Position paper for Denmark
| Committee: | GA First |
| Topic: | Consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures |
| Paper text: | |
| We remain cognizant of the adverse effects of the ongoing wars and rising conflicts around the
world. In addition to attacks on civilians and gender-based violence, for the past decade, there
has been annual increase in World Military Expenditure, nearing 2.4 trillion dollars in 2024. For
the first time since 2009, military expenditure went up in all five of the geopolitical regions. The
unprecedented rise in military spending is a direct response to the global deterioration in
peace and security and an increasingly volatile geopolitical and security landscape all over the
world.
We strongly condemn attacks on civilians, and particularly gender-based violence targeted at women in times of conflict and war. We recognize the need for women's participation in all matters of national peace and security, as well as the need to protect women and girls from gender-based violence in relation to war and violence. We believe treaties such as United Nations Resolution 1325- on women, peace and security (2000) and the United Nations Women Peace and Security agenda to be of utmost importance. Hence, we join forces with other nations to work preventively against gender-based violence in times of conflict and war. We affirm the connection between the disarmament of weapons and development of nations and therefore uphold the UN efforts towards disarmament and arms control as a means to promote development. We believe that current expenditure on wars and conflicts is an opportunity cost and could be redirected as an investment in nonmilitary public infrastructure such as education, health, infrastructure, and economic growth. We remain committed to contributing towards the United Nations Special Fund for Global Development. | |
| Committee: | GA First |
| Topic: | Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction |
| Paper text: | |
| Denmark is unwavering in its commitment to the principles and objectives of the
Convention
on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling, and Use of Chemical
Weapons
and on Their Destruction. It is a shared aspiration among nations and the international
community to achieve global peace, free from the specter of military conflict. Unfortunately,
the
current reality is marked by ongoing strife in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, alongside
the
persistent threat of chemical weapons an unsettling scenario that contrasts sharply with
our
aspirations for peace. However, as long as military warfare exists, Denmark firmly believes
that
chemical weapons have no place in armed warfare. These weapons inflict indiscriminate
suffering, resulting in severe injuries, long-term health consequences, and death for both
combatants and civilians alike.
Since 1997, Denmark has been a proactive supporter of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), contributing funds and resources to their initiatives, assisting victims of chemical weapons, and raising awareness about the humanitarian impacts of their use. We will continue to back the OPCW by actively participating in international forums and negotiations focused on disarmament and non-proliferation, while advocating for stronger norms against chemical weapons. We call for universal adherence to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and urge all States to ratify and implement the treaty. We also advocate for strengthened cooperation among law enforcement and intelligence agencies to effectively address threats posed by non-state actors and terrorist groups. | |
| Committee: | GA Second |
| Topic: | Agriculture development, food security and nutrition |
| Paper text: | |
| According to the 4th global SFSP conference the present global food system is incongruent and environmentally disastrous. Conference leaders called for global food architecture to be developed under one coherent and holistic prospective, this is crucial to avoid unintended consequences that can be caused by fragmented approaches to global food infrastructure. When considering what a lens for developing global food infrastructure should look like, there are two factors which must be considered: sustainability and availability. Beginning with sustainability according to the United Nations Environment Programme, industrial farms makeup 65% of agricultural land and is incredibly damaging to the environment. The intense usage of nitrogen based fertilizer often leak into water supplies creating dead zones for ocean life and releases pollutants into the air. Industrial agriculture is a threat to 86% of endangered species. Future global food infrastructure should categorically reject industrial farming, and instead embrace sustainable food practices. Those food practices should have a flexible framework to allow for the differences in individual nations but should generally rotate crops, avoid large scale pesticide and fertilizer use, and privilege numerous small scale farms over singular massive farms. Next, the 2023 edition of the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report, between 691 and 783 million people faced hunger in 2022. According to an article published in the National Institutes of Health's Sustainable Transformation Agenda for Enhanced Global Food and Nutrition Security (2023), many underutilized crops can be integrated into global sustainable agriculture in order to meet nutritional needs. Crops such as Amaranth, Quinoa, bambara groundnut, african breadfruit, mung bean, and pumpkins are extremely nutritious and resistant to climate change. A paper written in collaboration between FAO, UNICEF, WFP and WHO found that in urban environments, economic policies called food smart cities emphasize local food production, food supply chain enhancements, marketing by promoting food trading, value-adding of locally produced foods, and repurposing available spaces through partnerships with local CSOs, government and NGOs. In conclusion, all future global food architecture should be developed under a lens that rejects industrial farming, embraces small farms which rotate crops and avoid damaging chemicals, integrates underutilized highly nutritious and resilient crops, and embraces food smart cities. | |
| Committee: | GA Second |
| Topic: | Development cooperation with middle-income countries |
