The General Assembly Special Political and Decolonization Committee

History of the raised by various members. Gitogo of Kenya emphasized

Topic A: Mitigating
outbreak in Haiti and in other instances of unintended
Committee the importance of consulting peacekeeping stakeholders
consequences of UN peacekeeping operations (explored
to build a common understanding and providing the Unintended later on in this guide), we will together discuss how to
The Special Political and Decolonization
“training on mission-specific social skills” for host Consequences of UN address – prevent and respond to – such unintended
communities. Padilla of Cuba voiced a concern of more
Committee, also known as the Fourth Committee of the
Peackeeping Operations consequences.
complex mandates leading to contradictions among
United Nations General Assembly and here on out to be
goals/considerations of peacekeeping operations, with
Overview of Peacekeeping Operations,
referred to by the shorthand “SPECPOL”, was established
at the 47th session of the General Assembly on August
an example of the intricacies of combating terrorism, Topic History and its Special Committee
extremism, and international organized crime. The non-
17, 1993.1 The report of the Special Committee on
intervention of UN peacekeeping operations in internal United Nations Peacekeeping was established in
The matters lying within the scope of SPECPOL Peacekeeping Operations11wasbasedonthe2023substantive
affairs of host communities, the commitment to non-use 1948 as the UN Security Council deployed the soon-to-
session; it included proposals and recommendations, with
range from peaceful use of outer space to non-self- of force except for self-defense, and an awareness of become UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO),
governing territories, atomic radiation, peacekeeping topics discussed such as the International Day of UN
the position of UN peacekeeping operations as offering with military observers sent to monitor Israel and its
Peacekeepers (May 29), recommending the establishment
operations, and more.2 Throughout its approximately 30 years temporary help that cannot replace the need for more Arab neighbors surrounding their Armistice Agreement.
of a memorial wall at the UN Peacekeepers Memorial at
of existence, SPECPOL has spearheaded milestone permanent socioeconomic development strategies were UN Peacekeeping has grown rapidly in its over 70 years
Headquarters, requesting an informal briefing by the
projects including the University for Peace (UPeace)3, discussed. Al-tememy of Iraq discussed the unique of history, with 70+ peacekeeping operations having
UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in Secretariat recognizing the Security Council’s authority
strengths of legitimacy and burden-sharing as elements been deployed since its inception. In 1988, the United
over peacekeeping operations, and recalling previous
the Near East (UNRWA)4, and assistance in mine of the UN’s core function, and Lim of Singapore Nations Peacekeeping Forces received the Nobel Peace
action5, among other initiatives. reports’ valid recommendations unless superseded by
highlighted conversation on accountability in the Prize. Then Secretary General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar
2021 UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Conference. Topics
the present report.
characterized the principle of peacekeeping operations
Most relevant to our committee topic, addressing
covered also include attacks on peacekeepers by civilians as “the use of soldiers as a catalyst for peace rather than The notion that peacekeeping operations “should
the unintended consequences of UN
peacekeeping and the need to protect peacekeepers from such violence, as instruments of war”.8 Despite this core intention not be used as a substitute for addressing the root
operations, SPECPOL’s responsibilities include a the work and build-up of the Special Committee on underpinning their operations, peacekeeping forces hold causes of conflict” was underscored. The Secretariat had
“comprehensive review of the whole question of Peacekeeping Operations, a need for sustainability in UN the capacity to inflict grave harm. A landmark example of provided guidance on the conduct of peacekeepers on
peacekeeping operations in all their aspects”.6 peacekeeping mindful of transitions, and the importance of harm inflicted by UN peacekeeping operations, perhaps topics ranging from waste and wastewater management,
making UN peacekeeping a safer realm for women the most notorious one that sparked worldwide debate environmental impact assessment, addressing sexual
Notable remarks from a recent meeting on
peacekeepers. These different voices and opinions serve on the accountability of UN Peacekeeping, occurred in harassment, accountability, a human rights due
Peacekeeping (during the 77th session) that were made
to show how multifaceted this topic is, and how October of 2010, when a peacekeeping camp that was diligence policy, a model memorandum of
available to the public7 include the strong support of
nuanced solutions must be. brought to Haiti following an earthquake inadvertently understanding, and the observance of international
Canada, Australia, and New Zealand for the Secretary-
General’s Action for Peacekeeping and for Peacekeeping
spread cholera into the community via a leak in their humanitarian law. Main proposals included:
contaminated base, causing a massive outbreak. As a
Plus initiatives. Additional comments were made on the a briefing on compliance conducting part of the
need for gender-responsive peacekeeping, a focus on the result, over 10,000 Haitians died of cholera, and
MOUs between troop- and police-contributing countries
“accountability both of and to peacekeepers”, the salience hundreds of thousands became sick with it.9
and the UN before the next substantive session,
of protection mandates to mitigate civilian harm (with In 1936, sociologist Robert Merton constructed his
using the ClearCheck database for
a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation), and the framework of “unintended consequences of purposive civilian
potential of the Strategy for the Digital Transformation of social action”.10 Essentially, he articulated that deliberate personnel recruitment, reiterating the call toward
UN Peacekeeping’s new partnership models to protect actions meant to achieve good intentions wield the risk of zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse,
peacekeepers from attacks. doing more harm than good, possibly in quite unexpected
including partnering with the Victims’ Rights Advocate,
ways. Applying this framework to the tragic cholera
Here is an overview of the different concerns
8 9 asking the Secretary-General to include in the
 The General Assembly Special Political and Decolonization Committee

