Committee: General Assembly Topic B: Fighting desertification in countries with severe drought Dear delegates, It is an honor for us to have you in our committee for CIDEBMUN 2017. Throughout the debate, we expect full compromise with the simulation, as well as enthusiasm to participate and externalize your opinion and the relevant solutions that you may have for the problems faced. As a representative of a nation, we encourage you to be serious and proceed according to the protocol. This simulation will test your ability to defend your different points of views and positions as a country. During this simulation, two controversial topics will be discussed. These topics are of immense importance since they represent a problem to human dignity and health. One of them is child pornography, which is the visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct. Possession of child pornography is a felony under federal law in every state. The federal statutes that criminalize child pornography possession define child as age 17 or younger. Another threat to the world is desertification. Within various countries it is becoming a threat because it damages the biodiversity in several countries, it affects soil quality and water availability due to the droughts that degrade these lands. We would like for you to learn about the topics mentioned and to acquire knowledge of leadership and debating skills. This experience will help you develop personal criteria concerning the different problems around the world, as well as different skills that can be useful in everyday situations. As Tina Fey said Whatever the problem, be part of the solution. Delegates, as a committee we encourage to unite and be part of the solution. Director: Laura Marcela González Villarreal Moderator: Sebastián Ponce De León Dávila
Introduction The General Assembly, established in 1945, is one of the six main organs of the United Nations, and it has a vital role for policy making inside the UN. It is formed by the 193 members of the UN. It provides an original forum for multilateral discussion of the spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter. The General Assembly also plays a significant role in the process of standard-setting and the implementation of international law; It is empowered to make recommendations to States on International issues within its competence. It has also started actions involving political, economic, humanitarian, social and legal aspects which have affected the lives of millions of people throughout the world. (United Nations, 2016) The Assembly, located in New York, oversees topics involving all the members of the United Nations, such as long and short-term issues that could affect the entire world or crisis happening in the present. Each of the Member States in the Assembly has one vote. Votes taken on designated critical issues such as recommendations on peace and security, the election of Security Council and Economic and Social Council members, and budgetary questions require a two-thirds majority of Member States, but other questions are decided by a simple majority. In the General Assembly each of the 193-member states is represented by a delegate, it is mandatory that every nation has a representative that guarantees the right to defend their opinions, beliefs and rights. Since the topics debated in the committee are too general or too specific, they can t be argued in any other committee. The debates involve a series of topics regarding global issues or crisis that need to be reviewed to get to a resolution to quickly solve the problem issued. (UN Voting, 2013).
Quorum 1. Afghanistan 2. Australia 3. Belgium 4. Brazil 5. Canada 6. China 7. Egypt 8. Ethiopia 9. France 10. Germany 11. Israel 12. Japan 13. Kenya 14. Mexico 15. Netherlands 16. Panama 17. Philippines 18. Russia 19. Somalia 20. South Africa 21. Sudan 22. Thailand 23. Tonga 24. United Kingdom 25. United States
Topic Introduction Topic B: Fighting desertification in countries with severe drought According to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, the land degradation in arid, semiarid and dry sub humid areas resulting from various aspects, such as human activities and climate changes, is known as desertification. Desertification is the result of a long-term failure to balance demand for and supply of ecosystem services in drylands. The droughts and estimated reductions of freshwater availability around the world, are mostly due to climate changes and global warming. There are many direct and indirect causes that lead to desertification, such as poverty, political instability, deforestation, overgrazing and bad irrigation practices. Drylands make up to 41% of the earth s land area and roughly 2 billion people, or 34% of the population, live in those areas. Nowadays, more than 250 million people in 100 different countries are being affected by the outcomes of desertification. 10-20% of drylands are already damaged, and 25% of soil degradation is due to change in climate patterns such as drought; An estimated 70% of this soil degradation is due to human activities such as, growth in the population, agriculture, and unsustainable policies. (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005) These areas are home to many types of vegetation and animal species, the desertification due to human activity and droughts, in addition to other factors, degrade the lands and create feedback effects that result in the loss of the biodiversity in these zones as well as other negative outcomes that may arise from these outcomes. Human health can also be affected by desertification due to droughts, in drylands people depend on ecosystem services to survive and obtain their basic needs. In arid, semi-arid, dry subhumid areas the desertification and drought are directly linked to water and food. Some other effects that desertification can cause in humans are higher threats of malnutrition from reduced water and food supplies, more water and food borne diseases that result from poor hygiene and lack of clean water, spread of infectious diseases transmitted when populations migrate, and respiratory diseases originated from the atmospheric dust from wind erosion and other pollutants found in the air. (World Health Organization, 2008)
