Rotaract global model united nations 2014 peacbuilding commision study guide

Rotaract Global Model United Nations | September 4-7, 2014 | Westminster
www.RotaractMUN.org |
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PEACEBUILDING
COMMISSION
STUDY – GUIDE
Prepared by:
Suhaas Ema
&
Joe Kennedy
On the date of:
July 2014

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Word of Welcome
Secretary General of Rotaract Global Model United Nations 2013
Dear Delegates,
It is my absolute pleasure to welcome you to the 2014 edition of Rotaract Global Model United
Nations. We are privileged to hold this conference in Westminster, a city that has been a bastion
of diplomacy and debate for centuries – and which saw the birth of the UN nearly 60 years ago.
Having engaged with Model UN since my school days, I can confidently say that the activity is
in my blood. I sincerely believe that there is no better activity for young people trying to engage
with the issues currently troubling our world today. It goes without saying that these issues are
dangerous, as they are numerous, and I could not even begin to summarise them in such a
limited space. However, simply from reading your applications, I have been inspired by the
massive contribution young people are willing to make to solving these problems. This is why I
have decided that the conference shall be based around the theme: Leaders of Tomorrow.
I do not mean to suggest by this that our conference will nurture you and prepare you to make
future contributions. Rather, I propose that you are already leaders – young people poised to
make a meaningful difference to international affairs. With our conference as your unique
gathering place and speaking platform, I can guarantee that your debate contributions will not
simply be academic exercises. Instead, they will form part of a meaningful policy proposal that
Rotaract will ensure reaches the desks of the UN.
With this collective spirit in mind, I hope you are extremely excited to read the Study Guide of
your committee. Having handpicked your chairs personally, I can assure you that they are world-
leaders in their field. Put simply, there are few people who are more qualified to write this guide
than them. So, use their sterling work as a starting point for your research, and be inspired to
read and research far beyond the confines of this guide.
I feel extremely honoured to welcome this unprecedented gathering of great young minds to
London. I am fascinated to hear the solutions you propose, and pledge to do all in my power to
translate them into meaningful political change.
Yours Sincerely,
Adam McLaren
Secretary General, Rotaract Global Model United Nations 2014

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Dear Delegates,
My Name is Suhaas Ema, I am currently a second year degree student pursuing
my triple major in Psychology, Sociology and Economics at Christ University, Bangalore. My
interested in Model U.N conferences sparked when I was in high school and it has never left me
since then. I have a deep passion of international relations and I am extremely excited to come to
London to be chairperson of the U.N Peace-Building commission. In my free time, I enjoy
watching my favorite TV shows and singing. I cannot wait to experience a whole new different
style of Model U.N. Coming from the Indian Model U.N circuit I can say that it’s very
competitive and the level of debate is intense. I hope to find even more of that here.
All the best,
Suhaas Savio Ema

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Dear delegates,
My name's Joe Kennedy, I've just finished up a law degree in University College Cork, Ireland.
My particular areas of interest are public international law and human rights law. I fell in love
with MUN when I first tried it with my university society and I've been hooked ever since. I've
had great success at MUNs throughout the UK and chaired at Cambridge Univerity International
MUN last year. I had the great honour of being President of my university's MUN society last
year. This year I'm the Education Officer in my Students' Union and I'll be fitting in as much
MUN as I can. Looking forward to a great weekend of debate.
All the best,
Joe.

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Introduction to the Peace-building
Commission
As a result of a General assembly resolution passed in December of 2005, the UNPBC has the
highest priority of ensuring that post conflict countries are stabilized using methods of peace
building, recovery, development etc. The UNPBC also has latent functions it must perform to
ensure that conflict areas do receive non-intervention based assistance. This commission may be
mandated to perform a number of functions in regards to a broad social sense. It is a subsidiary
body of not only the general assembly but more importantly, the Security Council. Its mandate
maybe expanded by a resolution from the latter. It is a non-traditional approach to resolving
many conflicts that plague our world. We hope that delegates take advantage of this platform to
perform their best.

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Topic A – Children in Armed Conflict
A. Statement of the problem
The issue of children in armed conflict has been time and again ignored by the world
community. We are sadly reminded of these innocent lives time and again when they are lost. In
this context we do not only look at the protection of children in armed conflict, but more
fearfully, their involvement in it. Children being recruited as soldiers or trained to terrorize the
public is a worse scenario. Children have served as militants for centuries, yet the image of a
young child with barrels of dynamite strapped tightly to his chest is a more recent, more
shocking one. This image galvanizes us because it deeply disturbs our sense of humanity – war
is brutal, evil, and destroys life; children are young, innocent, and must be protected. Particularly
because terrorism is a branch of warfare which is bound by no rules or conscience and whose
aim is to create as much fear and destruction as possible, children must be protected from its
false lures of “glory” and almost certain result of death. Thus, whether as boy soldiers in the
American Revolution, disguised insurgents on the Soviet border during the Cold War, or suicide
bombers during the World Wars, these children should have been protected. Thus we can better
understand how the modern surge of children trained to terrorize is in part a legacy of the child-
spy networks created during the First and Second World Wars and the Cold War. Today, well-
funded and connected organizations including Al-Qaeda and the Tamil Tigers actively recruit
children to execute terrorist attacks. Often enlisted against their own will, these little “angels of
death” are not only indoctrinated to take pride in their cause, but are also trained in espionage,
marksmanship, kidnappings, arson, bombings, and in some cases, suicide missions. The
responsibility of the Peace Building commission of to ensure that such catastrophes are
prevented in this peace building process.
Under the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC),
which is ratified by all U.N. member states except for the United States and Somalia, children
under the age of fifteen may not take part in warfare. Considered too low by the international
community, the age limit was raised to eighteen in 2000 in the Optional Protocol to the
Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibits the compulsory military recruitment of
children under the age of eighteen and specifically states that “armed groups that are distinct
from the armed forces of a State should not, under any circumstances, recruit or use in hostilities
persons under the age of eighteen years. “Thus, consistent with international legal standards, the
word “children” in this guide refers to all persons under Eighteen years of age.

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How to explain the current state of lawlessness in conflicts waged around the world? Graça
Machel provides an astute explanation of our modern situation and the new challenges it
presents in the U.N.Report, Impact of Armed Conflict on Children. She characterized modern
warfare in postcolonial states as involving the “abandonment of all standards” and having a
special “sense of dislocation and chaos.” The culmination of post-colonial struggles, internal
dissent, structural monetary adjustments, uneven development, the collapse of government, the
personalization of power and the erosion of essential services all contribute to the breakdown in
the rules of warfare. As a result, the abandonment of standards has brought about human rights
violations against women and children, including the recruitment of children into armed forces
as soldiers or terrorists.