| Paper text: | |
| Denmark's stance on cooperation with middle-income countries has never been more of a priority. As the effects of climate change are becoming more disastrous across the world and middle-income countries continue to be the largest contributors of carbon emissions, a green transition and redevelopment of middle-income countries' economies is necessary for successfully and effectively combating climate change at a global scale. Denmark recognizes past and current injustices pushed on certain middle-income countries and is committed to providing remedy. However, the development of many high-income countries' economies was not done sustainably. A new path is needed, a path that prioritizes environmentally sustainable development and that removes injustices pushed on middle-income countries. Denmark remains committed to pursuing mutual cooperation with all nations in this transition. Denmark urges immediate action by all nations to pay their fair share and create a path to sustainable development in order to create a green future for all nations of our world. | |
| Committee: | GA Third |
| Topic: | Rights of indigenous peoples |
| Paper text: | |
| The rights of Indigenous Peoples have been a widely discussed topic throughout the world, but more can be done. The Kingdom of Denmark has proven to be a leader in adopting policies to expand the rights of Indigenous populations. This includes voting in favor of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Denmark believes that the recognition and protection of Indigenous Peoples rights are essential to advancing global justice, equity, and the preservation of cultural diversity. One of the steps taken to achieve these goals were to require consent from the Inuit population to mine in coastal areas. While the Indigenous population is low, the Kingdom of Denmark supports policies that show respect to the people. Respecting and expanding the rights of Indigenous People is critical for promoting harmonious coexistence between populations. There is more work to be done, globally, in order to improve this issue. | |
| Committee: | GA Third |
| Topic: | Literacy for life |
| Paper text: | |
| Currently, for all individuals aged 15 and above the total combined literacy rate on a global scale is 86.3%. Males show a slightly higher global literacy rate at 90%, while women slightly trail behind at 82.7%. However, an estimated 750 million people worldwide cannot read and write at the basic level of proficiency, two-thirds of them being women. In 2003, UNESCO (United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) adopted the role of head agency and international coordinator for the United Nations Literacy Decade (2003-2012). This initiative highlighted the ideology that universal literacy is at the heart of global educational efforts. UNESCO's commitment to literacy is further exhibited by its publication of the Education for All Global Monitoring Report in 2006, which focused specifically on Literacy for Life. More recently, at the 40th General Conference, UNESCO proposed the Strategy for Youth and Adult Literacy, the goal of which is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Denmark has one of the highest literacy rates in the world with 99% of both men and women aged 15 and up considered literate. Here, education is open to all and publicly financed. Danish education aims to ensure that all young people acquire knowledge and skills that will qualify them to take active part in the knowledge society and contribute to its further development. To bolster Denmark's impressive 99% literacy rate, the country shall focus our efforts on enhancing youth and adult literacy through tailored programs, workplace initiatives, and community-based projects. By engaging stakeholders, securing funding, and promoting lifelong learning, Denmark aims to align literacy skills with labor market needs, ensuring sustainable development and reducing skill mismatches. The action plan for Denmark's Literacy for Life initiative aims to maintain and improve the country's already high literacy rates by focusing on six key areas: 1. Assessment and gap analysis, 2. Strengthening existing programs, 3. Targeted interventions for vulnerable groups, 4. Digital literacy initiatives, 5. Workforce development and lifelong learning, and 6. Monitoring and evaluation. This plan emphasizes enhancing adult education programs, addressing skills mismatches in the labor market, supporting immigrants and low-skilled workers, promoting digital literacy, and fostering a culture of lifelong learning. By implementing these strategies, Denmark aims to further solidify its position as a global leader in adult education and ensure all Danish adults have the necessary skills to fully participate in society and the economy. | |
| Committee: | GA Plenary |
| Topic: | The human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment |
| Paper text: | |
| The Kingdom of Denmark is a leader in the UNs Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), believing everyone deserves a clean sustainable environment. Denmark supports the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to help regulate environmental standards and obligations at global, regional, and country levels. Within the UNEP, Denmark is helping developing countries protect their environment. With an overall goal of getting 70% of all emissions reduced by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050, Denmark is helping the developing countries by providing financial aid for green transition projects, developing climate change impacts, and sharing their renewable energies technologies. The overall goal is to achieve a sustainable environment for every nation. | |
| Committee: | GA Plenary |
| Topic: | Safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel |
| Paper text: | |
| Denmark is no stranger to war. Over the course of our long history, we have always
strived to
ensure the safety and security of non-combatants to the extent that it is possible. In conflicts
today, we are seeing an ever-increasing disregard and lack of care to ensure that innocent
lives
are protected. In various conflicts around the globe, certain actors are either directly
attacking
humanitarian aid workers, or viewing them as acceptable collateral damage, in the pursuit of
victory. It is the position of the country of Denmark that this not be allowed to continue.
