as an active part of the United Nations, will do everything to help reach these goals. 

1. Financing of the United Nations Mission in Sudan

Sudan has become independent on January 1st, 1956. Since then there has been a civil war going on from 1955 to -72 and from 1983 to 2005. The signing of the overarching peace agreement in January 2005 (Comprehensive Peace Agreement – CPA) marked the end of more than twenty years of civil war between southern and northern Sudan. Much progress has been made in implementing the peace agreement, but a number of complex issues remains. The population is suffering from famines, the medical system is anywhere near to the capacity of preventing the common diseases, which are widely spread with a high risk of infection, especially due to contaminated water and other common post-war factors.

United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS 2005-2011, Security Counsil resolution 1590 - 2005) is operation which is responsible for monitoring and supporting the Sudanese government and Sudan People's Liberation Movement/ Army in a peace agreement (CPA) implementation, promote the refugees and displaced persons to voluntary return, to assist in mine clearance and to participate in the international community's efforts to protect and promote human rights.

In 2008 Sweden made a strategy for Swedish development cooperation with Sudan for the period 2008-2011. The aim of the strategy was to contribute to peaceful development, respect for human rights, democratic governance, lasting reconciliation and national unity in Sudan. Sweden is deeply concerned about the developments in Sudan and especially in Darfur - with a deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation. Implementation of the peace agreement is crucial for a future solution to the conflict in Sudan. Since 2005, Sweden has provided SEK 980 million in support of humanitarian operations and reconstruction in Sudan. This support is mainly channelled via multilateral institutions and organisations. The Swedish International Development Agency´s (SIDA) cooperation for the reconstruction of Sudan has been carried out through the World Bank.

Sweden has been very active in Sudan, for example Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson travelled to Sudan on 13-16 March 2010 to visit the capital Khartoum. Sweden also joined the EU election observation mission invited by the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission to observe the referendum (four election observers from Sweden).

Sweden meets the International Aid Target of dedicating 0,7% of GNP (UN Millennium Project 2002-2015). In 2006 Sweden devoted 1,03% of GNP to foreign aid (3,97 USD billion) and it was the largest donor among developed countries. Therefor Sweden urges other developed countries to increase their efforts to meet this goal.

2. The question of the admission of Taiwan to the United Nations

Relations and trade between Sweden and Taiwan have developed steadily. Trade between Sweden and Taiwan has increased. Swedish exports to Taiwan totaled USD 390.8 million in 2009, while imports amounted to USD 480.4 million – a total bilateral trade of USD 871.3 million – which makes Taiwan the fifth largest trading partner to Sweden in Asia. A number of Swedish companies have established subsidiaries in Taiwan, while many Taiwanese companies consider Sweden as an appropriate base for investment in northern Europe and the Baltic area. Sweden and Taiwan have made two important agreements: one between Swedish trade council and Taipei mission in Sweden 2005, and the other one about China airlines direct cargo flight between Taipei and Stockholm. China has been the largest trading partner to Sweden in Asia for four consecutive years. Sweden was also one of the first countries that recognized the People´s Republic of China in the 1950s.

Both countries China and Taiwan are the most valuable tiger economies in Asia. Therefore Sweden must be extra careful in this issue. Sweden has to consider China`s opinion about the question of the admission of Taiwan to the UN. China thinks that the Taiwan is still a part of the People´s Republic of China and so Taiwan can`t be the member of the UN. China will continue to block Taiwanese attemps to join the UN.

3. Financing of the United Nations Stabilizations Mission in Haiti

MINUSTAH –mission (United Nations stabilization mission in Haiti, Security Council resolution 1542 - 2004) has been working in Haiti since 2004 for UN peacekeeping, which involves approximately nine thousand police officers and soldiers. The mission has not succeeded in calming down the conditions very well, because the gangs are better armed than the seat on the UN troops.
Troops´ strength at the end of 2009 was about seven thousand military personnel and two thousand police officers, five hundred foreign civilians and 1 200 local civilians. Soldiers came from several North and South American countries and France. Police officers came especially from African countries.

