Table of Contents 1. Letter From the Executive Board 2. Rules of Procedure i. General ii. Proceedings in Committee4 3. Introduction to the Disarmament and International Security Committee 4. About the Agenda . General Definition Radicalization and Extremism Past Attempts to Combat Terrorism iv. Obstacles in Combating Terrorism 5. Radicalisation and Recruitment 6. Case Studies i. Technology ii. Syria iii. Iraq iv. Terrorism & Destruction of Cultural Heritage v. Boko haram vi. Al-Shabaab 7. QARMALetter From the Executive Board Dear delegates, Welcome to AMUN 2023! We deem it our utmost honour and privilege to serve as the executive board members of the DISEC at Aamatra Model UN 2023. The DISEC serves as a forum for member states to discuss and address issues pertaining to arms control, non-proliferation of weapons, and the promotion of international peace and security. It aims to develop resolutions and recommendations to address global security challenges and foster cooperation among nations including gross and systematic violations, and making recommendations thereon. At the simulation of the DISEC at AMUN 2023 that is exactly what we aim to do while keeping in mind, the agenda — “Framing effective safeguards against the fundamental functioning of terrorist organizations to combat radical terrorism.” The Executive Board has compiled this background guide to facilitate research and we expect delegates to understand that it is merely a document to explain what we expect from the committee and to serve as a basis and foundation for further research. Your research must go beyond the contents and categories of this background guide to ensure that the discourse in committee is both detailed and pertinent. The conferences one attends, the acquaintances they make, the effort they put in and all the various bits of knowledge that they gain through each conference are all extremely prized possessions of every person that is or has been a part of the circuit. We hope you have an exhilarating experience, make the best of this conference and walk away on day 3 with a large smile across your face. As your executive board, we hope to create a safe and inclusive space for all. If you have any queries/concerns or require any assistance, please contact us at mun@amaatra.pes.edu and we will revert as soon as possible. -Abhay Singhal Alby Mathew Ayush MishraRules of Procedure Before delving into the explanation of the rules of procedure by which we are required to conduct ourselves over the course of the three days that this conference shall last, we would like delegates to understand that the rules of procedure at every model UN conference vary to an extent due to the fact that executive board members have a certain degree of liberty in altering these rules, which is influenced by their own past experiences. For this conference, we shall be adhering to the UNA-USA format of Model UN in general, while deviating from it where we deem it necessary in order to facilitate a higher level of debate and a better experience as a whole. Therefore, please note that it is with regard to the rules we intend to follow for this conference that this background guide has been written. We would also request that the delegates understand that there are certain technicalities with regard to the rules of procedure that we have willingly omitted to make comprehension of the rules of procedure easier, but will be explained during the proceedings of the committee. However, if any delegate finds any issues with the rules of procedure we have decided to follow, we encourage them to approach us and clarify their concerns at any point before or during the conference. General: Model UN: The concept of Model UN is essentially to simulate the proceedings of the United Nations in which part participants assume the role of representatives of nations. However, you will find that recently, the activity has come to include simulations of bodies and organizations that are not necessarily a part of the UN. The Country: The country you have been allocated is the delegate of whom you are taken to be and is the one you shall represent during this conference. Delegates are expected to represent their country’s perspective and opinions of any discussion during the conference. However, it must also be noted that in some committees, delegates might represent organizations or individuals. eThe Committee: The committee is the organization or group that the delegates are representing their respective nations at. The committee delegates are a part of influences the powers and authority they have at their disposal as well as the type of issues that they may deliberate upon and the members of each committee. To gain an understanding of your respective committee, it is advisable to examine its mandate. In this case, wherein we are simulating a council of the United Nations General Assembly, the mandate of which may be found in Chapter IV of the United Nations Charter.The Agenda: The agenda simply refers to an issue that the committee has gathered to deliberate upon. While some committees may have two agendas to choose from, in this particular case, the committee shall only have one agenda it shall consider. The Executive Board: The executive board is in essence a moderating body tasked with overseeing the proceedings of the committee. Typically, in the United Nations, the executive board is elected from the members of the committee itself, however, in most Model UN conferences, they are