Position paper for Greece
| Committee: | GA First |
| Topic: | Consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures |
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| Greece is dedicated to the principles of disarmament and international security, having been a founding member of both NATO and the European Union (EU), in addition to its participation in numerous disarmament and non-proliferation treaties. The country has actively engaged in disarmament agreements and diplomatic initiatives. Notably, in 1981, Greece became a signatory to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons, also referred to as the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW). This convention prohibits or restricts the use of specific categories of weapons and non-lethal methods that are considered to cause unnecessary suffering or indiscriminate harm. The ratification of the CCW by Greece underscores its adherence to the principles of international humanitarian law, which seeks to minimize harm and suffering during armed conflicts. By complying with the provisions of the CCW, Greece plays a significant role in fostering a more humane and equitable international security landscape. Furthermore, Greece formally acceded to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in 1995, thereby becoming a party to this international agreement aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons. Additionally, Greece is a member of the Nuclear Weapons Free Zone in the Middle East, demonstrating its commitment to non-proliferation efforts in the region. | |
| 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 |
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| In 2017, Greece endorsed the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty, which it subsequently ratified in 2021, marking a significant milestone in its disarmament efforts. This treaty prohibits the development, production, testing, possession, transfer, and use of nuclear weapons. Greece has consistently supported the goals of the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty, actively advocating for the disarmament of nuclear-armed states and calling for the elimination of nuclear arsenals. Greece expressed concerns regarding the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), stating that it "does not provide the necessary provisions for an incremental withdrawal of nuclear weapons, nor does it offer a verifiable mechanism to oversee such an endeavor, boycotting negotiations with the TPNW. Greece holds a notable position within the United Nations peacekeeping operations, securing the 61st rank in terms of the largest contributors of uniformed personnel. Presently, Greece has contributed 108 peacekeepers, inclusive of 20 female personnel, to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). These personnel are stationed aboard the frigate 'Adrias' as part of UNIFIL's Maritime Task Force (MTF). Furthermore, Greece is among the 15 nations that have contributed to the MTF since its inception in 2006. The MTF was established following a request from the Government of Lebanon with the objective of monitoring coastal waters and thwarting the unauthorized entry of arms by sea into Lebanon. In conclusion, Greece actively participates in United Nations peacekeeping efforts and has significantly contributed to the MTF through the deployment of 108 peacekeepers aboard the frigate 'Adrias'. | |
| Committee: | GA Second |
| Topic: | Agriculture development, food security and nutrition |
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| The Hellenic Republic (Greece) remains concerned about food access globally, with over 500 million people globally struggling with food insecurity. Greece is party to the European Green Deal, which has a goal of creating a sustainable and efficient agricultural sector. Furthermore, Greece is committed to achieving the End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture aspect of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The Hellenic Republic recommends further funding the World Food Programme (WFP) and expanding the program's reach across the world. The WFP is proven to be effective and efficient, reaching over 120 countries and territories with 86 offices, which aids over 100 million people a year. While the number of people helped by this is staggering, Greece believes this number can be dramatically increased by putting forth more funds to the WFP. On the topic of agriculture, the Hellenic Republic believes in an implementation of the agricultural goals as part of the UNSDGs. Greece suggests greater cooperation between countries who have developed a sustainable, efficient, and effective agricultural sector, and those with an underdeveloped agricultural economy. The countries with a developed agricultural sector will provide the funds, knowledge, and other resources to assist those countries which aspire to grow the agricultural aspect of their economy. | |
| Committee: | GA Second |
| Topic: | Development cooperation with middle-income countries |
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| The Hellenic Republic (Greece), being a founding member of the Organisation for Economic Co- operation and Development (OECD) and classified as a high-income country, welcomes development cooperation with middle income countries, as Greece was once a middle-income country itself. Middle-income countries are essential to the global economy, and Greece would like to see them prosper in the international system. The Hellenic Republic believes in implementing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and would like to see these applied when cooperating with developing countries. Specifically, Greece would focus on zero hunger, partnerships for the goals, and industry, innovation, and infrastructure. Greece believes these three goals in particular, as well as the others, are imperative to develop middle-income countries and would like to see high-income countries cooperate with middle-income countries by using these goals as a model. Furthermore, the Hellenic Republic would like to see several programs gain more support with a goal of developing middle-income countries. One of the big recipients of this would be the World Food Programme, which will help countries become self-sufficient in their agricultural sector. Greece would also like to see more partnerships emerge within the platform of the United Nations, whether it is through the General Assembly or otherwise, it is necessary to develop the middle-income countries. Finally, Greece believes in further investing in middle- income countries infrastructure and industry, for the benefit of all parties involved. | |
