Resolution 1 - Ministry of Education and Human Resources

Page 1 of 6Commission: DisarmamentSponsor: Yemen, Australia, Cuba, India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, UnitedArab Emirates, El SalvadorQUESTION OF: ENFORCING EXISTING LAWS AND DEVISING MOREEFFICIENT STRATEGIES TO CURB MARITIME PIRACYThe General Assembly,Deeply concerned by poverty, unemployment, illegal fishing andpollution at sea which fuel maritime piracy in the Gulf of Aden,Alarmed by illegal weapon trade and by the supply of ammunition topirates in Yemen,Conscious that Yemeni ports are used as fuel base by Somali pirates,Alarmed by the inadequacy of the Coast Guard in Yemen and Somaliowing to few patrol vessels and crew,Deeply disturbed by the staggering sum of money collected as ransomby Somali Pirates: $58 million in 2009, $238 million in 2010 and $160million in 2011,Noting with concern the large number of hostages captured by Somalipirates: 645 in 2010 and at least 555 in 2011,Noting with regret that piracy has caused the death of many innocentpeople in recent years: at least 35 hostages of Somali pirates died in 2011,Further deploring the inhumane conditions hostages are subjected to:more than 40 percent of them have been used as human shields at somestage,Stressing on the fact that Somali pirates are associated with Al-Shababwhich is affiliated with Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP),Deplores the fact that authorities in charge of surveillance of maritimeareas are bribed in El Salvador to allow the lenient passage of ships into thecountry’s territorial waters,Concerned by the soaring costs for shipping companies due to increasein insurance, additional fuel expenses and costs of deploying armed guards,

Page 2 of 6Commission: DisarmamentSponsor: Yemen, Australia, Cuba, India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, UnitedArab Emirates, El SalvadorDeploring the detrimental effect of piracy on international trade inSouth Asian seas and in the Gulf of Aden: it is estimated to cost the globaleconomy between $7 billion and $12 billion yearly,Further deploring the losses caused by piracy to industries such asports, fisheries and tourism: pirates demand ransom of over US$1 million forone fishing vessel captured,Strongly condemns maritime piracy as it hinders diplomatic relationsbetween UAE and investors and is the prime reason for the breaching ofcontracts,Realising that many South Asian Countries do not have adequate lawsto prosecute pirates who have not committed offences against either theirnational or flag vessels,Grieved by the inadequacies in the UN Convention on the Law of theSea (UNCLOS):a) Countries and States have no duty to prosecute pirates whocommit offences in International Waters although they may doso if they wish to,b) Naval forces can liberate pirate suspects if no country is willingto undertake their prosecution,Expressing its deep concern about the setting up of poorly guardedfloating armouries by private security companies due to strict weapon lawsin Sri Lanka,Noting with deep concern the attempt of shipping companies to savefuel by sailing more slowly while making their vessels more vulnerable topirates in South Asia,Endorsing Operation Atlanta in the Gulf of Aden to combat and preventpiracy and to protect vulnerable shipments,

Page 3 of 6Commission: DisarmamentSponsor: Yemen, Australia, Cuba, India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, UnitedArab Emirates, El SalvadorNoting with satisfaction the deployment of 23 ships by the Indian Navyand the setting up of the Private Navy by United Arab Emirates to escortmerchant ships in the Gulf of Aden,Reiterating the substantial contribution of Australia in enhancingmaritime security in Southeast Asia by funding measures to increasesecurity in ports and to improve sea surveillance systems in Philippines,Welcoming the use of satellite surveillance and aircraft fighters todeter, identify and avoid pirate attacks,Expressing its satisfaction regarding the UN Convention on the Law ofthe Sea (UNCLOS):a) It obliges all states to cooperate fully in repressing piracy in anyplace outside the jurisdiction of any state,b) It allows any state to send warships to board a private vessel,arrest those on board and subject them to their jurisdiction,c) It permits warships to use reasonable force to fulfill those tasks,Viewing with appreciation the UN Security Council resolution1851/2008 which designated Kenya as the primary country to try Somalipirates,Recognizing the awareness raised by United Nations Office on Drugsand Crime (UNODC) and United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS)on the dangers of piracy and on the best practices to eradicate this criminalphenomenon,1. Recommends the expansion of the Port of Aden in Yemen and calls forimproved and more efficient port management and security worldwideby employing more workers and by improving port infrastructure,2. Notes with satisfaction the sponsorship of Italy for the upcominginstallation of specialized radar systems to monitor the Yemenicoastline;3. Supports the fight against corruption among officers regulating porttraffic in El Salvador by conducting regular background checks,