predetermined and have the additional task of evaluating the delegates. Proceedings in Committee Points: Points may be raised by delegates to address a personal requirement (through points of personal privilege), clarify queries regarding the rules of procedure (through points of parliamentary enquiry), question other delegates (through points of information) and point out factual or logical inaccuracies made by other delegates (through points of order). Motions: They may be raised by delegates and are voted upon by the committee to initiate all formal proceedings and influence the medium by which debate is conducted. For instance, motions are used when delegates wish to begin a formal session or to discuss a certain issue through a moderated caucus. Roll Call and Voting Stance: Roll call is essentially a process by which each individual nation is called out, following which the voting stance of the respective delegate is recorded. Delegates have two options during role call (‘present’ and ‘present and voting’), the latter implying that the delegate is discarding their right to abstain from substantive voting. eThe General Speakers List: The general speakers list (GSL) is introduced by a motion and serves the purpose of beginning formal debate. An infinite number of speakers may be added to the list (with repetitions) and is typically used to summarize the stance of each delegate's nation upon the agenda. Although, it may be used to make statements on any matter the delegate chooses to address. The committee shall revert to the GSL at the end of every caucus. Moderated Caucuses: Moderated caucuses are distinguished from general speakers list (GSL) speeches in the sense that they aim to address a particular aspect of the agenda with a predetermined number of speakers and are moderated by the executive board. While they possess the freedom to choose otherwise, delegates are encouraged to adhere to the discussion of the determined topic for the respective moderated caucus.Unmoderated Caucuses: During unmoderated caucuses, delegates are allowed to freely interact with the rest of their committee and are not mediated by the executive board. These caucuses are typically utilized to make decisions regarding the direction of the committee and to collaborate upon documentation that delegates wish to submit such as working papers. Drafting A Resolution: Passing a resolution that serves as a set of reasonable solutions to the agenda is the primary objective of the conference. Resolutions must first be submitted as working papers, discussed by the committee as a whole and later introduced as a draft resolution, at which point it may be amended based on concerns raised by the committee. Resolutions are expected to be a result of collaboration amongst delegates which may be done in groups referred to as blocs, which typically do not exceed three per committee. Voting: Voting over the course of the conference is either procedural or substantive. Procedural voting implies decisions that affect actions which influence debate, such as voting on motions. Such voting is compulsory. However, substantive voting is conducted to decide the passing of any documentation that the committee produces and is optional. However, if delegates give up their right to abstain (by choosing the voting stance, ‘present and voting’ during roll call’), they are obligated to vote. Crises: Crises are simulations within Model UN conferences wherein a hypothetical situation that threatens international peace or security in one form or the other is presented to the delegates who are expected to cooperate in finding a solution to the crisis they are faced with. Press Conferences: Press conferences are conducted by individuals taken to be members of international press who are tasked with questioning the delegates in committee. The questions may range from matters of foreign policy, the agenda itself or controversial actions by the respective nations of the delegates, with the intended purpose being to test the depth of the research done and knowledge of the delegates. Note: The use of the internet shall not be permitted during formal sessions of the committee. However, delegates may feel free to bring offline or printed copies of any material they wish to usIntroduction to the Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC) The United Nations General Assembly First Committee, also known as the Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC), is one of six main committees at the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN). DISEC attends to issues pertaining to disarmament, threats to peace which may challenge the international community and the international security regime. This concerns all security matters within the scope of the UN Charter and general principles of cooperation to maintain international peace and security. More crucially, it governs disarmament and the regulation of arms, with the aim to strengthen stability with lower levels of armaments worldwide. To do so, DISEC currently works closely with the United Nations Disarmament Commission and the Geneva-based Conference on Disarmament. ‘As a council in the General Assembly, resolutions passed in DISEC are not legally binding and thus are essentially recommendations. Delegates will have to keep this in mind as their proposed solutions may be rendered ineffective as they cannot be legally imposed or when no nation has the incentive to follow these recommendations.About the