Committee: United Nations Commission on Human Rights
Topic: Acts of Violence by Soldiers in West Africa
Proposed by: United States
1) Taking note that there is a need for soldiers among regions in West Africa, during 2) times of both warfare and peace,
3) Realizing that since 1970, more than thirty wars have been fought in Africa,
4) including in West Africa alone the Nigerian civil war (ending in 1970), two civil wars 5) in Liberia, a decade of fighting in Sierra Leone, a Tuareg Rebellion in Niger and Mali, 6) and the Côte d’Ivoire conflict,
7) Keeping in mind that in 1996 the warring of fourteen African nations led to more 8) than half of all war- related deaths worldwide and the displacement of eight million
9) refugees,
10) Deeply conscious that soldiers in West Africa are violators of crimes against
11) humanity,
12) Emphasizing that when unemployed, these soldiers become violators of national 13) and international law due to the absence of action, thus facilitating acts of terrible
14) violence against civilians,
15) Noting with regret that their less than admirable human rights record, illicit
16) engagements (engagement in arms transfers, training in psychological warfare among 17) civilians), and resulting abuse towards citizens leads to increased conflict on a
18) national and continental scale,
19) Having considered that these soldiers still play an important role in warfare,
20) especially among nations that are less developed and cannot maintain an adequate
21) army themselves,
22) Fully aware that soldiers actively violating international or national law and/or 23) human rights must be disarmed, demobilized, and provided with alternatives to war, 24) such as developments in education and careers that require nonviolent lifestyles and 25) discussions on alternatives to war, including including peace talks,
26) Noting with concern that with the dire economic conditions of many regions, war 27) often becomes the best option for survival,
28) Observing that among poverty-stricken males, some of a young age, the promise 29) of financial stability draws many into fighting,
30) Taking into account that these soldiers become prone to acts of violence and
31) brutality, physical hardship, forced labor, and drug abuse,
32) Aware that these soldiers fight in nations with underdeveloped law enforcement,
33) Noting with approval the Special Court for Sierra Leone, the Sierra Leonean DDR 34) Program, and the LDDRR Programs, and also the UNMSIL,
35) Further realizing that these programs should be built upon to develop a solution to
36) said issue,
37) Recognizing that famine and AIDS are also significant problems in this region
38) 1.Calls for alternative programs which will offer jobs with equal or greater pay,
39) these jobs consisting of opportunities for soldiers to aid refugees, rebuild towns they
40) have destroyed, deter others from becoming soldiers, and offer clean water and basic 41) supplies;
42) 2. Suggests advertising these opportunities to soldiers to get the message out;
43) 3. Calls upon able nations for increased aid to nations with compromised armed 44) forces;
45) 4. Supports DDR and LDDRR;
46) 5. Recommends these programs must be built upon, the final including, but
47) not limited to:
48) a. availability to all former soldiers or citizens who are at risk for
49) recruitment, so long as they agree to abide by restrictions
50) b. counseling/therapy
51) c. drug rehab (if necessary)
52) d. career and educational developments
53) e. human rights education
54) f. classes offering vocational training
55) g. opportunity to participate in a variety of community reconstruction
56) projects
57) h. discussions on alternatives to violence and war, and peace talks
58) i. disarmament of all renegade soldiers possessing weapons
59) j. programs to deter youth from becoming soldiers
60) k. rewards for all who actively participate in these programs for a period
61) of 3 months, after which they will receive new rewards for every 3
62) months they adhere to the programming, among the rewards a promise of
63) financial stability and protection, and eventually a possible dismissal of
64) some charges of crimes against humanity, depending on the severity
65) l. required identification cards and registration for the purpose of
66) identifying the popularity of each section of the program so as to focus on
67) popular categories, and also to assure that all reaping the benefits of this
68) program are complying to said restrictions and requirements;
69) 6.Suggests other help involving adequate nourishment through shipments of food 70) and assistance with filtering water, and also health education so as to attempt to
71) prevent the desperation which leads males, some of a very young age, to become
72) soldiers.