next report information on forms of misconduct the partnership between the US and the UN, describes to refine and strengthen these operations to meet A New York Times article discussing the UN admitting
other than sexual exploitation and abuse, UN peacekeeping as “one of the most important tools for the demands of a changing world. its responsibility for the cholera outbreak underscores
mitigating conflict and promoting peace and security”. Today, that prior to Haq’s aforementioned statement, Philip
discussing the need to increaseefforts to
implement a human rights due diligence policy, including
there are 90,000 UN peacekeepers deployed in
operations.12 With personnel across 125 contributing countries,
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Statement of the Problem Alston, a special rapporteur, had sent a confidential
report to the Secretary-General, stating that the
risk assessments and mission-specific standard operating
the number of peacekeepers who have served in the over outbreak “would not have broken out but for the actions
procedures, There are several risks associated with UN
seven decades of UN peacekeeping has surpassed of the United Nations”.18 Still, notably, Haq’s statement
emphasizing the importance of procedural one million.13 peacekeeping operations, which SPECPOL has discussed “did not address who was responsible for the epidemic or
fairness for the screening process of senior posts, possibilities for mitigating. These risks include, among compensation for its victims”, a glaring absence that
UN peacekeeping was started in May 1948 as
others, the environmental impact of missions, abuse infuriated many; that same year, 158 members of the US
exploring environmentally responsible solutions, the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization inflicted by personnel, attacks against personnel, and Congress signed a letter asking then Secretary of State
including the use of low- and zero-emission energy (UNTSO).14 Since the establishment of the UNTSO, barriers against the participation of women peacekeepers. John Kerry to urge the UN to take more responsibility for
resources, clean technology, and environmentally friendly milestones in its earlier years included the establishment Certainly, there are other topics to focus on as well, the outbreak, including reparations for victims.19 A 2020
material to mitigate the carbon footprint of of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and your bloc may decide to select another unintended letter by thirteen UN rights monitors to Secretary-General
peacekeeping camps, and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) in January 1949, within one consequence of UN peacekeeping operations to focus Antonio Guterres referenced how the UN has spent $3 million
year, the establishment of the first UN Emergency
further advancement of the triangular partnership on or to emphasize in addition to one or several of these. on a cholera clean-up mission in Haiti after having raised
program and the UN C4ISR academy to ensure camp Force (UNEF I) in response to the Suez Crisis, and the $21 million and having pledged $400