The Earthquakes in January 2010 did large damage towards the higher standards in politics, which were established over the years by the UN. United Nations aid conference pledged billions of euros in earthquake-hit Haiti's reconstruction.

Sweden has been very active in Haiti after the earthquakes. Sweden sent two people in Haiti to support the UNDAC operation on same day than the accident happened. Sweden is providing extensive humanitarian support to mitigate the emergency situation. Country is supplementing this support by providing police and prison officers to the UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti. The Security Council (SC resolution 1927 -  2010) has decided to expand the mandate of MINUSTAH by an additional 1500 police officers, including 100 prison officers, with the aim of supporting the efforts to create stability and facilitate reconstruction in Haiti. Sweden also sent about 60 million US dollars to Haiti and was one of the largest donors of humanitarian support.

Sweden's support for the emergency situation in Haiti now amounts to some SEK 215 million. In addition, Sweden has already paid its entire annual contribution of SEK 425 million to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). The Fund is in urgent need of resources after being nearly emptied as a result of the Haiti disaster.

Delegate                                                                                                Student
Kingdom of Sweden, GA6 Miikka Kääriäinen, Hakkala junior High School

Position Paper for the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly Plenary

The issues before Sixth Committee of the General Assembly Plenary 2011 are following: Ameliorating the state of security of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives; Calling states to account for internationally wrongful acts; The question of the scope of universal jurisdiction; and Considering legal possibilities to combat international terrorism. Sweden, as an active part of the United Nations, will do everything it can to reach these goals.

I. Ameliorating the state of security of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives

The Kingdom of Sweden is concerned about the state of security of non-military diplomatic missions and consequences caused by the lack of it. Every year, many militarily neutral consulates and embassies are attacked by local extremist movements and illegal militarist groups. Sweden finds these issues as a serious threat to international peace.

Therefore Sweden wants to focus especially on the acts determined in the very first chapter of the United Nations Charter, where the first article's first section obligates the states of the United Nations “To maintain international peace and security, to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace;”.

Sweden, as referring to the previous section, recommends governments of the United Nations to increase the amount of security of their embassies and consulates in crisis regions and in other ways unstable areas.

II. Calling states to account for internationally wrongful acts

The Kingdom of Sweden finds all international crimes reprehensible, but is specifically concerned about the violation of human rights. Sweden concentrates especially to the situation of women and children in Africa and Middle-East, and the lack of liberty of speech in People's Republic of China; Peoples Democratic Republic of Korea; and some monarchies of the Far East.

Sweden finds the protecting of women's and children's rights and common freedom of speech as a requirement for the international equality; and therefore demands all governments performing such wrongful acts to explain their actions and introduce their ways to improve current lack of some human rights to the United Nations.

III. The question of the scope of universal jurisdiction

The Kingdom of Sweden finds the neutral international jurisdiction as a very important issue especially during military conflicts; and therefore recommends more authority in war crimes and crimes against humanity to be assigned to the Sixth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly; the International Law Commission of the United Nations; the International Criminal Court; and the International Court of Justice. The scope of universal jurisdiction should be expanded to all war crimes; major crimes against humanity; terrorism; and naval piracy.

IV. Considering legal possibilities to combat international terrorism

The Kingdom of Sweden is deeply concerned about the threats that terrorism causes among innocent civilians and neutral police and military forces. Therefore Sweden is willing to use any realistic and humane way to cease all forms of local and international terrorism.

The biggest threat is formed by extremist Islamistic movements. Therefore the first major actions should be executed among the most violent Islamistic organizations (for example al-Qaeda; and Taleban). The first actions to cease terrorist activity in the Middle East and the West has been successful, but terrorist movements are still recruiting more and more people, and the next step should be concentrating resources to eliminate ways of recruiting. This should take place by training and increasing local police forces especially in the Middle East. This should be executed by listening to reliable local executives, and therefore avoid the mistakes made during Operation Iraqi Freedom, where many local police officers recruited and equipped by USMC (United States Marine Corps) were hostile to US Forces themselves.

The current “War on Terror” is mainly executed by NATO, and Sweden as a part of NATO supports it. Sweden hasn't sent any forces to War on Terror, but only to peacekeeping missions by NATO and the United Nations.