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B. Analysis of the problem
“Terrorists are not freedom fighters, as some claim; they are brainwashed killers, oppressors,
and murderers, the hidden hands of tyrannical and despotic regimes who want to keep their
people in bondage. They reject progress, human rights, and equality under the law. Like pirates,
they live off the destruction of others but cleverly disguise their cause around honorable
religious slogans...The true freedom fighters are the women and men who speak for peace,
progress, democracy and freedom, even if their lives are threatened.”
- Nonie Darwish, in “Raised for Jihad: A Shahid’s
Daughter Speaks Out”
Terrorism is the deliberate creation and exploitation of fear with the aim of attaining political
change. It is thus undeniably a form of psychological warfare. Today, around 300,000 children
under the age of eighteen are involved in some form of warfare worldwide. These young
children fight in 75% of the world’s conflicts. The military use of children takes three distinct
forms: children can take direct part in hostilities as combatants, or they can be used in support
roles such as porters, spies, messengers, look outs, and sexual slaves; or they can be used for
political advantage either as human shields or in propaganda Indeed, it would seem that children
are deliberately conscripted by modern militia as part of their strategy, especially for political
attention:
“War today just simply does not match the traditional conception of two opposed armies…in
which each side generally abides by the ‘rules of the game,’ respecting the basic inviolability of
civilian non-combatants and the special protection due to the young.”
- Graça Machel

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Children involved in terrorist activities can be found worldwide today. In Burma, it is not
uncommon for children as young as eleven-years-old to be forcibly recruited off the streets to
serve in armed ethnic opposition groups. In Sudan, the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Janjaweed
militias and the Sudan Liberation Army factions all use thousands of child soldiers to partake in
terrorizing the civilians. Sadly, the list of countries in which child terrorists can be found extends
tirelessly: it includes the Democratic Republic of Congo, India, the Philippines, Cote d’Ivoire,
Burundi, Somalia, Thailand, Chad, Uganda, and many others. The following case studies will
examine the situation in four countries with the most serious cases of child involvement in
terrorism. Not only will the current situations be detailed in their severity and scope, but also for
those children who are not in fact coerced, it is also necessary to explore their reasons for
volunteering to be terrorists.

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Columbia-
Since La Violencia in 1948, Colombia’s political scene has been fraught with South America’s
most enduring armed conflict. Between government forces, right-wing paramilitaries and left-
wing guerrilla insurgents, violence and anarchy escalated in the 1990s, fuelled by the cocaine
trade. While violence has decreased significantly since 2002, the well-established Marxist-
Leninist guerrilla group FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia), the ELN
(Ejército de Liberación Nacional) and the paramilitary federation AUC (Autodefensas Unidas de
Colombia) are still declared as terrorist groups by the Colombian Government, the European
Union for their ongoing terrorist activities and the United States Department of State Notorious
for their prolonged kidnappings, extortion, drug-trafficking and arbitrary assassinations, the
aforementioned terrorist groups are also known for their indiscriminately-ruthless attacks. Be it
Colombian politicians or ordinary civilians, any and all are considered legitimate targets. In
accordance with such modus operandi, both FARC and ELN continually fill their ranks with
“dispensable” child forces. In fact, at least one in four of their ranks are children, who are forced
perpetrators of car-bombings and mass murders, etc.

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Afghanistan and Pakistan-
Mired in bloody conflict for the last 30 years, Afghanistan has been involved in wars that have
ravaged the country and taken a severe toll on its citizens. As a result, those with financial
means flee, and those who remain do their best to survive amid the violence and downward
economic spiral. Families are destroyed and children are robbed of their innocence. For the
millions of Afghan refugees fleeing into neighboring Pakistan, losses incurred are material,
social, and emotional. Since the events of 11 September, 2001, Pakistan has been a center of
terrorist activity, including the bombing of the US Consulate and the kidnap and murder of
American journalist Daniel Pearl. The volatile political climate has become even more unstable
due to the latest influx of Afghan refugees. Since the fall of the Taliban, hundreds of thousands
of refugees, over half of them children, have flooded into Pakistan. They roam the streets,
picking through rubbish and hustling odd jobs at the markets, ostracized socially by local
Pakistanis. Scarred by the violence that has woven their childhood, the young Afghan boys
found in Pakistani refugee camps are more familiar with Kalishnikovs and APC guns than they
are with their alphabet. Fear of bombs and death continues to haunt them as they struggle to
make ends meet. Treated as adults, these young Afghan children are burdened with the
responsibility of feeding the members remaining in their family, and so they must scavenge for
food, work long and arduous hours or take up dangerous jobs for money. As a result, many

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Afghan refugee children find the Islamic religious schools, or madrassas, appealing. The
madrassas not only feed and care for the students, but free the children from the burden to work
and teach them the Qur’an. Unfortunately, many of the madrassas focus on rote memorization
and do not encourage critical thinking. Some even teach their students to develop a disdain for
Western life and ideals, and develop extremist ideology within the four walls of these schools.
Pakistan has between 10,000 and 40,000 madrassas, a few of which are said to provide military
training. Pakistan is thus a paradigm example of where a society of immense poverty, lack of
education, and a high unemployment rate creates the potential for terrorism.
“God willing we will strike. We will strike so that America would repent for Afghanistan. Real
Muslim’s hearts would be glad. And American veins would be cut.”
- Khal Mohammad, 10 years old
Palestine-
“Any attack on civilians is prohibited by international law, but using children for suicide attacks
is particularly egregious. Palestinian armed groups must clearly and publicly condemn all use
of children…for military activities, and make sure these policies are carried out.”
- Jo Becker, children’s rights advocacy director at Human Rights Watch
The situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is the gravest example of its kind. Aside
from the recruitment of underage boys and girls to participate in “regular” terrorist activities
such as those listed above, the Palestinian case is particularly astounding for its recent history of
child suicide bombers, all aimed at Israel and Israelis, with the aim of establishing a Palestinian
state. Why is this the case? The prominent Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi explains that
“The people who do it… are driven to desperation and anger by the Israeli activities.” Indeed,