Page 4 of 6Commission: DisarmamentSponsor: Yemen, Australia, Cuba, India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, UnitedArab Emirates, El Salvadorcreating a record of their offences and sanctioning them wherenecessary;4. Expresses its conviction that toughening and prolonging the sentenceof guilty pirates will cause piracy to recede;5. Encourages piracy-vulnerable countries such as Cuba to becomemember states of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO);6. Suggests that laws regulating weapons should be made more lenientfor security companies in South Asian countries so that vulnerablefloating armouries are not set up;7. Urges the amendment of laws regulating firearms in Yemen:a) Demands the increase in penalty for illegal possession offirearms,b) Requests the stringent regulation of Gun Shows, temporaryfirearm dealing events, private gun sales and gun transfer;8. Requests the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank toassist the Transitional Federal Government in Somalia and theGovernment of Yemen:a) In clearing their debts through debt cancellation,b) By providing funds for development,c) In developing infrastructure and improving security,d) Informing the framework and legislation of a successfuleconomy;9. Emphasise on the importance of alleviating poverty and promotingeducation in collaboration with UNICEF and UNESCO to improveliteracy rates, provide employment and raise awareness about piracy;10. Recommends the International Maritime Organisation to set upstandards for the security of floating armouries and to regularlymonitor their status to ensure that the norms are being met;11. Encourages the hiring of Privately Contracted Armed SecurityPersonnel (PCASP) to deter pirates and to ensure the security ofvessels in case of attacks;

Page 5 of 6Commission: DisarmamentSponsor: Yemen, Australia, Cuba, India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, UnitedArab Emirates, El Salvador12. Expresses its interest in collaborating with the United States andother affluent countries in using unmanned drones to combat piracy;13. Requests that the responsibility of ensuring the safety of ships beapportioned among ship operators, ship owners, ship flaggers andcoast guards;14. Invites the International Maritime Organisation to set up and regularlyupdate norms and standards that should be met by the coast guardand Navy of its member states;15. Further requests coast guards from countries bordering the IndianOcean to collaborate and form an Agency for Coast Guard of IndianOcean Littoral Nations for a more cost effective combat against piracy;16. Solemnly affirms that, similar to El Salvadorian ships, installing GPSsystems on ships, in addition to their Racon (Radar transponder), willallow authorities to better track them in pirate-infested seas and willfacilitate intervention in case of attacks in high seas;17. Calls for the setting up of anti-piracy centres in East African andSouth Asian countries for the constant sharing of intelligence aboutpirates through a secure network;18. Recommends the temporary international administration of the Somalicoast guard by countries such as UAE or Saudi Arabia until stability isachieved in Somalia;19. Welcomes other piracy-affected countries such as Malaysia, Indonesiaand China as well as affluent ones to be fully involved in the combatagainst this scourge;20. Supports the tracking of ransom money by the Interpol to prevent itslaundering and to investigate cartels and organisations guilty of havingcommitted maritime piracy;21. Suggests the amendment of the following articles of the UNConvention of the Law of the Sea:

Page 6 of 6Commission: DisarmamentSponsor: Yemen, Australia, Cuba, India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, UnitedArab Emirates, El Salvadora) Either Article 105 (Seizure of a pirate ship or aircraft) shouldinclude a clause requiring the state nearest to the site of seizureor that having seized the ship be handed the responsibility ofprosecution;b) Or Article 94 (Duties of Flag State) ought to be amended so thatflag states must prosecute pirates attacking or attempting toattack their flag ships.