Disarmament & International Security Committee

“Combatting the proliferation of illicit drugs & SALW”

 Letter from the Executive Board

Dear Delegates,

Welcome to Cauvery Global School Model United Nations 2024: “Ground Zero”! We are
delighted to introduce the one and only Committee for this Chapter – the UN General Assembly
First Committee: Disarmament and International Security (UNGA DISEC). We, the Executive
Board, promise you a prominent and productive time here at CGSMUN: G0.

The background guide is your first point of research and serves as an initiator of your research
on the agenda. The background guide provides an overview of the agenda along with some
hints towards the flow of debate via moderated caucuses. We strongly discourage just using
this background guide for your preparation for the conference. We look favourably on
delegates who would raise novel mods that are relevant to the agenda, not given herein. We
would also favour quality research, strict alignment to foreign policy, and maintaining utmost
diplomacy.

The agenda for this Chapter is – “Combatting the proliferation of illicit drugs and small arms
and light weapons (SALW)”. The significance of the agenda is such that it addresses the dual
threats that undermine regional security, public health, and socio-economic development. The
illicit trade in drugs fuels organized crime, corruption, and violence, while the uncontrolled
spread of SALW exacerbates conflicts and instability. Since these evils go hand in hand,
combatting them requires coordinated international efforts to build robust legal frameworks
and enforcement mechanisms. While, the international community is consensual on combatting
the problem, there exists a split on the approaches towards combatting the same. The
multifaceted nature of the problem, recent developments in technology, and lack of
international consensus make the agenda perfect for CGSMUN: G0.

The Executive Board expects well-researched arguments and discussions from the Delegates.
Strict adherence to the Rules of Procedure and initiating motions appropriately is encouraged.
We also encourage the Delegates to have comprehensive knowledge of the issues and solutions
they’d be raising. Documentation and lobbying would play a major role in the committee.
While bringing up facts during moderated caucuses is encouraged, a more solutions-oriented
approach is always appreciated at the conference. As delegates representing nations, you will
be expected to be well-versed with the foreign policies and initiatives taken by your
government regarding the implementation and usage of these resources. It is also best to
reference actual examples or recent developments to make a strong point in a moderated caucus
or point of clarifications. Delegates must engage in critical thinking and keep in mind real-life
problems concerning the scenario too. Raising quality questions would be paramount in
securing a good score. Please note that DISEC has recommendatory powers to the UNSC and
not actionability. So, your solutions should be in recommendatory nature for the UNSC to
consider. We mandate the Delegates to check the powers of the DISEC committee to ensure
the right preparation.

Lastly, we will strive to provide you a great MUN experience and take-home new learnings for
the years to come. There will be minimal intervention from the Executive Board, and it is the
Delegates who would be carrying out the flow of the committee.

The Rewards Structure at CGSMUN: G0 is unbiased, inclusive, and fruitful. We will recognize
multiple contenders for the following:

1. Best Delegate Award*

2. High Commendation Award
3. Special Mention Award
4. Verbal Mention – Committee Participation & Best Dressed.
5. Best Speaker
6. Best Duellist
7. Best Lobbyist
8. Best Solutions Contributor
*We will recognize only the best contender for Best Delegate Award. Everything else can have multiple contenders.

Hence, we encourage all of you to give your best and to understand that every session, motion,
chit matters in this three-day conference. Please feel free to contact us in case of procedural
questions. Hoping to see you all at the conference!

Best Wishes & Warm Regards,

The Executive Board, DISEC – CGSMUN: G0
[email protected]
+91 8248709124
 History of DISEC

The United Nations (UN) Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC) is also
known as the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly and was created in
1945 when the charter of the UN was signed. Being one of the six main bodies of the UNGA
means that all 193 members of the UN can participate in its sessions. It deals with challenges
faced globally regarding peace and disarmament, and to maintain the international security
regime 1.
The Charter determines the scope of work of the committee – and it includes all forms of
disarmament, arms control, the non-proliferation of weapons, especially those of mass
destruction, and more. Proliferation, meaning the rapid increase in the number of something,
refers to the often-illegal manufacturing and distribution of drugs and weapons. It also acts as
a forum of discussion for member states to negotiate agreements and develop strategies for the
prevention of conflict and resolution.
The past year, at the 78th session of the UN, the DISEC committee held extensive debates and
discussions under the theme of “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating
action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity,
progress and sustainability for all” 2.
DISEC committees usually convene in sessions that are structured in three specific stages –
firstly, general debate, then, thematic discussions, and finally, action on drafts. It is to be noted
that while the resolutions passed in the committee are not legally binding for any Member
States of the UN, they hold immense importance in the international community, as they are
guidelines for tackling threats to global peace.