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the constant struggle between the Palestinians and Israel for the last 60 years forms the
background of the issue at hand. The Palestinian refugee crisis was created in the wake of 1948
Israeli War of Independence, otherwise known as Al-Nakba (the catastrophe) in the Arab
historical narrative. Apart from the physical destruction of over 530 Palestinian villages that
resulted, the psychological trauma of sustained homelessness is profound within the Palestinian
psyche. Throughout the years immediately after Al-Nakba, Palestinians reportedly suffered from
fear, anxiety, panic, insecurity about their immediate future, and uncertainty about the
whereabouts of relatives and loved ones. Indeed, such dire conditions contributed to the national
desperation which was manifested in a high frequency (almost 80%) of PTSD, and a highly
vulnerable mental state emerged. Furthermore, according to Eyad Sarraj, a psychiatrist and
founder of the Palestinian Independent Commission for Citizen Rights, “Since the establishment
of Israel in 1948 and the resultant uprooting of Palestinians, a deep seated feeling of shame has
taken root in the Arab psyche. Shame is the most painful emotion in the Arab culture, producing
the feeling that one is unworthy to live.” Stemming from this desperate existence is the “cult of
martyrdom” that has developed more and more prominently in the occupied Palestinian
territories (OPT).
Although this “cult” does have a strong underpinning in the Arab tradition of honoring martyrs,
the popular support for suicide bombing appears to have developed principally over the last
decade, as the first act of suicide terrorism occurred in Israel only twelve years ago. As Ashrawi
insists, “Our culture is not a suicidal culture; historically, the incidence of suicide among
Palestinians has been very low.” While support for suicide terrorism fluctuates constantly, since
November 2000 Palestinian public opinion has increasingly supported suicide bombing, shifting
alarmingly towards radical Islamic organizations. In early 1996, only 20% of Palestinians
Supported the practice, but today about 70% do. From a very young age, children are socialized
into a group consciousness that honors “martyrs,” including human bombers who have given
their lives for the fight against what is perceived by Palestinians to be the unjust Occupiers of
their lands. Young children are told stories of “martyrs” and many wear necklaces venerating
particular ones. Especially in the more militant refugee camps of Nablus and Jenin, posters of
martyrs and their deeds cover the walls of the town and camps, and television programs and
music videos extol the virtues of bombers. An alarming number of children even aspire to be
terrorists, as many reports and stories affirm. Recruiters from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade pick out
candidates from schools or mosques, particularly those stating admiration for martyrs. In 2002,
16-year-old Ayat al-Akhras volunteered as a terrorist for Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade. Ayat’s “self-

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discipline, hatred of Israel and fierce Palestinian nationalism made her a natural candidate,”
needing little psychological preparation. Soon after, she strapped a set of explosives to her waist
and detonated them, killing herself and two Israeli civilians. Although originally devastated by
their daughter’s suicide attack, Ayat’s family reticence shifted to pride. Ayat became an icon in
Bethlehem and at Al-Quds University, was the muse for a poem in London-based Arabic
Newspaper al-Hayat, was a Newsweek magazine cover story and was featured in the New York
Times and on CBS TV’s 60 Minutes II (Bomber Next Door, 2003), making her the most
discussed female suicide bomber of the time. Although there is no evidence of systematic
recruitment of children by armed Palestinian groups, who all publicly oppose the use of children
in combat, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (all considered terrorist
organizations by the European Union, United Kingdom, the United States And Canada)
nevertheless provide children with military training and use them either as messengers and
couriers or fighters and suicide bombers to attack Israeli soldiers and civilians. According to the
“2004 Global Report on the Use of Child Soldiers” by the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child
Soldiers, at least nine children were documented as having perpetrated suicide attacks between
October 2000 and March 2004. A major cause for concern is that although militant Palestinian
groups oppose the use of children in combat, there is no system for enforcement of such ideals.
The confusion regarding government authority in Gaza extends to this as well.

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C. Proposed Solutions
The aim to eradicate all involvement of children in terrorism begins with a unilateral declaration
by all member states condemning this abhorrent practice. International law prohibits the
recruitment of children for warfare, but the specific indictment of non-state terrorist
organizations for their recruitment of children is currently fragmented and insufficient. Thus, a
unified front is necessary if the roots of the global problem are to be addressed.
Intercept Flow of arms and Financial Funds
In regards to technical reasons behind the large numbers of child terrorists, UNPBC believes that
the proliferation and widespread availability of small, lightweight arms is one of the primary
factors behind the disturbing increase in the number of child terrorists.
Easy to carry, use and maintain, these weapons can be used by children without much prior
training, and allow a child to become a direct combatant. The culture of violence is a grim one;
as one writer puts it, “When… ten- to fourteen-year-old children armed with automatic rifles
that can fire 600 700 rounds per minute is set loose on the civilian population, the results can be
devastating.” This committee thus should urge its member states to cooperate in minimizing the
manufacturing and proliferation of such weapons. States neighboring volatile areas must develop
strategies to tightly monitor their borders for illegal shipments and drug trafficking, both which
often make up a large percentage of the funds supporting terrorist organizations. It is the
responsibility of each delegate in committee to understand the intricacies that are involved in
implementing this solution. The problems and ways of implementation must be discussed and
thoroughly debated.
Legal consequences for adult Perpetrators
Since children, even aspiring suicide bombers, cannot successfully commit terrorism without the
inspiration, guidance and training offered by adult members of terrorist organizations, the
international community must focus its efforts on identifying the adult perpetrators and bringing
them to justice. Whether before international or domestic courts, the adult members of terrorist
organizations must be prosecuted properly and held accountable for robbing countless children
of their lives and futures. Aside from international efforts, domestic efforts must not be

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underestimated. One of the most effective measures towards addressing the situation of child
militants is the cooperation and collaboration of regional bodies. These outcome documents are
often more targeted more specifically to the unique circumstances of a region, more focused and
easier to enforce, and more readily accepted and implemented by the nations of the regional
conference.
Dismantling “Fertile Soil”
The layers of obstacles this committee faces lie in addressing the conditions which allow for and
create vulnerable candidates. These include poverty, rampant violence, and lack of education,
frequent humiliation and abuse, all of which inspire despair, low self-esteem and “cracks” in
children’s psychology. The international community also needs to tackle the atmosphere that not
only accepts but supports the recruitment of children into terrorist organizations. Too often, the
children who become terrorist recruits are sent by their parents, either out of desperation or
ironically, pride and hope for glory. Thus parents must be properly educated of the consequences
their children suffer and held responsible for their fate; pro-terrorist media must be outlawed,
and funds for both indoctrination and training must be sought out and cut off. This committee
has the resources to provide vulnerable communities with alternate measures to protect their
children. Aside from educating parents about the illusion of “terrorist glory,” cooperation with
local humanitarian groups and NGO’s to collect information will help to tightly monitor and
look out for unstable families. To date, the dearth of information regarding the names, ages, and
exact numbers of children being recruited into terrorist organizations makes it very hard for
international organizations to track these children and also prosecute adult perpetrators. Thus
information centers are part of the solution which will greatly benefit the children in question;
not only will they provide a safe location where civilians can go to for help without fear of being
reported to terrorist organizations, but the U.N will also gain a better understanding of the
recruitment strategies of the various terrorist groups and develop counterstrategies.
Education for Peace
Before being recruited, the lack of education often makes a child the perfect “blank slate” on
which terrorists can carve their own agendas. Thus early training of children in the
indoctrination process is developmentally dangerous because it can become too absolute, fixed,
and irreversible. For this reason, it is crucial that sovereign states educate their children so as to

