Delegation from Represented by The

The Republic of Uruguay GEMS Metropole

School

Position Paper for the Model United Nations General Assembly 4

Model United Nations General Assembly 4 (GA4) covers the two topics, Peacekeeping Missions
in Africa and the Question of Sri Lanka. Uruguay has shown their contribution to the UN
Peacekeeping Mission since 1951. Uruguay also provides emergency financial assistance to Sri
Lanka to help stabilize the country's economy.

Topic I: Peace keeping missions in Africa: are they working?

Africa has been home to over 40 conflicts in the 21st century alone. Each one of them having an
egregiously high death toll and an even higher number of civilians displaced in the conflicts. The
incidence of killings and needless deaths in the continent must be lowered. The UN has stopped
this by authorizing peacekeeping missions to stop the high frequency of war or battle related
deaths in Africa and to provide stability so that the countries inside the continent may stand on
their own and are able to resist corruption and squash any new manifestations of a war or
conflicts.

In total, the UN has authorized and pursued over 30 peacekeeping missions in Africa. However,
conflicts still arise and the governments set up by the UN crumble into dust. UNAMID, UNMIS,
UNAMSIL and UNMEE have all been authorized to ensure the safety of civilians and create
stable conditions so that no more humanitarian crises occur. Yet, in Uruguay’s eyes, each and
every one of these past operations have failed. Peacekeeper deaths and insurrections against the
UN peacekeepers are a common occurrence in the closing years of these past missions. In
addition to this, a disturbingly high number of reports of sexual abuse and lack of action when
civillian’s are in need have been filed; evidence of incompetence, mismanagement and
corruption have been recorded and written about.

Not only is this common in past missions, but also starting to arise in ongoing missions.
MINURSO, MONUSCO, MINUSCA and UNISFA. Each mission showed signs of peacekeeper
misconduct and ineffectiveness. MONUSCO and MINUSCA has had reports of peacekeepers
raping and sexually abusing girls in their site of operation. Along with this, incompetence of
peacekeeping officers and corruption has been noted and recorded in all 4 of the missions named
previously. This is such a prevalent issue that the secretary-general of MINUSCA is having
ongoing discussions with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to create a
joint effort to combat sexual exploitation of peacekeepers. However the incidence of
incompetence and corruption has not been spoken about or dealt with in any way by the UN.
Delegation from Represented by The
Republic of Uruguay GEMS Metropole School

Uruguay has been a large part of these operations and cannot, without moral objection, ensure
that our troops have not been a part of the problem. It is truly an utter disgrace that our resources
are going to waste and our troops' names may be inside one of the reports of sexual abuse or
incompetence and corruption. Even worse if they just stood idly by whilst this happened. Using
positions of power to exploit and abuse those without power must be met with prosecution rather
than be disregarded due to, UN sanctioned, immunity for peace keepers. People should look to
blue helmets and feel safe and secure rather than fear what they are capable of doing due to their
immunity to judicial law in their current location.

Uruguay would like to propose a thorough review of previous missions to ensure that the
appropriate personnel are aware of what caused the missions to fail. This is so that any and all
missions in the future have a higher probability of possibly succeeding in creating long lasting
peace that allows for the country in question to prosper and flourish without the help of the UN.
History must not repeat itself if the UN wants long lasting peace in Africa.

In addition to this, Uruguay also proposes an intensive internal review of all personnel in the
current missions in Africa and to expedite the discussions into a joint effort between MINUSCA
SG and the OHCHR. Uruguay believes this internal review is vital to the future of all missions in
Africa. This will hopefully prevent any more misconduct by assessing the viability and conduct
of peacekeepers. This will allow for the cutting of any peacekeepers hindering the missions. For
any peacekeepers who have committed crimes to stand trial. As well as, to increase efficiency
and loyalty to the missions.

In conclusion, Uruguay does not believe the past missions have worked and that the current
missions are also on this track to failure. However, Uruguay does believe they have a chance at
working. This is because the only thing constant in all the failed missions were the reports of
peacekeeper abuse, corruption and incompetence . The troops have committed heinous acts of
misconduct and have also failed to protect the civilians they vowed to keep safe. Troops Uruguay
have sent may be a part of the problem. However, Uruguay hopes to cut this disgraceful behavior
from the missions in favor of a long lasting peace. This cannot be accomplished without the
problematic peacekeepers still in the missions. Uruguay as a country still endorses the missions
themselves. However, Uruguay would also like to ensure that the peacekeepers in the missions
are doing their best to provide as much assistance as they can and are not committing crimes due
to their immunity.
Delegation from Represented by The
Republic of Uruguay GEMS Metropole School