One method to enhance the safety of humanitarian aid workers is to regulate the use of Artificial Intelligence in the use of targeting. Aid workers have been bombed due to reckless use of AI in targeting. AI in combat is not going away, but we, as a United Nations, can promote more responsible use of the technology. Resolutions ensuring Member States hold personnel accountable for irresponsible targeting practices would be a strong and positive step towards ensuring that we can protect the lives of innocent people in combat zones. | |
| Committee: | ECOSOC |
| Topic: | Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality |
| Paper text: | |
| On the topic of empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality, we wish all countries to continue striving towards UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In a world riddled with conflict and a climate crisis, people in developing countries can be excluded or silenced. It is only when people can exercise their human rights that they are empowered to make decisions that affect their lives and those around them. To eliminate poverty and inequality, human rights must promote equality, participation, and inclusiveness. To advance toward more equitable and sustainable development, human rights are not only important, but the right thing to do. Thus, we propose our development cooperation strategy, The World We Share. It addresses SDG Goals of no poverty, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, less inequality, and partnerships for the goals. In focusing on granting access to health care services and in the education of these fragile territories, we hope to support marginalized groups of people, consisting of young people, children, and refugees. In continuing support though multilateral and international organizations, such as WHO and other UN councils, we hope to continue empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality. | |
| Committee: | ECOSOC |
| Topic: | Science, technology and innovation for development |
| Paper text: | |
| The Kingdom of Denmark is one of the leaders in innovation in areas such as environmental science, agriculture, biomedicine, and more technologies. Denmark one of the most digitalized societies in the world. Additionally, there are a large number of patents in the Kingdom of Denmark compared to population size. The Kingdom of Denmark is committed to advancing technology and has taken steps to integrate new technologies, such as investing in the research and investment in Artificial Intelligence (AI). Additionally, the Kingdom of Denmark is committed to embracing AI and the economic and social benefits it can provide such as better healthcare and transport. Furthermore, as Denmark is ranked as the best country deal with digital governance, the Kingdom of Denmark is committed to helping other nations regulate technology while still advancing it. The Kingdom of Denmark firmly believes in using technology to help the world. One important way is through TriVision, which is technology that helps cut food waste in half. This can be used to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals on reducing food waste. The Kingdom of Denmark is firmly committed to using technological advancements to help the rest of the world. | |
| Committee: | WHA |
| Topic: | Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health |
| Paper text: | |
| Denmark has been a leader in the health of women, children and adolescents. A necessary tool for that is a healthcare system to prevent deaths and allow citizens to thrive. Women and children make up approximately 50% of the world population, yet there are still struggles for them to get necessary healthcare. Roughly 287,000 maternal deaths occur each year, with 95% being in low and low-middle income countries. Children die at a rate of 16,000 deaths per day with 2% of those being under the age of 5. The Kingdom of Denmark has supported the Global Strategy by implementing data driven approaches to improve our healthcare system. The Kingdom of Denmark has a universal healthcare system that allows all our citizens to receive the necessary medical treatments to maintain health. The Kingdom of Denmark believes in pushing for universal healthcare by UN members for the world as it would allow the mortality rates to drop and citizens to thrive. | |
| Committee: | WHA |
| Topic: | Public health dimension of the world drug problem |
| Paper text: | |
| Denmark has been a leader in fighting the trafficking of illegal drugs. However, a scientific approach to minimizing deaths and other negative consequences of addiction needs to happen for our world to continue to move forward. In 2021 the world saw 174,500 deaths occur from substance use disorder. Focusing on punishment instead of prevention does not allow citizens to recover and costs countries more money than should be necessary. The EMCDDA shows that approximately 29% of the world's population has a substance use disorder. This is a 45% increase over the last decade. In Denmark during 2023 the rate of those with addiction issues fell by 7%.Denmark has used a fact-based approach that was mixed with a mental health guidance. When scientific research and international collaboration are involved, substance use can be minimized. Prevention and mental health approaches allow for healing and recovery. By using fact over fear and sharing those findings with other members of the UN, the UN can prevent deaths, trauma and other negative outcomes that substance use carries with it. This also allows for the Synthetic Drug Strategy to help the world to overcome this epidemic | |
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