Also, tightened supervision of weapon industry in the Middle East and increased controlling of the import of guns and explosives e.g. from the area of Russian Federation will be necessary to reduce the threat of terrorism.

Delegate                                                                                              Student
Kingdom of Sweden, HRC         Stina Laurila, Hakkala junior High School

Position Paper for the Human Rights Council

The issues before the Human Rights Council 2011 are: Protection of journalists in regions of  conflict; Elimination of current forms of slavery; Situation of Human Rights in Sudan; and Assisting Somalia in the field of Human Rights. The Kingdom of Sweden is doing its best to help reach these goals.

I.  Protection of journalists in regions of conflict

The Kingdom of Sweden is very concerned about the safety of journalists in regions of conflict. Often reporters get kidnapped or killed because of their nationality. Being a reporter no more guarantees being safe. Journalists have to have self-censorship, because in many countries it’s not acceptable to talk about wars or other conflicts.

Sweden’s Freedom of the Press Act 1766 is the world’s oldest. Therefore Sweden is supporting the free press and finds the treatment of journalists in regions of conflict to be against the law and very offensive towards the freedom of expression. Sweden urges countries to protect foreign journalists.

II. Elimination of current forms of slavery

The Kingdom of Sweden finds it very important to eliminate the current forms of slavery. Especially in the poorest areas slavery exists today despite the fact that it is banned in most of the countries where it is practiced. Millions of men, women and children around the world are forced to live their lives as slaves. Although this exploitation is often not called slavery, the conditions are the same. People are sold like objects and forced to work for little or no pay at all. The victims have no courage to speak out because of fear and the need to survive, which makes it much harder to punish, uncover or eliminate slavery. “No one shall be held in slavery or servitude: slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms” (Universal Declaration of Human Rights).

The Government of Sweden continues its trafficking prevention efforts. In 2007, the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) continued funding awareness-building projects in the former Yugoslavia, Romania, Albania, and Bulgaria and the Swedish National Defense Ministry adopted new regulations, organized an education campaign, and distributed anti-trafficking awareness material to Swedish troops being deployed as international peacekeepers.

III. Situation of Human Rights in Sudan

The Kingdom of Sweden is aware of the situation of human rights in Sudan. Impunity is an overriding problem and an obstacle to peace. In any armed conflict women and children are among the most vulnerable, and often exposed to systematic violence. How can the international community further contribute to an improvement in the situation of women and children?

Sweden underlines the need to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Sudan. Since the peace agreement in 2005 (Comprehensive Peace Agreement – CPA, Security Counsil resolution 1590 – 2005 , UNMIS 2005-2011), SIDA’s cooperation for the reconstruction of Sudan has been carried out through the World Bank. Its efforts focus on building better health care, repairing infrastructure and training judges and government officials. In 2006, Sudan received the most humanitarian support from Sweden. Sweden supports UN Women, which spreads education about equality and women’s rights. Another target is to strengthen the role of women in politics. It is also driving a development project for women’s right to legal aid together with local women’s organizations.

IV. Assisting Somalia in the field of Human Rights

The Kingdom of Sweden shares the deep concern over the continued impunity and absence of rule of law in Somalia. The level of education is low; one in five is illiterate, infant mortality is among the highest in the world; many children die before the age of five and the life expectancy is only 47 years. Especially the situation of women and children is alarming.

Therefore the Kingdom of Sweden urges the TFG and AMISOM to take all possible measures to avoid civilian casualties and improve the protection regime. Sweden also recommends working with Somali actors to promote human rights. Despite the challenges Sweden believes that we should find ways to actively support human rights defenders and Somalia authorities on the ground to advance the human rights conditions. There are up to one million internally displaced people in Somalia. SIDA supports these people by providing accommodation. Emergency efforts will be needed for a long time to come. Today, because fighting has flared up again, the focus has returned to providing quick humanitarian aid. Long-term work will probably have to wait.


KOMITEAT:

4^th Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) / Juha
5^th Committee (Administration and Budgetary) / Anne 
6^th Committee (Legal) / Miikka
Human Rights Council / Stina