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help them develop critical thinking, consider consequences, and form individual judgments –
tools with which to recognize terrorism as an undesirable future. As for those who have already
been recruited and after the war must learn how to live, think, and feel again, education has the
unique ability to dissolve the false images of hatred fed to children by their adult leaders. These
perceptions are often reinforced by education from early childhood and by political
brainwashing, whereby the demonization of the other allows the attribution of hateful and
threatening qualities to a group of people whom we perceive as alien or different. As child
psychiatrist Dr. Flashman says, “Nothing gives children more hope than the understanding that
children of the enemy side are very much like themselves – also growing up in times of pain,
solitude, and silence. Children need to hope that on the other side there are children like
themselves, who wish to live in a quiet and just way, protected and safe.”
Psychologically
Given the damage to a child’s psyche that involvement and growth amidst the horrors of
terrorism can create, successful DDR must include expert treatment and sufficient attention for
children with PTSD. Post-traumatic stress disorder is particularly difficult to understand for
many communities, however it is important to understand that it occurs in over 40% of children
simply exposed to a threatening event or disorder. It has been found to be present more than
fifteen years after a terrorist event. These numbers are shocking on their own, but they do not
speak to the devastating consequences of actually participating in such events. The demonization
of the other perpetuates trauma and violence between individuals and collective societies.
Children are particularly vulnerable to this projection onto an enemy, but the negative
consequences of this process can be reverse. Simple, effective tools to do this can restore healthy
functioning on various levels, including physical, emotional, and spiritual.
The role of children
The role of children in solving the problem that they were once part of is a delicate one. Often,
the trauma sustained renders it impossible and psychologically dangerous for children to revisit
their memories. Nevertheless, the international community needs to provide an outlet for those
children who wish to speak out against their oppressors. Indeed, whether their stories are told at
national forums or international summits, only the voices of children can help us truly
understand the extent of this humanitarian crisis and be better equipped to stop it. Some of the

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most powerful figures in children’s rights today were themselves child soldiers or terrorists –
Ishmael Beah and Graca Machel are only two examples of individuals whose resilience has
inspired and lead the healing process for many others who have suffered the same injustice. The
stakes that rest on the success of the international community are high. If yet another generation
of children in Colombia, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Israel, Palestine and elsewhere are exposed to
current levels of political violence, the violations of children’s rights will not only damage these
children’s prospects for a future life, but a generation of children who grow up to be adults who
do not know how to resolve conflict in a non-violent manner will only perpetuate the cycle of
violence throughout the world.

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D. Past Actions
International Measures, Forums, and Standards
1924 and 1959 - Declaration of the Rights of the Child
1948 - Universal Declaration of Human Rights
1949 - The four Geneva Conventions
1973 - International Labor Organization (ILO) Minimum Age Convention (138)
1977 - Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions
1979 - International Year of the Child
1985 - United Nations Standards Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice
(“The Beijing Rules”)
1989 - Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
1990 - World Summit for Children
1995-1996 - Mid-decade review
1996 - United Nations report: “Impact of Armed Conflict on Children” by Graça Machel
1997 - The Cape Town Principles and Best Practices: on the Prevention of Recruitment of
Children into the Armed Forces and on Demobilization and Social Reintegration of Child
Soldiers in Africa
1997-present - Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Children and
Armed Conflict (OSRSG/CAAC)
1999 - ILO Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (182)
2000 - Optional Protocols (OP) to the CRC
2000 - United Nations Millennium Summit and
Declaration
2000 - International Conference on War-Affected Children
2001 - “We the Children: Meeting the Promises of the World Summit for Children”
2002-present - Red Hand Day
2002 - United Nations Special Session on Children
2005 - World Summit
2007 - “Free Children from War” Conference, the Paris Commitments and Principles
14 Specialized Agencies 15Harvard Model United Nations India 2012
Harvard Model United Nations India 2012A14
Regional Instruments and Initiatives

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1990 - Organization of African States, African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child
1994 - League of Arab States, Arab Charter on Human Rights
2001 - Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Declaration on the Commitments for
Children in ASEAN
2002 - Organization of American States, Resolution 1904
2003 and 2006 - European Union (EU), “Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict” and
Implementation Strategy for the Guidelines
2007: United Nations, Paris Commitments on Children Associated with Armed Forces or Armed
Groups
2009: United Nations and Nepal, Action Plan for Discharge of Minors Disqualified from the
Maoist Army
2010: Central African Countries, N’Djamena Declaration
2011: United Nations Security Council, Resolution 2002 Targets Recruiters of Child Soldiers.
As the above timeline illustrates, numerous international laws have been passed in an attempt to
protect children fighting in conflict zones around the world. Certain documents in particular,
such as the updated Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Impact of Armed Conflict on
Children written by Graça Machel, the 1997 Cape Town Principles, etc. mark crucial milestones
in establishing acceptable international standards for child recruitment and military training.
While focused attention and discussion on the more extreme case of child terrorists is lacking in
the history of international law, the literature on child soldiers (of which child terrorists are a
significant portion) is far from meager. Thus the question remains, given all the international
laws and protocols created to protect children from becoming child soldiers and child terrorists:
why has the practice not only continued but become more severe in certain parts of the world?
Eligibility and the scope of international law is perhaps the first barrier. The structure of the
current international system is such that war crimes committed by non-state actors are difficult
to prosecute.

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E. Bloc Positions
CEE/CIS region
As the region with the most severe cases of institutionalization and children’s rights violations,
CEE/CIS countries are under international pressure to overhaul the remnant practices of defect
ology which continue to stigmatize, isolate and imprison millions of children with disabilities.
Many promising initiatives for the disabled have taken root in CEE and CIS countries which, if
implemented, could considerably improve the quality of life of children with disabilities.
Examples of positive actions include: laws in Hungary which require all public and private
institutions to be accessible with lifts and ramps; integrated education implemented in 120
primary schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina; the innovation of family therapy centres in
Kazakhstan; improved neonatal services in Poland; establishment of a resource centre for child
psychosocial and cognitive development in Georgia with the help of UNICEF; para-Olympic
committees and international charities and businesses in Turkmenistan; de-institutionalization
strategies formed by the Ministry of Social Security, local NGOs and UNICEF in Armenia.
While still at the beginning stage, these initiatives seem to represent a desire to help children
with disabilities feel like an equal member of society, and a willingness to cooperate with
international bodies in protecting these children’s human rights.
Asia: china, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Indonesia
As the region with the greatest prevalence of children with disabilities being exploited as
beggars, prostitutes or child laborers in homes and in factories, Asia can no longer turn a blind
eye to the plight of over 2 million children within their borders. While these countries are all
developed countries, the “black market” for these practices is still alive and well, and it is up to
the local governments to act upon their voiced commitment to the protection of their children’s
rights.
Developed countries: North America and Western Europe
As made evident from the list of regional acts and treaties in the above section “Relevant UN
Actions,” developed countries may not have the problem of institutionalization or exploitation of

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disabled children but still continue to address social discrimination and the rights of persons with
disabilities especially in education and in the work force. These countries have a responsibility
to lead the disability movement on an international scale. Indeed, the modern disability
movement in the United States back to the “Rolling Quads,” a small group of wheelchair users
in California in the late 1960s who insisted on being allowed to attend university and live on
campus. As we can see, access to buildings, transportation, public spaces, information and
communication are critical first steps to the participation and inclusion persons with disabilities
having established these basic facilities, countries such as the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Australia
have both the resources and the experience to improve the plight of children with disabilities
worldwide.

