Position paper for Guatemala
| Committee: | GA First |
| Topic: | Consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures |
| Paper text: | |
| Central and North America have been on the forefront in the fight against the global production and distribution epidemic and network, of illicit narcotics and small arms trafficking by organized crime. Each nation that has been plagued by this social and personal disease, has attempted to minimize and eliminate the ability of these groups to traffic these black-market items. As a regional effort going back as far as the 1970s, the United States and Central American countries have provided joint resources to combat the manufacturing and sale of firearms and narcotics. There are varying degrees of success each nation has achieved over the last 50 years, but nation has found a plan that has worked to eliminate the problem. In the interest of cooperation to limit the trafficking of firearms and narcotics to the greatest degree possible, U.N. Peacekeepers should be deployed in joint effort with the government of Guatemala to stop trafficking through Guatemala. Guatemala is a geographic bottleneck between the production of narcotics by cartels and the sale for distribution to the cartels in northern Mexico, the southern United States, and Canada thus creating a unique opportunity to find the traffickers in a much more efficient manner by utilizing the enforcement in a condensed area. The peacekeeping unit will be deployed exclusively for the apprehension and interdiction of traffickers and contraband, respectively. In response to the strict enforcement of the trafficking laws on land, the major cartels will no doubt turn to the freshwater avenues and ocean to move contraband. In the interest of cooperation, the United States and other nations who export narcotics in the western hemisphere, who have a navy, would contribute to the security of the oceans and waterways. The transport of the contraband are generally small craft, since there would be strict enforcement of drug and firearm laws on land and thus the ports. Small naval vessels could maintain the integrity of the coastal water from 50 nautical miles south of the southernmost signatory country and 50 nautical miles north of the northern most. | |
| 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: | |
| 1. Giving more urgency to the compliance of the Convention
Discuss and remind the signing members of the Convention, how important is to promote this Convention and the compliance of all the compromises agreed on it. Guatemala promotes the consulting and review of scientists and experts on the topic of chemical weapons, as well as the promotion of their ideas, to raise awareness of the urgency of this matter. We also call the dialogue between signing members to promote the cooperation on the destruction of Chemical Weapons. 2. Persuade the members of the United Nations that arent parties of the Convention, to sign and ratify it as soon as possible It is necessary to ensure that all the countries agree on stop the development, production and stockpiling of chemical weapons, specifically for preventing its use and the devastating consequences of it, at the same time that all of them destroy the existent ones. We encourage the dialogue and negotiation with the 4 Countries that havent sign and ratify in the Convention, to convince them of doing it. Guatemala, as a country reaffirms its compromise to seek world peace through the stopping of the proliferation of mass destruction armament and the use of more diplomatic ways. We really encourage all the members of the Committee to support our efforts for getting rid of Chemical Weapons and prevent possible catastrophes that may occur because of them, especially now that we are close to reaching an agreement between all Countries, on this matter. | |
| Committee: | GA Second |
| Topic: | Agriculture development, food security and nutrition |
| Paper text: | |
| One of the biggest issues facing our contemporary world right now is the
insecurity of
food, especially in our country. Currently Guatemala is on the Nutrition
Strategic Support
Countries list supported by USAID. According to our USAID Nutrition Profile,
we have the
largest economy in Central America, but our poverty rates are increasing.
Furthermore,
weâre more vulnerable to natural disasters intensified by climate change. Dry
seasons
have become longer causing poor crop seasons. Out of 162, we rank 121 in
progress
towards meeting Sustainable Development Goals.
With the help from the United States government, we are getting aid from their Feed the Future program. On March 8th, 2018, Feed the Future released a document called Global Food Security Strategy (GFSS) Guatemala Country Plan. In this document, it outlines the key reasonings for food insecurity, malnutrition and poverty. These key reasonings come from complex underlying conditions that exist from the individual level all the way up to a system level. Under Feed the Future, we have had a lot of progression towards agriculture development. In the Fiscal Year of 2021, we added 36,800 new producers using new technologies and practices, 76 million dollars in agricultural sales generated by our farms, and 69,000 children under the age of five have gotten nutritional help. Feed the Future addressed the coffee rust problem, which between 2012 and 2013 took out huge coffee production. To solve this, farmers now have access to new rust-resistant coffee seedlings, are being trained with pesticide application, and are being taught about different crop management practices. In addition to all of this, Feed the Future is able to provide over seven million dollars for agricultural loans for small and medium enterprises. Moving forward, its important for the UN to continue promoting assistance from developed nations like the United States. Under these programs, weâve been able to progress further and get closer to achieving SDG 2 set out by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Since 2016 food insecurity has been increasing. According to the 2024 Global Report on Food Crises, the reasoning for the increase can be credited from the growing conflicts, extreme weather, and economic shocks. In order to achieve SDG 2 by 2030, we want to see the UN bring more programs to the global scale, like the The Sahel Integrated Resilience Program. This would help bring back progress that was lost from the previous decade. | |
| Committee: | GA Second |
| Topic: | Development cooperation with middle-income countries |
| Paper text: | |
| According to the World Bank, to be classified as a middle-income
country, the GNI has to fall
between $1,336 to $13,845. Guatemala has a GNI of $13,820, which puts us
on the higher
end on the spectrum. Despite having the largest economy in Central
America, we have
extremely high rates of poverty. In 2023, it was estimated that we would
have over 55% in
our population living in poverty.
