Position paper

Committee: Disarmament and International Security Committee

Topic: The development, production, and stockpiling of biological and chemical weapons

Country: The State of Libya

School: The City School Ravi Campus (TCS)

Name: Zayna Fatima

Introduction
Since the First World War broke out multiple participants in the war sought to use and abuse all
weapons at their disposal to deal with enemies and this determination led to the development of
biological or chemical weaponry. The development and stockpiling of weapons have been a significant
measure of security that has been executed by a wide range of countries after the destructive World
Wars. However, the creation of biological weapons ( mass destruction weapons) is considered the most
lethal and threatening invention in the domain of biotechnology that is believed to be the main catalyst
of irreversible adverse health consequences which have long-lasting effects on the political, social, and
economic welfare of a country. Seventeen countries were or are surmised of currently having a
biological weapons production and stockpiling program including Canada, China, Cuba, France,
Germany, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Libya, North Korea, Russia, South Africa, Syria, Taiwan, the United
Kingdom, and the United States. The Biological weapons convection has played a leading role in the
adequate and effective prohibition of the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, and use of
biological and toxin weapons and it has established a strong norm against biological weapons by making
it mandatory for the states-parties to destroy all chemical weapons under their authority.

The Role of Libya

Libya's name can be prominently viewed on the list of suspected parties that have been alleged of
producing and stockpiling lethal chemical and biological artillery. Nonetheless, On December 19, 2003,
Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi surprisingly disowned Tripoli’s weapons of mass destruction (WMD)
programs and welcomed international inspectors to affirm that it would be executing the destruction of
this murderous weaponry. Following Gaddafi’s statement, inspectors from transnational organizations
collaborated with Libya to dismantle its chemical and nuclear weapons programs including biological
weapons. This initiative not only set a notable model for other doubted nations to pledge to abolish
threatening weaponry but also prevented harmful weaponry from falling into the wrong hands, and
being used for means of power abuse.

Opinion as a delegate
I firmly support the biological weapon convention as the introduction of biochemical weaponry in
warfare will inevitably result in irreversible consequences that will ultimately modify the lifestyle of
humanity negatively. On the other hand, I also believe that stockpiling of weaponry for a country's
safety should be permitted if it doesn't impact the environment adversely upon use or if there is the risk
of this artillery falling into the wrong hands. Biological weapons are also known to build international
tension between countries forming mistrust and instability thus I believe the manufacturing of such
means of power should be banned and other alternatives should be welcomed for a country’s safety.