Agenda General Definition In this century, most people associate terrorism with the Al-Qaeda led attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001 that ushered the War on Terror. Others think of the wide reach of Boko Haram, which has conducted numerous attacks, including bombings, abductions, and mass killings, in Nigeria and neighbouring countries. The United States Department of Defense defines terrorism as “the calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological.” From other perspectives, it refers to unlawful violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims. In any of these instances, terrorism is difficult to confront, let alone understand. There are five crucial components of terrorism: the involvement of an act of violence, an audience, the creation of a mood of fear, innocent victims, and political goals or motives. Given the weight and complexity of the term “Terrorism”, it is difficult to pinpoint an international definition of terrorism. This lack of a general, international definition hampers intergovernmental measures to form effective safeguards against terrorist organizations. Countries have varying interpretations of what constitutes terrorism, leading to disparities in the legal frameworks, procedures, and strategies adopted to combat it. Radicalization and Extremism The term ‘radicalization’ is defined by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as “[...] the process of indoctrination that often accompanies the transformation of recruits into individuals determined to act with violence based on extremist ideologies.” Radical communities often bond over their ideology and online exploits. Radicalisation is becoming increasingly easier with the advent of the internet, with this fact being compounded by the dramatic increase in extremist websites! between 1998 and 2006, rising from 12 to over 4,500 sites in the span of eight years although the applications used by convicted extremists had changed over time, with a move from using specific extremist websites to open social media platforms.Past Attempts to Combat Terrorism The 9/11 attacks brought along with them an international sense of urgency to combat terrorist financial networks. This was followed by a barrage of reforms and attempts to thwart terrorist financing. ¢ After the incident, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted a wide range of resolutions, importantly, resolution 1373 (2001), calling for immediate action to suppress terrorist financial sources. * By 2013, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) formulated its list of forty recommendations that became the underlying basis of government actions to limit potential threats of terrorist financing. © The United Nations Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) was established by the Secretary-General in 2005 to ensure overall coordination and coherence in the counter-terrorism efforts of the United Nations system. © The Global Counterterrorism Forum, a multilateral counterterrorism platform, was formed in 2011 which aimed to strengthen the international architecture for addressing 21st century terrorism. © Since 2001, the World Bank’s and the International Monetary Fund’s involvement in countering terrorism has been intensified, with a sharper focus on both anti-money- laundering (AML) measures and efforts aimed at combating the financing of terrorism. (CFT). Obstacles in Combating Terrorism The very flexibility and adaptability of terrorist activities throughout the years has contributed to the confusion. Those seeking to disrupt, reorder or destroy the status quo have continuously sought new and creative ways to achieve their goals. Changes in the tactics and techniques of terrorists have been significant, but even more significant are the growth in the number of causes and social contexts where terrorism is used. Sectors — such as charities — with few regulations and access to large amounts of funds are often attractive targets for financing terrorism. Though state sponsors may also fund terrorist groups, smaller organizations often lack access to this source of finance and instead resort to alternative methods of funding: criminal activity. Arms trafficking, drug trafficking, and extortion are amongst the most common examples of criminal activity used to generate funds for terrorists. Globalization has also created greater difficulty in countering the financing of terrorism, as organizations can expand and transfer funds across borders with ease. The risk of terrorist financing varies by country, and therefore each country has implemented different frameworks to detect and prevent terrorism financing. In addition, countries shouldalso consider the role that its financial institutions and governments, along with organizations including the FATF, play in adequately countering the financing of terrorism. Despite global efforts, terrorism is prevalent to this day, and with conflicts arising regularly especially in the Middle East, the Sahel Region in Africa and southeast Asia, the need for international cooperation has never been greater. This guide will serve as a basic outline of the foundational concepts, findings, and challenges in the field of terrorism for this committee to consider.Radicalisation and Recruitment There are strong links between social, economic and political exclusion, inequalities and the expansion of “violent unrest, insurgencies and terrorism.” A climate of fear has developed