Topic History Desertification dates to thousands of years when the climate variations started and the increase in human activities became necessary for survival. When global warming started becoming a problem, the drylands, arid, and semiarid areas were directly affected because of the climate variations. This degradation of formerly productive land is a complex process. It involves multiple causes, and it proceeds at varying rates in different climates. Desertification may intensify a general climatic trend towards greater aridity, or it may start change in a local climate. (USGS, 1997) Drought, a complex and slowly encroaching natural hazard with significant and pervasive socio-economic and environmental impacts, is known to cause more deaths and displace more people than any other natural disaster. Many efforts to increase the agriculture industry often lead deforestation, a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. In Africa alone a UNCCD expert panel estimates 4-12percent of agricultural GDP is lost due to deteriorating environmental conditions, contributing to the elevated levels of chronic hunger and conflict on the continent. To eliminate drought in a more sustainable way, a strong link between land and water conservation measures is vital. The health of land is critical in the search for sustainable solutions to water resource provision and control. Countries should develop national drought policies based on the principles of risk reduction where they should consider strengthening monitoring and early warning systems, drought vulnerability assessment and risk mitigation measures. It is essential for countries to be proactive; be coordinated at regional level; holistic and multi-sectoral and to treat drought as a constant risk. (UN water, 2014)
UN Action Established in 1994, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), addresses mainly the arid, semi-arid, and sub-humid areas known as drylands, where the most vulnerable ecosystems are located. The committee previously declared The United Nations Decade for Deserts and the fight against Desertification. The purpose of the Decade is to mobilize global action to fight land degradation, promote sustainable management of land resources and ensure long-term ability of drylands to support the livelihoods of local populations. In the 10-year Strategy projected from 2008 to 2018, adopted in 2007, where the 165 parties work together to improve the quality of soil and reduce water scarcity in these ecosystems. The UNCCD secretariat facilitates cooperation between developed and developing countries, particularly around knowledge and technology transfer for sustainable land management. Also, The Great Green Wall is an African-led project with an impressive goal to grow an 8,000km natural wonder of the world across the entire width of Africa. (UNCCD, 2009) The UN has taken the issue of land degradation into account in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) program. We are determined to protect the planet from degradation, including through sustainable consumption and production, sustainably managing its natural resources and taking urgent action on climate change, so that it can support the needs of the present and future generations, the UN says. Specifically, SDG Goal Number 15 states the world s resolve to halt and reverse land degradation. (United Nations, 2015)
Questions What is your country s position regarding the degradation of land and water scarcity? What has your country done to solve the desertification issue? What measures does the UNODC take to eradicate the problem? Which steps has your country taken to eliminate drought and water scarcity? How is your country affected by desertification due to droughts and human activities? What are your country s projections on desertification in the future? How does desertification and drought are economically, socially and environmentally impacting your country? What has your country done to prevent collateral problems that follow desertification?
Recommended Sites https://www.greenfacts.org/en/desertification/l-3/1-define-desertification.htm http://www2.unccd.int/issues/land-and-drought Bibliography (Topic A and B) Cawley, W. B. (2013, September 27). Mexico Is World Leader in Child Pornography: Officials. Retrieved September 21, 2017, from http://www.insightcrime.org/news-briefs/mexico-is-world-leader-in-child-pornography International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children. (n.d.). Retrieved September 21, 2017, from https://www.icmec.org/press/new-study-reveals-child-pornographynot-a-crime-in-most-countries/ Kaytal, J., &Vlek, P. (2000). Desertification - Concept, Causes and Amelioration[PDF]. ZentrumfürEntwicklungsforschung Center for Development Research. Seto, M. C., & Eke, A. W. (2005). The criminal histories and later offending of child pornography offenders. Sexual abuse, 17(2), 201-210. United Nations, main body, main organs, General Assembly. (n.d.). Retrieved September 21, 2017, from http://www.un.org/en/ga/about/background.shtml UN Water. (2014). Land and Drought. Retrieved September 21, 2017, from http://www2.unccd.int/issues/land-and-drought UNCCD. (n.d.). The Great Green Wall Initiative. Retrieved September 21, 2017, from http://www2.unccd.int/actions/great-green-wall-initiative
USGS. (1997). Desertification. Retrieved September 21, 2017, from https://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/deserts/desertification/ What is desertification, and how does it impact health? (n.d.). Retrieved September 21, 2017, from http://www.who.int/features/qa/69/en/