security and medical training, with an introduction to establishment of the United Nations Observation Environmental and Health Impacts million, a “deeply disappointing” response to the harm
Group in Lebanon (UNOGIL) in June 1958.
telemedicine, that it is responsible for.20
Perhaps the most well-known instance of adverse
In recent years, the topic of UN peacekeeping
collaboration with ASEAN, the AU, and the consequences of UN peacekeeping operations is the This instance makes apparent the need for
operations has sparked considerable discourse and
League of Arab States and strengthening relationships outbreak of cholera in Haiti in October of 2010. Cholera had peacekeeping operations to be responsible for their
analysis within the international community. As conflicts
with peacekeeping centers and e-learning institutes, been absent in Haiti until a UN peacekeeping environmental and health consequences and to take
continue to evolve in complexity and scope, discussions
including the International Association of Peacekeeping operations camp entered in response to Haiti’s action to mitigate their ecological footprints.
about the effectiveness, challenges, and future of UN
Centers, earthquake crisis. To investigate the causality between
peacekeeping missions have stirred. Conversations have
these coinciding factors, former Secretary-General Ban Abuse Inflicted by Personnel
transparent consultation of troop- and police- centered on issues such as the safety and security of
Ki-Moon appointed a panel that released a 32-page
contributing countries, and peacekeepers in the face of evolving threats, the need for Abuse inflicted by UN peacekeepers is a serious
report leaving “no doubt” that cholera spread from a UN
women’s safe participation in peacekeeping operations, the
consultation with Member States to recognize peacekeeping operations camp located in a river valley to concern. Instances of abuse range from physical violence
prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, the to psychological harm. A horrifying instance of sexual
outstanding performance for units and individual the waters that Haitians used for a variety of necessary daily
environmental impact of peacekeeping operations, and the exploitation and abuse perpetrated by UN peacekeepers
personnel. activities.15 It was estimated in 2016 that the cholera
adaptation of peacekeeping strategies to address modern took place from October to December of 2015 in the
epidemic had since sickened over 800,000 people and
The analysis of the work of SPECPOL and of conflicts, among other topics. Moreover, debates
killed about 10,000 people, though some suggest that Central African Republic against at least eight women
the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations have emerged regarding the coordination between and girls, with survivors including a 14-year-old and an
these are conservative estimates.16
supplement a fundamental understanding of UN UN peacekeepers and local actors, the importance of 18-year-old.21 This reality underscores the necessity of
peacekeeping operations, its history and present-day community engagement for successful outcomes, and the The office of the Secretary-General first holding peacekeepers accountable for their actions and
operations. In 2023, UN Peacekeeping celebrated its 75th necessity of clear exit strategies to ensure lasting stability acknowledged the role of the UN in the cholera epidemic
preventing this from happening again.
anniversary, and its Peace Begins With Me campaign in post-conflict regions. These discussions reflect the in 2016 as the deputy spokesman for the Secretary-
commemorated peacekeepers for their work. international community’s recognition of the critical General, Farhan Haq, referenced the UN’s “own
role that UN peacekeeping operations play in fostering involvement” and consequential work on a “new response”
The Better World Campaign, which advocates for
global peace and security and underscore ongoing efforts agreed upon by Haitian authorities and member states.17
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 The General Assembly Special Political and Decolonization Committee

Attacks Against UN Peacekeeping like inadequate facilities built for them compared to topics are being focused on, in what order, and for these are issues that every country might want to address,
their male counterparts, assumptions to be “naturally what reason. Solutions will be expected to be there is always plenty of room for debate on how an issue
Personnel skilled at communicating with women and girls in local
comprehensively organized so that the components should be resolved, the timeline of when new measures
Extending the conversation further, the UN also has communities, especially with those who have experienced
of each proposal corresponding to a certain topic will be implemented, and how much solutions will be
concern of physical attacks on peacekeeping personnel. In the sexual and gender-based violence”25, thereby posing a serious
will be explicitly communicated as such. proactive versus reactive. Burden sharing, regional issues,
face of the peacekeepers themselves being harmed, burden of emotional labor, and stereotyping of socioeconomic status, resource/money sourcing, and
how should the UN address this unintended consequence, women as being weaker or less courageous than their what locations or issues will take priority are other
Training/Prevention
as the UN is their employer and thus responsible for male counterparts, restricting deployment of women ways that blocs can distinguish themselves.
their safety? peacekeepers on particularly dangerous missions. Training development and execution, with any
additional measures, to prevent unintended consequences
Attacks against UN peacekeeping personnel, Furthermore, women peacekeepers face
from arising will be a key component of all accepted Questions to Address
ranging from ambushes and bombings to targeted risks including gender-based violence, especially as
proposed solutions.
assaults, pose a significant threat. A notable example is host communities of peacekeeping missions can be
There are many approaches that a resolution
that in December 2020 in the Democratic Republic of characterized by the dominance of oppressive gender
Congo, a UN peacekeeping convoy was ambushed by norms and a culture of gender discrimination. Sexual and Response could take based on the breadth of the topic at hand,