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F. Thinker’s (Question A Resolution Must Answer)
1. What are the conditions and variables contributing to the recruitment of children into
terrorist organizations? What can the international community to do decrease and prevent
these underlying factors?
United Nations Children’s Fund
2. How do the issues of lightweight arms, drug trafficking, sexual exploitation contribute to
the greater issue at hand? As with preventative measures, what can be done to combat
these components of the topic?
3. How can children be successfully reintegrated into their communities and empowered for
the future?
4. Do neighboring countries of states that harbor child-exploiting terrorist organizations
have a special responsibility to help their child populations? If so, what kind of
responsibilities do these include?
5. What can and should both national and international governments implement in order to
better educate global citizens about this issue? In particular, how should UNPBC help
address the issue of media misconceptions and range of this information as well?
6. How can the international community better keep track of the number of child recruits
and their plight?
7. What alternatives can UNPBC and the international community provide for the children
who feel compelled to volunteer for terrorist activities or organizations?
8. In addition to revising and updating international initiatives, how can Member States
increase community and family responsibility on a local level as well?

- 24 -
G. Recommended Readings
Given the complexity of the background and current situation of the involvement of children in
armed conflict, this study guide should serve only as your launching point in your research. In
order to participate fully at conference, it is crucial that you develop a full understanding of the
issue at hand by examining all aspects of the motivating factors and challenges that face the
respective societies. Do note, however, that since the nature of this topic engenders many
extremist viewpoints on both sides of the issue, be cautious in defining the scope of your
resources. Many resources you come across may have a tendency to present their case in a
biased manner. Thus while conducting your research, be critical of your sources and wary of
sensationalist phrases and headlines that seem prejudiced or imbalanced. There are several
effective ways to check the credibility of sources; you can either examine the variety and nature
of the sources it cites, or check for reviews to see what other authors or organizations have to
say about the source. Given the evolving and volatile nature of the terrorist organizations and
activities, Internet resources are most helpful for staying up-to-date on the most recent
developments. Particularly balanced and helpful websites include Human Rights Watch, the
Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, BBC and its Special Report pages. Interviews are
also incredibly insightful; many of the case studies in this research guide are excerpts from
interviews conducted by various scholars, humanitarian workers and even doctors who provide
expert analysis on the psychology of both the individual and community in societies harboring
terrorist activity. To obtain a thorough foundation on the history of children in armed conflict,
both web and print resources can be useful. An excellent and comprehensive overview of the
problem of child soldiers and terrorists is provided by P.W. Singer’s Children at War, which
describes in detail all elements of the issue and provides positive suggestions towards the end.
Singer is a Senior Fellow of the Brookings Institution, and has served as an advisor on the child
soldiers issue to the U.S. Marine Corps and the CIA. Another thoughtful report is written by
expert (and ex-child-soldier) Graça Machel; first published in 1996 and updated in 2001, “The
Impact of Armed Conflict on Children” is ground-breaking and has greatly influenced much of
the following literature on child terrorists. This report was commissioned by the UN Secretary-
General, and although only one section focuses specifically on child soldiers and terrorists, it
provides a valuable commentary on how international authorities should address the dual
responsibility and vulnerability of the child identity, and how children’s rights should be applied
to situations of armed conflict. For a more personal portrait, Ishmael Beah’s A Long Way Gone:
Memoirs of a Boy Soldier compellingly describes his experience as a child insurgent in Sierra

- 25 -
Leone before he fled to the United States where he is now a world-renowned children’s rights
advocate and an advisory member of the Human Rights Watch Children’s Rights Division
Advisory Committee. The above selection are merely a few of resources that can give you a
historical, legal, scholarly, and personal understanding of the internal challenges of the issue.
For a more in-depth look into ethnic conflict and the psychology of suicide terrorism, delve into
literature written by experts including William D. Hartung, Jeffrey Victoroff and Vamik Volkan;
a detail list of their relevant work can be found in the bibliography below. Finally, United
Nations sources may prove extremely helpful in understanding what role the U.N. has played in
trying to halt the practice of recruiting children into terrorist organizations worldwide.
Resolutions from the U.N. Security Council, mentioned in the Past Actions section, will provide
valuable insight on past U.N. actions for the committee. The UN Documents website
(http://documents.un.org) provides free online access to many resolutions and other documents
published by the U.N.

- 26 -
Bibliography
 Beah, Ishmael. A long Way Gone: memoirs of a Boy Soldier. 1st Ed. New York: Farrar,
Straus and Giroux, 2007.
 Berko, Anat. The Path to Paradise: The Inner World of Suicide Bombers and their
dispatchers. Westport, Conn.: Praeger Security International, 2007.
 Bloom, Mia. Dying to Kill: The allure of Suicide terror. New York: Columbia University
Press, 2005.
 Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers. “DDR.”10 July 2007 <http://www.child-
soldiers.org/childsoldiers/ddr>.
 Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers. “Extract From: Child Soldier Use 2003: a
Briefing for the 4th
UN Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict.”
London: International Secretariat.2003 <http://www.child-
soldiers.org/document_get.php?id=702>.
 Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers. “International Standards.” 10 July 2007
<http://www.child-soldiers.org/childsoldiers/international-standards>.
 Cohen, Jared. Children of Jihad: a Young American’s travels among the Youth of the
middle east. New York: Gotham Books, 2007.
 Costigan, Sean S., and David Gold. Terrornomics. Aldershot, England; Burlington, VT:
Ashgate, 2007.
 Lemish, Dafna, and Maya Gotz, eds. children and media in times of War and conflict.
Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press, Inc., 2007.
 Machel, Graça. “Children in War.” Journal of the Society for International development
1.42 (1996).
 Mount, Mike. “Khalid Sheikh Mohammed: I Beheaded American Reporter.” CNN news
15 March 2007.
<http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/15/guantanamo.mohammed/index.html> (July 2008)
 Obaid Sharmeen terror’s children. Prod. Obaid, Sharmeen, Jay Keuper, and Mo Naqvi.
DVD. Discovery Times Channel, 2003.
 Singer, P. W. children at War. New York: Pantheon Books, 2005
 Somasundaram, D. “The Tragedy of War.” World psychiatry: official Journal of the
World Psychiatric association (WPA) 5.1 (2006): 36-8.
 United Nations. “Convention (IV) relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time
of War.” Geneva. 12 August 1949.
<http://www.icrc.org/ihl.nsf/FULL/380?OpenDocument>.