The UN would declare the 1960s as the United Nations Development Decade.This encouraged Member States to help create opportunities for developing nations, all while promoting self-sustaining economic development. We receive a lot of aid from developed countries. The United States supports us through USAID. USAID provides us with programs and strategies to improve our citizens lives. According to USAID, Guatemala CDCS 2020- 2025 is a strategy aimed to help us become self-reliant by connecting Indigenous, women, and children to opportunities for them to thrive in our home state. USAID also runs Feed the Future, which provides us with resources to develop our agricultural land. We are also supported by the EU. Under their National Development Plan Katun 2032. For the period of 2021-2024, the EU gave us 141 million to fund three priority areas; those being: Green Transition, Sustainable and inclusive growth, Good Governance and Human Development. We have a unique situation, weâre the largest Central American economy, yet we also have some of the largest rates of maltreatment and poverty. With cooperation from developed nations, weâre able to thrive and prosper with help from their partnerships. It is extremely important for developed nations to cooperate with middle income countries in order to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. | |
| Committee: | GA Third |
| Topic: | Rights of indigenous peoples |
| Paper text: | |
| Guatemala recognizes that the protection and promotion of the rights of
Indigenous people
are central to building a just and inclusive society. The nation is home to
over 24 distinct
Indigenous groups, representing more than 40% of the population. These
communities have
preserved rich cultural traditions and languages yet have historically faced
marginalization
and systemic challenges.
The Government of Guatemala has taken significant steps to address issues of underrepresentation by promoting policies aimed at increasing Indigenous representation and improving access to essential services like healthcare, education, and land ownership. However, persistent challenges such as poverty, limited access to legal resources, and land rights disputes still hinder the full realization of Indigenous rights. Guatemala advocates for the strengthening of international cooperation to support Indigenous peoples land rights and access to justice. We encourage the international community to provide resources for legal reforms, capacity-building programs, and initiatives aimed at preserving Indigenous languages and cultures. Furthermore, Guatemala is committed to ensuring that Indigenous voices are included in the decision-making processes that affect their communities, in alignment with the principles of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). | |
| Committee: | GA Third |
| Topic: | Literacy for life |
| Paper text: | |
| Guatemala views literacy as a cornerstone of sustainable development, recognizing its
profound impact on individual empowerment, economic development, and social inclusion.
Despite significant progress, nearly 13.7% of the worlds population aged 15 and older
remain illiterate, with the rate being higher in rural and Indigenous communities. The
government acknowledges that overcoming illiteracy is essential to reducing poverty,
improving health outcomes, and fostering participation in democratic processes.
To address this, Guatemala has prioritized literacy programs tailored to the needs of Indigenous communities, offering bilingual education in Indigenous languages and Spanish, efforts vital in bridging the education gap and ensuring that Indigenous people can access opportunities in both the national and global economy. Guatemala calls on the international community to support literacy initiatives through funding, technical expertise, and knowledge-sharing. By focusing on literacy for all, especially in marginalized communities, we can promote a more equitable and prosperous world. Guatemala reaffirms its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) and urges further collaborative efforts to achieve universal literacy. | |
| Committee: | GA Plenary |
| Topic: | The human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment |
| Paper text: | |
| Guatemala strongly supports the need to cooperate with other member states to ensure a
healthy and sustainable environment for the future. Guatemala acknowledges that it is an
incredibly biologically diverse state, with much of the landmass of the state comprising of
sub-tropical rainforests. If the vast and complex ecosystems of Guatemala are to be
preserved, a reduction in carbon emissions is something that not only Guatemala should
ensure, but other member states should be strongly encouraged to do so as well.