gender-based violence in conflict zones poses another but below are some potential launchpads for topics that
suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) armed group Lastly, a plan for responding to unintended
threat to women peacekeepers on top of the dangers a thorough resolution might address. The hope is that
elements, and 14 Tanzanian peacekeepers were killed, consequences as they arise will be integral to all proposed
intrinsic to the work of peacekeeping missions. In addition more questions will sprout from these and lead you to
with 44 others wounded and one remaining missing22. solutions. This response plan must be devised and
constructing your main theme of solutions/perspectives
to outright gender-based violence, gender norms can communicated in a sensitive manner, and it is advised
The commitment of peacekeeping operations to that are salient to your delegation and your bloc, all the
interfere with the work that women peacekeepers do as to take an expansive approach on what categories of
the non-use of force further complicates this situation, while contributing to the conversation of the committee
it complicates their engagements with host communities, consequences might arise so as to increase the range of
as peacekeepers may find themselves in precarious as a whole on how to approach the Herculean pursuit of
especially in initiating conversations with people whose situations in which the proposed solution would prove
situations without the same level of defensive capabilities addressing unintended consequences of UN
norms of power dynamics are biased against women. to be useful or at least relevant.
or instinct for self-defense as other military forces. peacekeeping operations.
Women peacekeepers face significant challenges
that can pose threats to their lives and interfere • What partnership opportunities exist
Challenges for Women Peacekeepers with their work on peacekeeping missions. Bloc Positions external to the UN?
Women make up a small fraction of peacekeepers,
• What are standards for quality control
making up 4.8% of military contingents and 10.9% of
formed police units in peacekeeping missions in 2020.23
Proposed Solutions The umbrella of possible unintended consequences of
UN peacekeeping operations is broad and expansive, and the
of training development and execution of UN
peacekeeping personnel?
This underrepresentation can be attributed to a wide pursuit of addressing such unintended consequences is even
For the purpose of the SPECPOL committee in more so. Note that these consequences refer to both harm • How should responsibility be split between
array of factors, including under-recruitment, barriers
to access necessary and adequate training, bias among
HMUN Dubai 2025, proposed solutions addressing caused by peacekeepers, and/or the operation contributing countries and certain groups within the
superior officers that impairs the work environment, and
unintended consequences of UN peacekeeping as a whole if it pertains to the campsite itself, and harm UN?
operations must encapsulate three key pillars: experienced by peacekeepers. There are many avenues
cultural factors of host communities that deter women • What are proposals for conflict
prioritization, training/prevention, and response. that might be taken to address this topic. While it is
from being deployed overseas or, if they are deployed resolution that minimize the harm inflicted by UN
overseas, prevents them from feeling safe in their host not necessary that each Resolution include solutions to
Peacekeeping Operations in host communities?
communities.24 Prioritization all issues presented in the aforementioned “Statement of
the Problem” section, delegates are encouraged to touch • What are proposals for safety in light of UN
Women peacekeepers also report difficulties in Amidst several key areas to focus on pertaining to
the topic at hand (examples in the bloc positions section), upon as many as possible, so long as the resolution peacekeeping operations experiencing attacks
performing their peacekeeping duties due to challenges is cohesive and thorough. While it may seem like all of
proposed solutions will be expected to articulate which

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 The General Assembly Special Political and Decolonization Committee

within host communities? You may also investigate social frameworks tied Topic B: Peaceful Uses The work of the Special Political and
Decolonization Committee, then, is of great importance.
of Outer Space
to unintended consequences of purpose action, think
• How might more intentional preparation be The representation and cooperation of participating
through implications of reparations and apology, and
done to make UN peacekeeping a safer space members will be paramount in the creation of a
look to other global nongovernmental organizations to see
for women peacekeepers to engage in? comprehensive, global solution to these issue areas, which
how criminal/organizational accountability are executed At HMUN Dubai 2025, the Special Political
and what makes them successful or unsuccessful and Decolonization Committee (SPECPOL) will have aim to exceed previous measures in their efficacy.
• What should be short-term and long-term
priorities for UN peacekeeping operations? on this basis. Further research is very much encouraged the option to address a topic area that has large May passionate debate pave the road to resolutions!