Topic II: The Question of Sri Lanka

A multitude of issues, such as a dearth of foreign investment, high levels of debt, and the effect
of COVID-19 on the nation's economy, have contributed to the complexity of Sri Lanka's
economic problem. The crisis has significantly impacted Sri Lankans' lives, particularly those of
the most vulnerable citizens. The economic crisis has made a substantial impact on Sri Lanka.
The GDP of the nation has declined, the unemployment rate has increased, and poverty levels
have worsened. The country's entire healthcare and educational sectors, as well as its capabilities
to offer its residents basic services, have all been adversely affected by the crisis. With the
situation in the country being dire, mass protests across the island have taken place clamoring for
an end to the corruption and mismanagement that have caused millions of people to experience
severe shortages of food, gasoline, and medication. This resulted in the resignation of the Prime
Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, followed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa from office. The
requirement to address the people's immediate economic and social demands, according to
Uruguay, is Sri Lanka's most important task. This includes actions to alleviate poverty and
inequality as well as ones to generate job opportunities and facilitate growth in the economy.
In this sense, Uruguay endorses the government of Sri Lanka's initiatives to carry out
industrialization and address the fundamental infrastructure problems that have exacerbated the
crisis. We propose that the international community should contribute more financial resources,
technical support, and capacity-building to these undertakings. Furthermore, Uruguay’ position
in the matter states that Sri Lanka must address the high level of public expenditure, which is one
of the key factors contributing to the crisis, and maintain macroeconomic stability. This
necessitates a commitment to prudent fiscal management and a reduction in government
expenditure.

In recent years, Uruguay’s economy has risen moderately, with GDP growth averaging
approximately 3% annually. Our nation’s budget remains balanced, and inflation is
comparatively low. With a comparatively high degree of international commerce and
investments, Uruguay has a free market economy, with the country being a part of MERCOSUR,
a regional trade association made up of Venezuela, Paraguay Brazil and Argentina. From 1870 to
2002, Uruguay’s GDP per capita increased at an astonishingly consistent rate, with the long-run
rate of averaging just under one percent annually this is apparent consistency, though it masks
some significant changes.

Uruguay considers Sri Lanka should improve its exports and participation in international
commerce by utilizing its advantageous geographic position and environmental assets. This can
promote the creation of employment opportunities, economic growth, and improved country
resilience to outside shocks. Moreover, Uruguay considers it crucial for Sri Lanka to preserve
political stability as well as to keep pursuing a durable peace. This will improve the foundation
for economic development and growth.
Delegation from Represented by The
Republic of Uruguay GEMS Metropole School

However, Uruguay can only do so much with what we are willing to offer. In order for changes
in the state of economy, Sri Lanka must commit to the eradication of corruption and bringing
about proper and transparent governance. Uruguay believes that the international community has
a responsibility to support countries in need, by saying so, Sri Lanka should focus on reducing
spending and increasing foreign income. Fortunately, the nation has responded to the issue and
banned 300 consumer items like chocolates, perfumes and shampoos. It is an appropriate start
however, further drastic measures are needed in order to solace the economic woes. It is crucial
for political reform as it is needed to bring about proper management and transparency.

To put in a point, we express our concern for the state of affairs in Sri Lanka and our
determination to collaborate with other nations to find a solution to this problem. We are
dedicated to doing our share to assist Sri Lanka in overcoming this economic crisis for we
believe that the international community has a duty to assist nations in need. To assist Sri Lanka
in overcoming its economic obstacles and bettering the lives of its citizens, we implore the
international community to intervene to address the economic crisis there.

References
Delegation from Represented by The
Republic of Uruguay GEMS Metropole School

Topic I:

About MINUSCA
https://minusca.unmissions.org/en

Effect of peace keeping missions in africa

https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/role-peacekeeping-africa

Past peacekeeping missions

https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/past-peacekeeping-operations

About UNMEE
https://unmee.unmissions.org/

About MONUSCO
https://monusco.unmissions.org/en

About UNAMID
https://unamid.unmissions.org/

About UNAMIS
https://unmis.unmissions.org/mandate

UNAMID failure
https://sudantribune.com/article50633/

UNAMID reports
https://sudanreeves.org/2014/07/30/darfur-and-human-security-unamids-failure-forces-essential-
and-inescapable-questions-appendices-31-july-2014/

Topic II:
Delegation from Represented by The
Republic of Uruguay GEMS Metropole School

Sri Lanka’s Economic Crisis and the IMF

https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/08/05/sri-lankas-economic-crisis-and-imf

Gravitas Plus | Explained: Sri Lankan economic crisis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJSsq2fW5ZE

The political economy of agricultural trade policy: Sri Lanka in the Uruguay round
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09584939808719827?journalCode=ccsa20

The Growing Economy Of Uruguay

https://www.liveandinvestoverseas.com/country-hub/uruguay/economy-in-uruguay/
An overview of the economic history of uruguay since 1870’s https://eh.net/encyclopedia/an-
overview-of-the-economic-history-of-uruguay-since-the-1870s/

Sri Lanka Overview: Development news, research, data

https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/srilanka/overview

An Overview of the Economic History of Uruguay since the 1870s

https://eh.net/encyclopedia/an-overview-of-the-economic-history-of-uruguay-since-the-1870s/

Sri Lanka bans import of 300 items of consumer goods to stabilize economy
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/sri-lanka-bans-import-of-300-items-of-consumer-
goods-to-stabilise-economy/article65804599.ece

Sri Lanka’s Path to Recovery: Restoring Human Capital in a Post-Pandemic World

https://srilanka.un.org/en/165102-sri-lankas-path-recovery-restoring-human-capital-post-
pandemic-world
Delegation from Represented by The
Republic of Uruguay GEMS Metropole School