from the globalization of the war on terror and is perpetuated by governments and media. When groups of people are alienated, social exclusion is likely. Where social exclusion is prevalent, it is also possible that different groups may start to form prejudices about the other group, potentially leading to an environment of intergroup interaction governed by fear of the other. Fear of those who are different can also lead to hatred or discrimination against other groups. Since 9/11 and the global war on terror, Muslims have been targets of xenophobia and “islamophobia”. Refugees frequently endure crowded, inhumane living conditions due to a lack of resources and accessible space. To help those in need, the UN collaborates with NGOs, but the sheer quantity of persons in need dramatically exceeds what the UN anticipated. There is also the risk that refugees will serve as recruiting points for extremist and jihadist groups. Tackling youth unemployment, education, and gender equality have been reiterated as non-military methods of countering terrorism, suggesting that a development approach could successfully prevent such radical Extremism. Terrorism thrives in weak governments, a growing issue as those states become more vulnerable due to the effects of global climate change, food insecurity, and spill over from nearby conflicts. Populations in nations with weak or non-existent law and order often face death, make desperate attempts to flee, or submit to the rule of rapacious warlords and politicians. Armed organizations find it far simpler to seize power and impose their lawful authority in settings where instability, poor infrastructure, and dysfunctional institutions are prevalent.Case Studies Technology There are incre: ing concerns that transnational crime networks and terrorist organizations are collaborating more extensively, especially concerning the trafficking of illicit arms, drugs, artifacts, natural resources, kidnapping, ransom, and other terror-supporting activities. As the growth and sophistication of technology expand, so do the increasingly sophisticated networks used by organized criminal and terrorist networks. The Security Council recently identified that these connections threaten international peace and security in Resolution 2195 (2014). The Security Council is particularly concerned about regions that are already engaged in violent armed conflicts, as the presence and strength of these criminal organizations undermine any attempts to mitigate the conflict and transition to peace. Syria The "indiscriminate aerial bombardment" and shelling that is "leading to the murder, injury, and displacement of civilians, as well as the destruction of property and infrastructure" in Syria is the product of extremist and terrorist groups. All parties to the conflict in Syria violate international humanitarian law, particularly the provision that mandates the protection of civilians in armed combat. More than 12 million Syrians, including an estimated 5 million children, need humanitarian aid, The greatest refugee catastrophe in modern history is being caused by the more than 7.6 million internally displaced people and the almost 4 million who have fled to neighbouring Nations. Iraq As a result of the political and military stalemate in Syria and sectarian divisions and disenfranchisement in Iraq, rebel groups have splintered, and radical fundamentalist groups have risen in power and prominence. The Islamic State (IS), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), is a terrorist organization and an organized militia groupwhich formed as a splinter group of Al-Qaeda in April 2013, who have taken over territory in western Iraq and Syria. The organization is composed of an estimated thirty to one hundred thousand members, and claims to have sole political and religious governance over all Muslims. Allegiance to the organization has also been sworn by militant groups across the world, including in Egypt, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The organization is well financed, primarily as a result of illegally selling crude oil to energy desperate regions. The international community has struggled to stem the broadly successful recruitment tactics of the organization, which focus heavily on social media platforms. These platforms have led to thousands of foreign fighters traveling to join the organization, An estimated 20,000 Sunni militants are foreign recruits from more than 60 countries; among them, more than 3,000 are from western countries. IS is well known for its extreme violence, especially against civilians. Sexual violence, physical abuse, enslavement, forceful recruitment of child soldiers, forced suicide bombing, and other horrific acts of violence are frequent features of the terrorist organizations” brutal reign, Women have been treated abhorrently by IS, and young virgins are reportedly bought and sold at auetion as slaves. Iraq’s minority Yazidi women have been the most heavily targeted by terrorist groups. The conflict has also created a humanitarian crisis, as the radical group has affected an estimated 6 million Iraqis, Syrians and Kurds. In Iraq, IS has displaced more than 2 million Iraqis, and providing humanitarian a: those in IS-controlled territory is impossible. In Syria, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the World Food Programme had to suspend the delivery of medical supplies, water treatment supplies, and food aid to IS-controlled