• What resources provided by the Secretariat as it would enrich the breadth and depth of our dialogue, implications for the world community.

per request of the Special Committee on

and as fully assuming your delegation’s role in light of
UN peacekeeping operations will bode well for your
Questions regarding “Peaceful Uses of Outer Topic History
PeacekeepingOperations are especially Space” have long been urgent for the world community.
performance. Out of respect for your fellow delegates, The successful launching of Sputnik by the Soviet Union
relevant? Are there any additional resources The Fourth Committee is charged with the issue
you are encouraged to prepare so that you can engage in 1957 marked the beginning of the space age. The
to request or any other type of request for of international cooperation for the peaceful uses of outer
in discussion in an educated, involved manner. subsequent “space race” ignited a fear in the
information on the part of the Secretariat? space. This topic is one that has yet to be exhausted, even
international community that spurred the development after almost half a century of discussion. Ever since the
of international space law. A vast body of law has come
Suggestions for Further into existence in the last half-century to ensure that space
first satellites were launched in the 1950s, the international
community has continually responded to the concerns
Research be reserved for the betterment of all mankind. However,
raised by emerging space technology. International law was
though a number of issues were resolved, new issues arise forged with a few major objectives in mind, primarily
as technology advances. International cooperation is that space exploration and use be entirely peaceful and for
The bibliography of this background guide is
paramount in resolving remaining questions. The global the betterment of all mankind.26 Of course, this new and vast
comprised mainly of key documents publicly accessible
community needs to evaluate the option of a weapons body of law crafted within the forum of the United Nations
via the United Nations Official Document System (ODS)
ban treaty in space, which may be complicated by the should hardly be static; keeping space exploration and use
and news articles recounting specific cases of harm
expanding space tourism industry. Furthermore, legally wholly peaceful requires continual discussion
resulting from UN peacekeeping operations. For further
binding instruments have yet to be created that address as new technologies and priorities arise. Moreover, the
research, it is recommended that you read through
space debris, a fact that has led to a vast accumulation desire for all states, industrialized and developing alike, to
these, especially the Report of the Special Committee
of space junk and a viable threat to orbiting satellites. benefit mutually from space technology necessitates
on Peacekeeping Operations (A/77/19) and the summary
The need for sustainable development is increasingly dire frequent discussion and cooperation. The history of space
record of the 19th meeting of SPECPOL (A/C.4/77/
as climate change becomes a reality, and it is becoming exploration is relevant to the issue in terms of highlighting
SR.19).
apparent that space technology has a role in agriculture, the challenges posed by the new space technology in
To prepare yourself, you should familiarize combating desertification, and promoting development
the peaceful uses of outer space.
yourself with the Special Committee on Peacekeeping in rural areas. However, special considerations must be
Operations and Peacebuilding Commission pages of the made for developing countries that lack the capacity of
The Cold War and the Space Race
United Nations Meetings Coverage and Press Release site nations such as Russia and the U.S.
(press.un.org). Additionally, the United Nations YouTube World War II came to an end in August 1945,
Information-sharing and capacity building are
account has a public playlist of 300+ videos on UN shortly after the U.S. dropped the secretly developed
especially important as applications for space technology
peacekeeping, ranging from discussing how peacekeeping atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan.
abound. Thus, SPECPOL must work to enforce existing
operations work to providing news updates on particular However, the end of World War II marked the beginning
measures and create solutions to new issues to ensure the
cases of deployment to marking important days relevant of the Cold War as tensions mounted between the post-
peaceful use of outer space.
to this effort. war superpowers of the world: the U.S. and the Soviet

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