ILLEGAL ARMS INDUSTRY

Established in 1945, DISEC mainly establishes principles of cooperation in the maintenance of international peace and security. DISEC was also considered to be the first established UN committee to respond to the need for an international forum to discuss peace and security issues. This year, the committee will focus on two troubling topics; combating the illegal arms industry in the Sahel region, and revitalising UN peacekeeping operations. These topics are extremely prevalent and will have a detrimental, global impact if not addressed effectively and efficiently. The illegal arms trade in the Sahel fuels instability, perpetuates armed conflict, and undermines development. Issues of weak governance and ongoing insurgencies enable the proliferation of illegal weapons, which empower extremist groups and criminal networks. This exacerbates violence, making peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts increasingly difficult. Moreover, the revitalisation of UN peacekeeping operations is paramount for the evolving complexities of global conflicts; it being common that peacekeepers fail to follow policy and even abuse human rights. Innovation and adaptation of peacekeeping must be carried out to maintain physical, international peace and security in our interconnected world.