1
https://www.un.org/en/ga/first/index.shtml
2
https://press.un.org/en/2024/ga12579.doc.htm
 Background
Small Arms and Light Weapons
The mass production of firearms began in the 19th century, with the industrial revolution and
innovations in weapon technology made them more accessible to the public – forever changing
the dynamics of warfare. This was further perpetuated post World War II, with the Cold War,
when both superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union supplied weapons to their
respective allies and proxy forces worldwide, which furthered the regional conflicts in Africa,
Asia, and Latin America.
The 1990s then saw a surge in intra-state disputes, with Small and Light Weapons (SALW)
acting as the primary tools of violence, and the civil wars in places like the Balkans and Africa
saw the effects of uncontrolled proliferation of these weapons. This drove the UN to address
these issues more systematically, leading to the 1996 UN Conference on the Illicit Trade in
SALW in All its Aspects. With the key objectives to raise awareness regarding the
humanitarian and security challenges of illicit trade of SALW and to promote international
cooperation, it achieved consensus on action amongst the delegates on the need for effective
international and national measures for non-proliferation. Additionally, it led to the
establishment of frameworks for further discussion, which ultimately contributed to the
development of the UN Programme of Action on SALW in 2001.
SALW programming is the effort by international and national states to control the proliferation
of ammunition and arms that are small – and comprise of everything from handguns to fully
automatic weapons. For further clarity, it is categorised as weaponry that can be operated and
carried by no more than three people and does not need the use of a vehicle.
The proliferation of illicit SALW has and continues to pose a pervasive and systemic threat to
not only international peace but also the security regimes in regional areas and national
jurisdictions, especially when they are stockpiled 3. The misuse of SALW not only contributes
to the significant loss of life of civilians who live in small, developing countries and areas that
are torn by strife and conflict, but also continuously undermine the efforts of the Security
Council to maintain peace and security. The consequences of events in one locality can have
implications that are far-reaching, and oftentimes act as catalysts that lead to global strife.
As per the UN Security Council’s report on SALW, between 2015 to 2020 27% of the 176,000+
people who were killed in the world’s deadliest conflicts died because they were shot with an
SALW – these numbers are exclusive of victims of armed violence who live outside of conflict
zones. 4
Drug Trafficking
Psychoactive substances have been used for medicinal, recreational and spiritual purposes
since the time of ancient civilisations including by the Sumerians, Egyptians and other
indigenous people. The cultivation and consumptions of plants like opium poppy began around
3400 BC in Mesopotamia (Southwest Asia) 5. The 19th Century, with its scientific
developments, led to the isolation of various alkaloids like morphine and cocaine from plants

3
https://press.un.org/en/2021/sc14656.doc.htm
4
https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n21/246/59/pdf/n2124659.pdf
5
https://museum.dea.gov/exhibits/online-exhibits/cannabis-coca-and-poppy-natures-addictive-plants/opium-
poppy#:~:text=The%20earliest%20reference%20to%20opium,it%20on%20to%20the%20Egyptians.
and consequently, its use in healthcare. The first concerns regarding addiction arose in the
United States and established the initial efforts to regulate consumption. The early 20th Century
marked the beginning of the war on drugs, with the implementation of strict laws like the
Harrison Narcotics Tax Act in 1914, which then effectively lead to the restriction of opiate and
cocaine usage and criminalisation followed.
Post-World War II, there was a boom in the global drug trade, which was driven by the
increasing demand in the Europe and USA, with heroin and other narcotics becoming widely
abused. This was exacerbated by the counterculture movement in the 1960s, wherein the
consumption of drugs like marijuana and LSD were embraced. The 20th Century saw another
major issue tied up with drugs and narcotics – drug cartels. With the advent of globalisation,
powerful cartels emerged in Latin America (such as the Medellin and Sinaloa cartels), which
not only significantly increased the production and trafficking of cocaine and heroin, but also
made prevention and non-proliferation more difficult. Here, governments had to intervene,
implementing harsh policies and military roles to combat the issue.
Currently, the trafficking of drugs is still an illicit global trade that is comprised of the
cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of substances that are subject to drug prohibition
laws. New research suggests that there was an increase of illicit drug users in the decade leading
up to 2022, becoming approximately 292 million people worldwide. While most of these are
cannabis consumers – 228 million people – 60 million consume opioids, 30 million
amphetamines, 23 million cocaine and 20 million take ecstasy. Worsening this situation,
according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and adding to overdose
death statistics is the emergence of nitazenes in various high-income countries. This is a
synthetic group of opioids that are potentially more dangerous than fentanyl 6. The production
of cocaine hit an unprecedented high in 2022, with 2,757 tonnes being produced – which is a
20% increase from 2021.
Consequently, a surge in violence was recorded in nations that are located along the supply
chain, particularly in Ecuador and the Caribbean countries, and a spike in health issues in
certain areas of Western and Central Europe. Additionally, with the legalisation of cannabis in
Canada, Uruguay and 27 states of the US, there has been an increase in the harmful use of the
product, especially as it tends to be laced with high-THC (delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol)
contents – leading to higher rates of attempted suicide amongst Canadian and American users.
The UN emphasises on the right to health for all humans, and recognises that regardless of their
drug use status, they cannot be stripped of their human rights. The UNODC calls for the
collaboration of international governments, organisations, and communities to fight against the
trafficking of drugs and organised crime.
The Link between SALW and Drugs
The proliferation of SALW and drugs on their own each are extremely harmful for national
and international communities – however, it is rare that they are present by themselves. The
links between the two are multifaceted, and are characterised by:
a. the trafficking of illicit drugs creates a demand for firearms as most traffickers are
heavily armed with SALW;