- 27 -
 United Nations General Assembly. Resolution 1386(XIV). “Declaration of the Rights of
the Child.” 20 November 1959 <http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/25.htm>.
 United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). CLOSED
- Occupied Palestinian Territories: Consolidated Appeal Process 2007. Dir. Issa, Rima,
and Eran Torbiner. Prod. Afadila Mamdouh.
 Werner, Emmy E. reluctant Witnesses: children’s voices from the civil War. Boulder,
Colo.: Westview Press, 1998.

- 28 -
Topic B – Peacebuilding in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Introduction to the Topic
The turbulent history of the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to challenge the
country, the United Nations and the international community. Often the focus has been solely on
the military situation.
The cycle of conflict and violence warrants a new approach: it is necessary for the United
Nations to take a concerted look at peacebuilding activities in the DRC. The issues facing the
country are rooted in history and have plagued the nation since it’s foundation. The United
Nations must bring together all the stakeholders in order to end the cyclical conflict.
The United Nations has been heavily involved in the conflict, primarily through peacekeeping. It
must capitalise on the current relative stability and seek to create a sustainable peace in the
DRC.

- 29 -
A. Statement, analysis of the problem and past action
Statement of the problem
Since 1996 there has been continuing conflict in the DRC, particularly in the East. The scale of
this conflict has ranged from sporadic rebel attacks to a war involving nine countries that was
seen as one of the worst since World War II. Large swathes of the country were occupied by
foreign powers, the government had little control and millions died - the DRC came to be seen
as a failed state. The situation has improved: the government has regained control some and
fighting is less regular and less intense.
The DRC’s history has been one of violence and exploitation, with the ultimate victims being
the ordinary citizens. The origins of the conflict are many multi-faceted - they include the
natural resources of the country, its colonial history and struggle with subsequent dictatorship.
The origins do not lie neatly within geographic borders - many of the issues stem from situations
in neighbouring countries, particularly Rwanda, and from other external phenomena such as the
cold-war.
Support of a more militaristic nature has been more forthcoming, as evidenced by the large
peacekeeping force in the country. However peacebuilding efforts have been less successful.
The root causes of the conflict must be tackled and a partnership approach to creating a lasting
peace must be developed.

- 30 -
Analysis of the problem
It is necessary to chart some of the historical developments of the DRC in order to understand
the conflict and it’s cyclical nature. Delegates need to be familiar with the root causes of the
conflict, the national, regional and international factors at play and the impediments that exist to
the creation of a lasting peace.
Colonialism:
The territory of the Congo became a personal possession of King Leopold II of Belgium in the
late part of the 19th century. Natural resources were heavily exploited, slave-labour was
widespread and millions of people died due to the harsh treatment. After these practices were
exposed there was international outcry and the region became a Belgian colony in 1908, under
the control of the Belgian government rather than the monarch.
The policies of the Belgian government were not as draconian as those of the King. However,
the key motive of exploiting resources for profit remained. Slave labour continued in many
respects, though not in such a manner as to incite international outrage, as was previously the
case. Improvements and investment in the country itself was never a priority and the quality of
life of the Congolese people improved little and slowly.
Independence:
The Congo gained independence from Belgium in 1960. In comparison with other nations that
became independent at this time, the Congo was ill prepared. The Congolese who took over had
no experience of governance.
Patrice Lumumba became Prime Minister in the first democratic elections. His call for economic
independence from Europe and overtures to the USSR, alarmed Western powers. Removed from
power by political rivals only a few months into his premiership, Lumumba was eventually
assassinated by forces linked to Belgium and the US.
Lumumba’s death only worsened the political crisis in the Congo, with instability and weak
government persisting for the next five years.

- 31 -
Dictatorship:
In 1965, General Mobutu, who had been heavily linked to the assassination of Lumumba, seized
power in a coup d'etat. An ally of the United States in the Cold War, Mobutu was to hold power
for over thirty years.
Mobutu renamed the country the Republic of Zaire. He consolidated power through nepotism
and the execution of opponents. Mobutu’s Congo was a classic kleptocracy and over his time in
power he amassed a fortune of over $4 billion.
With the end of the Cold War, Mobutu became a less important ally for Western powers. He
promised democratic reforms but little materialised. As the economic situation deteriorated,
unrest fermented - particularly when the military went unpaid. He was overthrown in 1997
following a Rwandan led invasion.
Road to war:
Much of the recent conflict in the DRC has been linked to Rwanda and the Rwandan genocide.
Though just one factor, it is an important one.
The Rwandan genocide of 1994 saw large numbers of refugees fleeing to the Kivus provinces of
eastern DRC. Initially it was Tutsis that fled to the DRC. However, following the overthrow of
the Hutu regime in Rwanda, many of the génocidaires themselves fled to the DRC. These Hutus
began to attack Congolese Tutsis and Mobutu’s government did little to intervene. Fighting
broke out in the eastern provinces between Tutsi militias backed by Rwanda and Uganda, and
Hutu militias backed by Mobutu.
The militia backed by Rwanda and Uganda ousted Mobutu and installed Laurent Kabila as
President. It wasn’t long before Kabila’s backers turned against him and Rwanda, Uganda and
Burundi backed militias and sent troops in an effort to oust him. Kabila succeeded in getting
support from a number of African nations including Zimbabwe, Namibia, Angola, Chad and
Sudan. The conflict quickly escalated and became known by many as Africa’s World War - the
death toll reached millions. Kabila remained in power but had little control over the East of the
country.

- 32 -
Path to Peace:
Efforts were made to secure a peace deal and a UN force for the country was approved.
However, Kabila was proving an obstacle to peace. He was assassinated in 2001 and replaced by
his son Joseph Kabila.
The younger Kabila was more amenable to peace and in 2002 a peace agreement was signed in
Sun City, South Africa. Most foreign troops left the country and Joseph Kabila remained as
president but militia violence continued in the East.
Transitional institutions were set up which involved representatives of different groups. A new
constitution was approved and elections were held in 2006. Despite violence, the elections were
deemed to be relatively free. Joseph Kabila was elected President.
Continued Unrest:
The DRC joined forces with neighbours in an effort to root out rebel groups in the east of the
country. Operation Lightning Thunder was launched in 2008 by the DRC, South Sudan and
Uganda in an effort to destroy the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). The operation failed and
there were numerous reprisals against Congolese civilians.
Further operations against the Hutu rebel group,
FDLR, though more successful, failed to
eliminate the group.
Kabila was re-elected in 2011, though these
elections were labelled as “seriously flawed” by
the United States.
There was a serious rebellion by M23, a group
of rebels that had been incorporated into the Congolese army, in 2012. They succeeded in
capturing the city of Goma but the rebellion ended in 2013.