| Committee: | GA Third |
| Topic: | Rights of indigenous peoples |
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| The Hellenic Republic believes in the right of indigenous peoples around the world. Their right to land and inclusion remain a prevalent issue despite the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples. Multi-national companies routinely trample over the rights of indigenous peoples for lumber, timber, and mining. In Latin America almost 73% of mining operations are located on or near indigenous peoples land. This results in water loss, air pollution, loss of biodiversity, and the destruction of cultural sights. However, these mining operations are essential for the goals of a net-zero economy by 2050. Indigenous people however, rarely have any input on the creation of these mines. Although the Hellenic Republic does not have any indigenous people in a traditional sense, we believe that we have the same goals as many indigenous groups. Many indigenous groups for generations have prioritized a relationship with nature and do not want to see their land contribute to the worsening of climate change. The Hellenic Republic also faces increased challenges from groups who are worsening the environment. The rising temperatures have lead Greece to have some of its worse flooding and fires ever and have had an enormous toll on life because of the worsening of our climate. The Hellenic Republic pushes for a law that insures indigenous people are able to participate in government and have a say on what is built on their land. The United States of America has done something similar to this position and has required that federal agencies are required to recognize and include indigenous peoples knowledge in policy making, research, and decision making. This precedent can make huge impact on the relations between states and indigenous people and improve cooperation | |
| Committee: | GA Third |
| Topic: | Literacy for life |
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| The Hellenic Republic believes that literacy is essential for the improvement of the human condition around the world. The Hellenic Republic currently has a literacy rate of 97.9%. Although we are proud of this percentage, there are countries such as the Republic of Chad, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, and the Central African Republic that have literacy rates of less than 50%. This is even worse when considering that, in all three of these states, the literacy rate for women is lower than 27%. The Hellenic Republic was left in shambles after World War 2 and the Greek Civil War. However, with foreign aid from the United States of America, we were able to recover and have the resources necessary to implement compulsory schooling to ensure that our youth could make progress for our nation. We also helped create the OECD with 19 other countries to cooperate and spread ideas about improving human rights. The Hellenic Republic advocates for the expansion of global organizations such as the OECD and the UNESCO Global Alliance for Literacy. We also believe that their should be more foreign aid distributed to these nations with low literacy rates and also there should be more of a focus on the disparity of male and female education. After World War 2 when the United States sent out the Marshall Plan all countries including the Hellenic Republic now have substantial literacy rates. This being said foreign aid is able to increase the countries ability to teach their students | |
| Committee: | GA Plenary |
| Topic: | The human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment |
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| The lack of a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment poses significant threats to human health and well-being across the globe, disproportionately affecting those most vulnerable. Climate change, air pollution, and water contamination contribute to approximately 12.6 million deaths every year, with developing countries facing the worst of these impacts. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2022, more than 2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, leading to the further spread of waterborne diseases. Environmental degradation not only undermines basic human rights to health, water, and food, it also exacerbates poverty and inequality in all its forms. As the international community recognizes this link between our environment and our health and rights, it is crucial for the international community to take bold steps to ensure the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is upheld for all, especially those at most risk. The right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment was recently affirmed as a basic human right in the UN General Assembly (GA) in resolution 76/300 (2022), which highlighted the vital link between environmental health and human well-being, urging governments to take decisive and rapid action. This followed the Human Rights Councils 2021 proclamation in resolution 48/13. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably resolution 70/1 (2015), have long recognized this link, with climate action (SDG 13) identified as critical to achieving other targets. Additionally, the Human Rights Council has passed resolutions 41/21 (2019), 44/7 (2020), 45/17 (2020), 45/30 (2020), and 46/7 (2021), each addressing the adverse effects of climate change on human health and human rights. The Hellenic Republic proudly stands under the purview of the Paris Climate Agreement and the European Unions Climate Action Policies. Greece has taken significant steps to preserve the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment through various policies aimed at environmental protection and sustainability. For instance, Greeces National Climate Law, adopted in 2022, seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. This law includes measures to mitigate emissions from sectors such as electricity generation, construction, transportation, and other industries. Furthermore, Greece has invested in renewable energy sources, like wind and solar power to decrease reliance on fossil fuels. The Hellenic Republic is also committed to protecting its unique biodiversity by establishing numerous national parks and marine reserves. Public awareness campaigns and community involvement initiatives, as laid out in the Greek National Adaptation Strategy (NAS), encourage citizens, region by region, to engage in environmental conservation, fostering a culture of sustainability that reflects the importance of a healthy environment for current and future generations. At the Our Ocean Conference in Athens (April 2024), Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reinforced this commitment, stating, The long- term solution [to climate change] is very clear: to achieve a dramatic decline in greenhouse gas emissions over the next two decades. Greece calls upon the international community to engage in discussions and develop comprehensive action plans to more aggressively combat rising CO2 emissions while allocating aid for developing countries. Greece recommends that individual nations create climate action plans aimed at protecting those most affected by severe climate change, thereby upholding the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. Greece advocates for increased global cooperation to address the impacts of pollution and resource mismanagement on the environment, in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined in resolution 70/1 (2015). As an archipelago nation, the Hellenic Republic has a deep connection with its seas, emphasizing the necessity for collaboration in the Mediterranean to establish Marine Protected Areas with the objective of safeguarding 30% of marine waters by 2030, as articulated in the 30 by 30 initiative. | |
| Committee: | GA Plenary |
| Topic: | Safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel |
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| Humanitarian personnel and United Nations staff face increasing threats in conflict zones, with their safety jeopardized by violence, targeted attacks, and lack of resources. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), over 100 humanitarian workers were killed in 2022, with many more injured or kidnapped. Attacks on humanitarian workers violate international law and worsen the suffering of vulnerable populations by obstructing the delivery of essential resources like food and medical care. In conflicts such as those in Gaza, the situation is further complicated by terrorist actions, leaving communities without much-needed support. Protecting humanitarian personnel is crucial for sustaining operations and upholding international humanitarian law, and the global community must take stronger steps to ensure their safety. International contributions to the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations staff have become increasingly crucial in response to the growing risks they face in conflict zones and disasteraffected areas. Initiatives such as the UN Security Council Resolutions emphasize the need for host nations to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers. For example, there have been several Security Council Resolutions that have condemned attacks on medical facilities, journalists, and various humanitarian personnel including Security Council resolution 2286, 1738, and 2175. This further reinforces the ideas put forward during the 1949 Geneva Conventions. The Hellenic Republic believes all the following articles are being partially or actively breached in warzones around the world: GC1 Articles 12-23, 42-53; GC3 Articles 3, 18, 20; AP1 Articles 71, 75, 81; AP2 Article 9. It has been proven that attacks on humanitarian personnel stop the flow of life-saving aid and significantly decrease the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations. Despite this unfortunate turn of events, the Hellenic Republic has taken a leadership role in peacekeeping operations and financial contributions to humanitarian aid and urges other nations to join them in this cause. To quote the Ancient Greek philosopher Thucydides, "Think, too, of the great part that is played by the unpredictable in war: think of it now, before you are actually committed to war." To effectively protect humanitarian personnel and enhance their operational safety, several potential solutions must be considered. The Hellenic Republic calls upon the relevant bodies to increase the training and preparedness of peacekeeping forces, as this can significantly lower catastrophic risk. This includes advanced training programs focused on navigating conflict zones and responding to emerging threats such as cyberattacks and countering Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Greece stresses the need for implementing robust security protocols in all UN peacekeeping operations tailored to the challenges of specific conflict zones, along with regular assessments of risks and vulnerabilities. The Hellenic Republic encourages peacekeeping missions to leverage modern technology, such as drones for reconnaissance and communication tools for coordination, as those can enhance situational awareness and ensure timely responses in conflict zones. Greece calls for further international cooperation, as it is crucial for establishing accountability measures for attacks against humanitarian workers, which can include collaboration with organizations like the International Criminal Court (ICC) and INTERPOL to investigate and prosecute war criminals. | |
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