6
https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/06/1151446
 b. the overlapping and similar trafficking routes, modus operandi and actors that are
employed for both firearms and narcotics, especially in situations where one is
demanded as payment for the other;
c. access to SALW by drug traffickers promotes increased violence despite the
majorly non-violent nature of the illicit trade.
Yet another issue is the prevalent weapons trafficking method and its the use of a ‘straw
purchaser’ – someone who is eligible to make purchases for someone who is not. Acting as a
major reason for the illicit dispersion of SALW from the US is when American citizens who
have no criminal records purchase firearms with relative freedom, only for them to be
channelled to the hands of Mexican drug cartels. A large portion of the illegal weapons
recovered from Mexico traces back to legal sales made in the US 7.

Past Actions
Combatting Proliferation of SALW
For over two decades, the UN have made significant efforts to combat the proliferation of
SALW – with the first programme being adopted in 2001 - The United Nations Programme of
Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons
in All its Aspects 8 (UN PoA). This was followed by the adoption of the International Tracing
Instrument, and subsequently, the Firearms Protocol of the United Nations Convention against
Transnational Organized Crime – these established an overall framework for the Member
States and other regional organisations to enact relevant legislations and administrative
measures within in order to enforce non-proliferation of SALW. While only one of the three,
the Firearms Protocol is legally binding, there is still political commitment on the part of
Member States to implement these instruments. Further, to enable the enforcement of these
measures better, regional blocs have established mechanisms such as the Caribbean
Community and Common Market (CARICOM).
Another important framework is the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), which came into force on 24th
December 2014. It currently has a total of 112 State parties, with 29 States that have signed but
not ratified the Treaty. The objective of this international instrument is to regulate the
conventional arms trade market, and to prevent and eradicate the illicit trade and diversion of
SALW through governance of arms transfers and establishment of international standards 9.
The Fourth Review Conference (RevCon4) of the UN PoA was held from the 17-28th of June
2024, in New York. The outcome was a declaration of renewed commitment to peace and
security and enhance international cooperation with an additional goal to implement
sustainable development in the prevention and combating of illicit SALW. An action plan for
the years 2024 to 2030 was adopted, with solutions such as prevention of not only