- 33 -
Many obstacles remain to a lasting peace in the DRC. The government’s inability to establish
lasting control in the east of the country being one of the primary obstacles. The legacy of war
continues to haunt the country; there are an estimated 2.6 million internally displaced people and
almost 500,000 refugees who have fled the country. Democracy does not have a firm root in the
DRC and there are fears about what the next elections may bring.
Economy
The DRC is one of the most mineral rich countries on earth yet the potential of this wealth has
never been realised for its inhabitants. The country’s wealth was not invested in the country but
taken by the colonial powers and later Mobutu.
Transparency around the issuing of contracts for mineral extraction has been a concern for many
years. Indeed, IMF support was suspended because of it. China has been involved in large
mineral for infrastructure deals with the government. For the most part however, complex issues
around the control of mineral sites has discouraged foreign investment. There has been
economic growth in past years and this must be capitalised on; infrastructure must be improved
economic returns must be invested in public programmes and peace building and not used to
enrich individuals. Worryingly, the DRC remains one of the worst ranked countries on the
Corruption Perception Index.
Peacebuilding Efforts
There have been very generous donors towards peacebuilding efforts in the DRC and many
projects undertaken. However, a lack of harmony between different projects and a lack of
understanding about the history of the country and the causes of the conflict, have blunted the
effectiveness of peacebuilding attempts.
The lack of government authority in the East of the country has severely hampered
peacebuilding efforts. Promises of institution building have never materialised. A lack of
services and sporadic pay for government employees has diminished trust in the central
government.

- 34 -
In a country recovering from major conflict and with millions of displaced people, a
sophisticated and competent justice system is essential. However, this is not the case.
Perpetrators of war crimes and gross violations of human rights have been able to act with
impunity. A lack of clear, enforced laws surrounding land and property rights has been a source
of tension and conflict in communities. This issue is sure to get worse as displaced people
attempt to return to their former homes.
Rape and sexual violence was used as a weapon during conflict in the DRC. It continues to be
perpetrated by militias in the east. However, there is a high rate of sexual violence throughout
the country and government soldiers have been implicated in numerous cases. There is little
justice for victims as convictions are rare.
Demobilization of armed groups and and reintegration into society has met with limited success.
Demobilized groups were integrated into government forces. Many armed groups treated
individuals who wished to demobilize as deserters with terrible consequences. Further progress
in this area must ensure protection for former combatants and their families and adequately
incentivise individuals to give up weapons.

- 35 -
Past action
The United Nations was involved in the DRC during the 1960s and again since the 1990s.
Initially limited to an observer mission, the DRC now has the largest number of peacekeepers of
any UN mission, including an intervention brigade which is considered the first offensive UN
force. The United Nations has also been involved in humanitarian and peacebuilding works in
the country.
The United Nations Operation in the
Congo (ONUC) took place between 1960
and 1964. It was initially set up under
UNSC 143. The key mandate of the
mission was to secure the withdrawal of
Belgian troops from the country and assist
the government in maintaining stability. It
was largely successful in its goals.
The mission was the most ambitious
undertaken by the UN to date, in terms of
manpower, area to be covered and
challenges. The mission also had to deal with the attempted secession of the mineral-rich
province of Katanga. Once Katanga was secured as part of the national territory and Belgian
troops and withdrawn, the mission was scaled down and ultimately ended in 1964.
The United Nations once again became embroiled in the Congo in the 1990s. The UN Mission
on the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) began in 1999 to monitor the Lukasha
ceasefire between the DRC, Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Uganda. Before long the
missions mandate expanded to enforcing the ceasefire. The mission helped organise the 2006
elections and was involved in a number of peacebuilding activities.
In 2010’s UNSC Resolution 1925 the mission was renamed United Nations Organization
Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). In 2013, by
Resolution 2098, the Security Council authorised the establishment of an “intervention brigade”

- 36 -
in the DRC. This force is a new departure for the UN and is permitted to carry out targeted
offensives. Although this force has helped with the security situation, it is not a sustainable
solution to issues in the country. In 2014, the Security Council extended the mandate of
MONUSCO, including the intervention brigade, until March 2015.
The United Nations Peacebuilding Fund has been involved in projects in the DRC. Between
2009 and 2012 the fund worked quite well and was involved in four key areas: protection of
civilians; demobilization and reintegration of combatants; strengthening of state authority; and
local reconciliation. However, the M23 rebellion led to a suspension of many projects what
shows the fragility of peacebuilding in the DRC. Many of the major UN agencies are involved in
the DRC including: Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Office of High
Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Development Programme, UN Population Fund, UN
Refugee Agency, UN Children's Fund, World Food Programme, World Health Organization.

- 37 -
B. Proposed Solutions
The situation in the DRC is multi-layered and is the result of decades of conflict and abuse - as
such there is no simple solution.
Strengthen government & institutions
A strong central government is essential to peacebuilding in the DRC. The country is vast -
around the size of Western Europe - and in some areas there is little or no government control.
Government control is vital for many reasons. Militias in the east of the country cannot be
eradicated until there is a strong and consistent government presence in the region. The lack of
control allows terrorist groups to operate from the DRC into neighbouring countries.
The lack of government control also inhibits the ability to deliver vital services. With an
estimated one million people in the DRC living with AIDS, such services are vital.
Weak government also hinders economic growth. Some of the most mineral rich areas of the
country are those where the government has a weak presence. If the DRC is to strengthen its
economy to the benefit of its citizens it needs to be in control of these regions. Corruption must
also be tackled if foreign investment is to be tackled.
The strengthening of the government must also be balanced against the need to maintain
democracy in the country. Kabila is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term as
president, though some fear he may attempt the amend the constitution. The next elections will
be a serious test of the fragile peace in the country.
The lack of a functioning judiciary is also a barrier to lasting peace. There is little of no justice
for victims of rape and war crimes. Furthermore, disputes over land and property are causing
serious disputes, often along ethnic lines, and inhibit the process of reconciliation. One proposed
solution has been mobile courts, which have been deployed in relation to sexual crimes. While
they have been effective in some cases, they are often under-resourced. It is also questionable
whether such courts could adequately deal with property disputes which often require in depth
understanding of the locality.