areas. The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMD) is currently prioritizing the following key areas of critical concern: protection of civilians from the impact of armed conflict, terrorism, and violence, and access to safety and humanitarian assistance. Since June 2014, more than 10,000 civilians have been killed and nearly 20,000 have been wounded in Iraq due to the rising conflict. While Iraqi security forces and the Peshmerga, patriots of the Popular Mobilization Forces, and Sunni tribal volunteers are making advances against IS, the gains are still quite fragile. A global coalition of military forces and advisors from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands,Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States have been providing support to the Peshmerga in the fight against Islamic State in Iraq. The United States led air strikes against the organization in an attempt to allow Iraqi national security forces to gain a better advantage in the fight on the ground. IS is far from defeated, and the future in Iraq is more precarious than ever. Terrorism & Destruction of Cultural Heritage IS is also actively engaged in destroying ancient cultural sites and heritage which predate Islam, and they claim that it is a part of a war against false idols. Syrian cultural heritage sites are threatened with destruction, and several sites have already experienced damage, looting, and illegal excavations. Among the destroyed heritage sites are the Virgin Mary Church in Tell Nasiri, the Forty Martyrs Armenian Orthodox Church in Aleppo, the ancient Noréas water wheels in Hama, and many others. Recently, the World Heritage site next to Palmyra in Syria was captured and there are fears that the site will be destroyed. Nimrud, one of Iraq’s most famous and ancient archaeological sites has been destroyed, in addition to Mosul Library, which was home to thousands of ancient manuscripts. The destruction of the cultural heritage of countries in conflict or those emerging from conflict significantly inhibits the process of peace-making and national reconciliation. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has been actively monitoring the situation and recently launched a global campaign in Baghdad to explore methods of better protecting Iraq’s cultural heritage. Boko haram Formed in 2002 and militarized in 2009, Boko Haram is a militant Islamist group based in northern Nigeria that is attempting to overthrow the Nigerian government to create an Islamic state. The organization is composed of roughly 9,000 members and forbids any political or social activity which it sees as associated with the West. They are well known for committing brutal human rights abuses, including bombings, assassinations, abductions, enslavement, sexual violence, and massacres.Notably, in April 2014, they abducted more than 200 girls from a school in Chibok, Borno, and indicated that they would treat them as slaves and marry them off. In August 2014, they declared the area under their control as an Islamic Caliphate and later aligned themselves with the Islamic State. IS accepted the alignment in pursuit of its goal of a global caliphate and named the Islamic State of West Africa Province. Boko Haram also began attacking towns in neighbouring countries, sparking fear that the organization would expand. However, by March of this year, most of the territory claimed by Boko Haram had been recaptured by a coalition of troops from Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. Al-Shabaab Al-Shabaab is a militant Islamist group operating primarily in Somalia, which has recently committed violent acts of terror in Kenya. They initially formed as a radical youth group after more than two decades of civil war, internal strife, and a state without a government. Somalia has experienced violent conflicts which have devastated and divided the population and led to the rise of warlords and terrorist organizations. The country is also prone to devastating famines, which often lead to high levels of refugees. The organization is believed to have between seven and nine Thousand active militant fighters, engages in brutal attacks and massacres, is well known for kidnapping and charging high ransoms, and is allied with al-Qaeda. In April 2015, Al-Shabaab massacred 147 students at Garissa University in Kenya and specifically targeted Christian students. They are actively engaged in recruiting members from Kenya and Somalia and continue to carry out attacks in Somalia and surrounding countries.QARMA (Questions A Resolution Must Answer) This part of the background guide underlines what exactly needs to be incorporated into the background guide that the committee shall draft. 1. How will you respond to the rising levels of violence? Nv . How will you prevent radicalisation and recruitment? 3. Should the decision-making process for combating terrorism centre on rehabilitating radicalized terrorists? 4. What kind of preventive measures should be taken? 5. How do you react to the spread of terrorism in the poorest nations or those already embroiled in war? 6. Can you negotiate a consensus to respond to terrorist organizations? 7. Is a military solution the way forward to combat these terrorist organizations, or should states seek political solutions and negotiate? 8. What does this mean in terms of legitimizing violent extremist groups? 9. How can you incorporate international development more specifically into global counter- terrorism strategies? seen