7
https://sherloc.unodc.org/cld/en/education/tertiary/firearms/module-4/key-issues/supply--demand-and-
criminal-motivations.html
8
https://www.un.org/en/chronicle/article/un-role-and-efforts-combating-proliferation-small-arms-and-light-
weapons#:~:text=In%202001%2C%20the%20adoption%20of,United%20Nations%20Convention%20against%2
0Transnational
9
https://thearmstradetreaty.org/#
manufacturing of these weapons, but also reactivation and conversion, and in all of stages of
the life cycle of the SALW 10.
The United Nations also makes available several resources for Member States to utilise for
guidance and assistance with the non-proliferation of SALW. This includes the Modular Small-
arms-control Implementation Compendium (MOSAIC), the Saving Lives Entity (SALIENT)
and the United Nations Trust Facility Supporting Cooperation on Arms Regulation
(UNSCAR).
Combatting proliferation of Drugs
The United Nations, identifying the consequences of lack of drug control and usage, began
holding conferences periodically to deal with this issue. This led to the establishment of three
major international treaties for drug control. The first was the Single Convention on Narcotic
Drugs – adopted in 1961, it aimed to combat usage, limit possession, trade, distribution,
manufacture and production to only medicinal purposes and prevent trafficking through
coordinated international intervention. It was then modified in 1972 by the Protocol amending
the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. 11
This was then followed by the Convention on Psychotic Substances of 1971, and it established
a system of control for these substances to be implemented internationally. This treaty took
into consideration the diversification and expansion of the variety of drugs, while also
recognising and differentiating between the potential therapeutic uses and illicit consumption.
Of the solutions were codification of control measures and international application, to prevent
the diversion into trafficking channels. The third was the United Nations Convention Against
Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, which was adopted in 1988 in
Vienna. It provided measures not only against drug trafficking, but also money laundering and
control of the precursor chemicals through international cooperation and controlled deliveries.
Resolution 51/11
In 2008, the Commission on Narcotics Drugs recognised the impact of the relationship between
the proliferation of drugs and SALW and implemented Resolution 51/11 – Links between Illicit
Drugs Trafficking and Illicit Firearms Trafficking. This instrument urges Member States to
take adequate measures and be cooperative in a manner that is consistent with their domestic
legislations and administrative systems to prevent proliferation of firearms, to reinforce border
control, to train law enforcement and other authorities regarding matters of investigation and
control. It also encourages multilateral and bilateral collaboration, providing information and
data to the UNODC and to look into the existing relationship between the trafficking of
firearms and narcotics to effectively combat both 12.