- 38 -
Co-ordinate projects & donors
While funding for projects in the DRC has often been forthcoming, it has not always been put to
the best use. There have also been many peacebuilding projects undertaken in the country,
though few have sought to tackle the underlying issues.
Many different projects without adequate communication has led to a scattering of effort and
reduced impact- a focused approach would lead to far higher yields for the time and money
invested.
A proposed solution to this problem is to identify key causes of unrest and a number of targeted
solutions. Government and international effort could then be directed at such projects, with the
necessary military back-up, to ensure success.
Education
Education is an essential and often overlooked element of peacebuilding. Funding of education
by the government has fluctuated depending on the economic situation. Many international
agencies are involved in education in the DRC.
Major conflict in the 1990s led to a lost generation - millions of children never received any
form of schooling.
A well thought out, well-funded education strategy for the DRC would help immensely with
peacebuilding efforts. It would allow a greater understanding of the conflict which would help
minimise its recurrence. Education around the law and rights would also help the growth of the
judiciary and bring about an end to the culture of impunity. Health education is also vital to help
stop the spread of AIDS. If the DRC is to realise its full economic potential and to prevent a
return to violence, education is essential and all possible attempts must be made to reclaim the
lost generation.
Regional Co-operation
Regional co-operation is vital to a lasting peace in the DRC. Significant tensions between the
DRC and Rwanda remain. The issues of refugees and militias are ones that cannot be tackled by
either country in isolation.

- 39 -
Ethnic tensions, war and mistrust have severely damaged the relationship between the two
countries. The international community has a role to play in ensuring communication between
the countries and the rebuilding of trust. This is no small task with continued accusations of
Rwandan support for militias operating in the DRC. Wider regional collaboration between the
DRC, South Sudan, Uganda and the Central African Republic is needed to tackle military groups
such as the Lord’s Resistance Army.
C. Bloc Positions
Nations have differing views on the military situation in the DRC and the best way to achieve
stability. However, there is little argument that lasting peace in prosperity in the DRC is in the
interests of Africa and the international community. While most nations talk of a commitment to
peacebuilding, the implementation of that commitment varies. It is necessary to be aware of
other countries history with the DRC and what interests, other than altruistic ones, they have in a
peaceful DRC.
United States
The United States has a complicated history with the DRC. The DRC became an important part
of the cold war struggle.
The USA was involved in the assassination
of Lumumba and supported Mobuto for
most of his reign. Indeed in American
diplomatic circles Mobutu was known as
“our man in Kinshasa.” The USA was
willing to ignore the autocratic regime and
robbery of state funds in return for stability
and opposition to soviet influence.
With the fall of the USSR, the USA has attempted to redefine its role in central Africa -
opposition to Islamic extremism playing a central role. Mobuto became a less useful ally and his

- 40 -
involvement with extremists and American guilt over failure to intervene in the Rwandan
genocide, led to the USA supporting his overthrow.
The USA’s desire for stability in the DRC can conflict with its support for Rwanda. This came
to a head when it emerged that Rwanda was supporting the M23 rebels. This resulted in the USA
cutting finding to Rwanda.
The United States has yet to decide what role it wishes to play in the DRC and the wider region;
while it wants to see stability in the region, anything short of major conflict is unlikely to draw
major attention from a country embroiled in serious conflict elsewhere.
European Union
For the European Union and most EU countries, the priority in relations with the DRC is
ensuring stability and avoiding a return to large scale hostilities. Certain EU countries, in
particular France and Belgium, have more complex relations with the DRC for historical
reasons.
The EU contributed roughly 540 million euros to the DRC between 2008 and 2013. These funds
were used for humanitarian assistance, improving governance and supporting state agencies. The
EU also deployed a security and defence mission to the country in 2005 to help the police
maintain order during the transition to democracy.
Many EU countries give aid to the DRC through their own national programmes. EU donors
suspended aid to Rwanda over support for rebels in the DRC.
Rwanda
Rwanda continues to have a turbulent relationship with the DRC. Rwandan forces were heavily
engaged in fighting in the DRC following the genocide and were instrumental in the overthrow
of Mobuto.

- 41 -
The relationship improved in the past few years with both countries undertaking joint military
exercises against militia groups. However, alleged Rwandan support for the M23 rebels has led
to a sharp deterioration in relations.
Co-operation between both nations is vital to ensure stability in the east of the country and
prevent militias operating with impunity - it remains to be seen whether such lasting co-
operation can be fostered.
France
France’s role in the DRC and other African nations has been characterised by its desire to
remain a major international player.
France supported the Hutu regime and Mobuto, even when other western nations had severed
ties. The fall of Mobuto greatly diminished France’s political influence in the region. France
attempted to gain economic influence and large French companies announced that they would be
entering the DRC market for uranium mining, cement and telecommunications. However, little
has materialised in these areas.
As a Francophone country, there will always be a tie between the DRC and France but it remains
to be seen whether France will regain influence in the region, be it political or economic.
China
The People’s Republic of China’s interest in the DRC is largely economic. Instability and
corruption threatens China’s ability to do business in one of the mineral richest places on earth.
China has entered large mineral for infrastructure deals with China which sees the building of
much needed roads, hospitals and schools. These deals have been delayed by corruption and
instability which has made China more cautious.
China and the USA are both vying for the DRC’s minerals but China’s infrastructure deals and
no insistence on human rights or democracy can make Beijing a more attractive business partner
than Washington.

- 42 -
D. Thinker’s - Questions that our resolution must answer
1. How can donors tackle root causes of conflict and instability in the DRC?
2. How can state institutions be strengthened while avoiding a return to autocratic rule?
3. How can resources be used to the benefit of the Congolese people and not simply exploited by
individuals or foreign powers?
4. What funding and policy is needed to ensure adequate education?
5. How can a relationship of co-operation be fostered between the DRC and its neighbours, in
particular Rwanda?
6. How can demobilization of armed groups and their reintegration into the community be
completed?

- 43 -
E. Recommended readings
Hochschild, A. (1998). King Leopold's ghost. 1st ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Kent, J. (2010). America, the UN and decolonisation. 1st ed. London: Routledge.
Labda, A. (2011). EVALUATION OF CONFLICT PREVENTION AND PEACE BUILDING IN
THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. Belgium.
Monusco.unmissions.org, (2014). [online] Available at:
http://monusco.unmissions.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=aJTREZ0tqT0= [Accessed 27 Jul.
2014].
Turner, T. (2013). Congo. 1st ed. Malden, Mass.: Polity.
Unpbf.org, (2014). Congo, The Democratic Republic – United Nations Peacebuilding Fund.
[online] Available at: http://www.unpbf.org/countries/congo-the-democratic-republic/
[Accessed 27 Jul. 2014].
UN Security Council Resolution 1279

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