Guatemala supports the Paris Climate Agreement, and strongly encourages other member states to continue to do so, and to ratify if they have not done so. Many other efforts have been made by Guatemala to ensure a clean and healthy environment, including National Climate Change Policy, established in 2009, is one of the first of its kind in the world, and a National Climate Change Law and a Program, that would see projected emissions reduced by 11.2% by 2030. Guatemala is a state that is strongly affected by climate change, and so must do its part to ensure a future that would ensure the success of both domestic and international economies by keeping its territory clean, healthy, and sustainable. | |
| Committee: | GA Plenary |
| Topic: | Safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel |
| Paper text: | |
| Guatemala strongly condemns attacks on all UN peacekeeping personnel. It is important to
consider the impact that UN personnel have in areas where they are deployed, and the
safety of these persons is paramount to ensure a peaceful conclusion to conflicts.
Furthermore, the Guatemalan Political Constitution and other pieces of military legislation
protect UN personnel deployed to peacekeeping operations under law.
Guatemala has personally contributed to UN peacekeeping operations, such as in 2010 during the Haiti earthquake, Guatemala sent a rescue plane with rescue and humanitarian workers to assist in humanitarian efforts. Guatemala also hosts UN personnel, particularly those who are assisting in peacebuilding work in development and furthering the Sustainable Development Goals. Guatemala stresses the importance of UN workers and calls upon member states to ensure the safety of all UN staff. | |
| Committee: | CCPCJ |
| Topic: | Equal access to justice for all |
| Paper text: | |
| Guatemala has strived to overcome social and ecological injustice against its people. For
decades, Guatemala have been the target of foreign influences on the country ruling bodies
and economic developments. Today, Guatemala has overcome those challenges and are
working towards a fair and just society.
Guatemala fully supports Sustainable Development Goals set for 2030 and is working diligently towards achieving the highest score. Progress has been made for quality education for all and the goal of zero hunger with clean water and sanitation. Our gender equality scores have been the highest since 2014 and will keep rising to meet the goal of 2030. | |
| Committee: | CCPCJ |
| Topic: | International cooperation in combating transnational organized crime and corruption |
| Paper text: | |
| Guatemala believes that multinational support for battling organized crime and corruption is
important for our future and the advancement of out nation. We welcome all support that
contributes to the end of crimes committed by foreign and domestic criminal organizations.
Guatemala has been the crossroad for drug and human trafficking moving from South
America into North America and we want this to end. Resources have been allocated for
anti-corruption and pro-transparency laws by our government, but we are still dealing with
drug cartels and gang members harassing and attempting to bribe our political system.
Guatemala western and northern border along Mexico has become prime location to grow poppies and produce heroin for international sales by organize criminals and drug trafficker. This has caused locals living in the area to fight over land and water to participate in this lucrative trade. Guatemala request that the government of Mexico and Guatemala create a joint tasks force to destroy poppy fields and secure our borders. To create a better future for our young generation, members of the assembly from Central America must come together and help eliminate and prevent the massive crime and corruption affecting our ever day lives. We must stop the human trafficking of our citizens and prevent organized criminal organization dictate our country future. | |
| Committee: | WHA |
| Topic: | Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health |
| Paper text: | |
| When looking at the current strategies for womens health, childrenâs health, and adolescents health, Guatemala aligns with the United Nations in its commitment to improving health outcomes for these vulnerable populations. As a nation, we are in favor of using United Nations resources to protect maternal care and childcare across the globe, particularly in rural and indigenous communities. A specific strategy we are in favor of is increasing access to preventative measures for early pregnancies and increasing access to reproductive health services by developing programs to promote sexual education and improve access to contraception. We believe this would help lower teenage pregnancy rates significantly which will help prevent impoverished families from being in situations that they cannot afford. Our vote would go in favor of programs that help the increase health of young women, children, and those in poverty, and any program that increases access to modern healthcare. We acknowledge the importance of the worlds youth on an international scale, and member states of the United Nations must promote the healthcare of the worlds youth, adolescents, and women. Guatemala strongly supports past and future resolutions regarding and supporting the development of the worlds youth and encourages member states to do the same. | |
| Committee: | WHA |
| Topic: | Public health dimension of the world drug problem |
| Paper text: | |
| Guatemala acknowledges the global crisis of drug trafficking and narcotic overdose, both
of which are prevalent in several regions worldwide including Central America. Drug
trafficking particularly has impacted the nation due to the northward distribution of
dangerous substances toward the United States. The transportation of smuggled drugs
through communities and several border crossings can contribute to marketed usage in
nearby areas, a health risk that poses a threat to the Guatemalan people.
Guatemala has partnered with the Office of Drug and Crime under the Secretariat to combat illicit drug activities, both domestically and abroad. Collaboration with the UNODC has been greatly supported under the Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs. The presence of organized crime networks that produce and distribute drugs poses an extreme health risk to the human population, with addiction leading to medical issues and premature death. Guatemala encourages all member states to contribute to the international fight for drug trafficking prevention, as this issue directly impacts neighboring countries and requires close monitoring. The responsibility of one another to protect public health by obstructing the international drug trade could not be understated. | |
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