10
https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n24/197/58/pdf/n2419758.pdf
11
https://www.un.org/en/conferences/drug#:~:text=In%201961%2C%20the%20United%20Nations,March%20
1961%20in%20New%20York.
12
https://www.unodc.org/documents/commissions/CND/Drug_Resolutions/2000-2009/2008/CND_Res-2008-
11e.pdf
 Issues/Current Scenario
In addition to the role that SALW play in worsening ongoing conflicts, it also facilitates human
rights violations in several ways – the high availability of the weapons contributes to organised
crime, gang violence, terrorism and homicides. It also enables targeted killings, ethnic
cleansing and exacerbates gender-based violence, putting women, children, and other
vulnerable populations more at risk, and leads to displacement, creates refugees, and internally
displaces persons. Examples of this can be found in the conflicts present in the African and
Middle Eastern regions. Beyond this, armed violence can be disruptive towards the economies
of states, often undermining progress by creating unstable environments – this is especially
consequential when it takes place in developing and under-developed countries.
Access to SALW, while regulated, is enabled by weak regulatory frameworks, wherein there
is a lack of control of sale, transfer and possession of SALW, inconsistent national policies and
little international cooperation. Yet another reason is the challenges that are faced with
disarmament – be it post-conflicts, or stockpile management, weapons remain in circulation
and available in illegal markets, leading to renewed violence. A new factor is emerging
technologies, such as 3D printing and unregulated online sales, which make it harder to track
the manufacture and transfer of firearms, and further exacerbates the situation.
Much like for SALW, the emergence of the internet and technology has presented new
challenges and hurdles when it comes to combatting the proliferation of illicit drugs. This
includes the creation and rise of synthetic opioids like fentanyl, which have led to exacerbated
human rights crises, particularly in the West. On the other end of the spectrum, regions like the
Golden Triangle – comprising of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos, and Latin America which are
global centres for drug production and manufacturing are heavily impacted, including by way
of human trafficking and rampant diseases such as HIV. Additionally, the internet facilitates
and enables further trade of illicit drugs in ways and speeds unprecedented, making access to
narcotics far easier.
When the illicit objects are combined, the impacts are drastic - the scope for violence is tenfold,
drug cartels are made more powerful, and often allowed to operate at their own discretion, there
is an increased opportunity for armed groups to be established and successful, officials and
authorities become corrupt, the institution of the state is weakened and with rampant cross-
border and transnational networks, regional instability increase. Examples of these can be seen
in the conflicts taking place in South America, South-East Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and
North America.
Bloc Positions
Per se, all member states present in the committee will agree on the immediate need and
necessity to prevent and eradicate the illicit trade of Small and Light Weapons and the
trafficking of illicit narcotics. This is especially true since control in this aspect is essential to
ensuring the security and safety of civilians. However, the processes and methods that the
countries will deploy to reach the objective will change, especially with regards to gun control
laws, depending on the different diplomatic positions the states hold. The bloc positions given
here are just to help you set grounds for further research, do look through further on your
country’s stance on drugs and SALW.
United States of America – the world’s largest exporter of SALW protects the private right to
bear arms under the Second Amendment of their Constitution. Due to this, the codification of
laws within the ambit of international instruments are minimal – with the focus being on
destruction of weapons in international conflict zones, rather than prevention of distribution
and accessibility.
Russia – is the world’s second largest arms producer, one of the biggest SALW manufacturers
and of the most active on the SALW market, being an active exporter of a broad range of
firearms models. It is also legal to purchase and own firearms in the country. While there has
been a recent move towards stricter firearms laws, there is no form of international or national
effort to prevent the proliferation of SALW.
UK and EU – the European Union maintains a stance that supports the restriction of SALW
proliferation through both legislative and enforcement capacities and emphasises on
international cooperation. The United Kingdom is committed to stronger controls on SALW
transfers, and seeks to collect, manage, and destroy weapons and ammunition in collaboration
with other Member States.
Australia – the focus of this Member State is to prevent the illicit diversion of the firearms,
rather than prevent the distribution itself. Additionally, there is an emphasis on the importance
of safe and effective handling and storage of small weapons.
African Union – the countries in this region are some of the most adversely affected by the
proliferation of SALW. There is a commitment towards disarmament, demobilisation and
reintegration processes, with the overall objective to prevent and eradicate the proliferation,
trafficking and circulation of the firearms across all regions in the continent.
Arab League – similar to the African region, circulation of SALW poses a significant threat
to the peace and security of Arab states. However, the states are divided in the strictness of
their legislations regarding the manufacturing and distribution of the firearms. Despite this,
most countries are not favourable towards complete disarmament or bans on the weapons,
choosing instead to focus on the illicit distribution aspects. All nations have stringent and harsh
laws on the proliferation of drugs.
Latin America – a majority of countries in this region permit civilians to carry firearms, albeit
with strong gun control laws. Despite this, the transnational issue of SALW trafficking,
especially from the US increase the number of unregistered weapons in the countries. The
governments are committed to the non-proliferation of SALW through international
cooperation and sustainable development. However, when it comes to combatting proliferation
of drugs, some governments are opting to take an unconventional route – legalisation of certain
aspects of drug production are in talks, in an attempt to bring it more under control, while others
plan to implement stricter laws and crackdowns on cartels.
The Golden Triangle – gun laws in these countries are stringent, with the right to carry being
restricted, and similarly, they are active in the efforts regarding the non-proliferation of SALW.
The issues the States face with the trafficking and proliferation of drugs, however, are far more
severe, despite extensive prohibitive laws and penalisation. In order to combat this, Thailand
and Myanmar are taking steps towards more rehabilitative measures, rather than punitive, while
Laos prefers to implement harsher laws.
 Moderated Caucus Topics
(Feel free to bring up more relevant mods during committee!)
1. Analysing and addressing the gendered impact of the proliferation of SALW and illicit
drugs.
2. Discussing community-based approaches to disarmament.
3. Discussing barriers and methods to facilitate post-conflict disarmament and
reintegration.
4. Impact of technology on SALW and illicit drugs proliferation.
5. Addressing the role of SALW proliferation on conflicts in the African Continent and
the Middle East.
6. Finding gaps and strengthening existing international frameworks/regulation related to
non-proliferation.
7. Discussing the role of the internet/social media in the proliferation of illicit drugs and
SALW.
8. Discussing ways to curb the demand/consumption side of the illicit drug trade.
9. Discussing ways to combat the international and regional supply chain of illicit drugs
and SALW.
10. Analysing the evils of narco-states and narco-terrorism, and ways to combat the same.

Research Links to refer to:

a. https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n01/507/20/pdf/n0150720.pdf
b. https://disarmament.unoda.org/convarms/salw/
c. https://unoau.unmissions.org/small-arms-and-light-weapons
d. https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/un-documents/small-arms/
e. https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n24/197/58/pdf/n2419758.pdf
f. https://unodc.org/res/WDR-2023/WDR23_Exsum_fin_DP.pdf
g. https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/06/1151446
h. https://vlaamsvredesinstituut.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Issue-paper-on-
firearms-drugs-links_final.pdf
i. https://www.unodc.org/documents/commissions/CND/Drug_Resolutions/2000
-2009/2008/CND_Res-2008-11e.pdf
j. https://www.euda.europa.eu/news/2023/new-report-explores-links-between-
drug-markets-and-gun-violence-eu_en
k. https://www.thejournal.ie/drug-trade-map-1949981-Feb2015/
l. https://www.weforum.org/stories/2016/07/these-maps-show-how-illegal-
drugs-flow-around-the-globe/
m. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/CIA_Map_of_Internati
onal_illegal_drug_connections.gif