Disarmament and International

Security Committee (DISEC)

Agenda: Addressing the Proliferation of

Conventional and Unconventional Weapons
in the Escalating Middle East Crisis and
Examining Post-Conflict Stabilization
under International Law.
Letter from the Executive Board

Dear Delegates,
It gives us immense pleasure to welcome you all to the Disarmament and
International Security Committee (DISEC). This year’s agenda,
“Addressing the Proliferation of Conventional and Unconventional
Weapons in the Escalating Middle East Crisis and Examining Post-Conflict
Stabilization under International Law”, has been chosen with great care. It
reflects the contemporary urgency of regional disarmament and stability and the
need for international cooperation in resolving conflicts through peaceful,
lawful, and inclusive means. The situation in the Middle East stands as a critical
case study in the spread of arms, the entrenchment of non-state actors, the
breakdown of treaties, and the struggle to uphold human dignity amid conflict.

We encourage you to come not just with prepared speeches, but with open
minds, and the readiness to engage with complexity. Beyond debate and
diplomacy, this committee is also a shared space for learning, collaboration, and
mutual respect. As delegates, you will be engaging with peers from diverse
backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences and this diversity is something
we deeply value and seek to protect.

This principle of mutual respect and accommodation applies not only to this
conference, but to all future conferences you may attend. As a committee, we
uphold a zero-tolerance policy toward all forms of discrimination - whether
based on caste, gender, sexuality, ability, or identity. Any instance of
harassment, exclusion, or discriminatory behavior will be taken extremely
seriously and dealt with firmly and immediately.

We look forward to a meaningful, impactful, and well-researched committee!

Warm regards,
Parnika Aich and Krittika Samaddar,
Co-Chairpersons of DISEC.
1. Introduction to DISEC

-> What is DISEC?

The Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC) is the First

Committee of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). It was
established under the UN Charter and remains one of the most critical organs of
the UN. DISEC is tasked with addressing the world’s most urgent issues related
to global peace, arms control, and international security.

-> History of DISEC

Established in 1946, the Disarmament and International Security Committee

(DISEC) was the “First Committee” of the United Nations General Assembly.
DISEC was created immediately after World War II, where six years of total
war had devastated populations and economies across the globe and created a
compelling need for peace and reconstruction. The two atomic bombs on
Hiroshima and Nagasaki may have ended the war, but it left the world reeling
from the ruinous impact of military technology and desperately seeking
solutions to contain such cataclysmic potential. Against this backdrop, the
questions of disarmament and peace took on particular significance as states
rallied together to shape a more peaceful and predictable post-war order.

Its functions and powers are clearly set out in the UN Charter, which states that
“the General Assembly may consider the general principles of cooperation in
the maintenance of international peace and security, including the principles
governing disarmament and the regulation of armaments.” Though DISEC
cannot pass binding resolutions, impose sanctions or authorize military
intervention, it is able to exert considerable influence through recommendations
to the UN Secretariat and UNSC. In fact, the very first UN General Assembly
resolution, titled “Establishment of a Commission to Deal with the Problems
Raised by the Discovery of Atomic Energy”, was passed in January 1946 on the
recommendation of DISEC. Since then, DISEC has consistently played an
instrumental role in the UN. In recent years, technology and warfare have
evolved to take on more unconventional forms and implicate more non-state
actors.
-> Why Is DISEC Important?

DISEC represents a global democratic forum where 193 UN member states

have equal representation and voting rights. It ensures that even smaller nations
have a voice in critical security debates. The committee is vital in encouraging
peaceful conflict resolution, developing frameworks for arms control,
responding to emerging security threats and upholding international legal
standards on the use of force and weaponry.
2. Why Studying the Middle East Is Necessary for
Understanding Global Peace and Security?

The Middle East is home to some of the world’s longest and most complex
conflicts. These crises are deeply rooted in colonial legacies, sectarian divides,
political authoritarianism, and foreign interventions. Studying these layered
causes is essential for understanding how localized tensions can ripple across
the globe. Understanding the structure of asymmetric warfare, ideology, and
international links is crucial for redefining counterterrorism strategies and
peacekeeping mandates. As members of a global community, we cannot view
the Middle East crisis as “someone else’s problem”. Studying the region is a
step toward empathetic internationalism, critical diplomacy, and preventive
peacebuilding.
3. Introduction to the Agenda

The Middle East has long been a region plagued by political instability,
sectarian conflicts, civil wars, and foreign interventions. These conflicts have
seen the widespread use of conventional weapons such as firearms, missiles,
tanks and unconventional weapons such as chemical, biological, radiological,
and nuclear weapons (CBRN). The unchecked proliferation of these weapons
has led to mass casualties, humanitarian crises, and violations of international
law. This agenda calls for dual focus:
A)​Disarmament Efforts in ongoing conflicts
B)​Long-Term Post-Conflict Stabilization, guided by legal frameworks and
peacebuilding mechanisms.

4. Important Terms and Definitions

i) Conventional Weapons - Standard military arms such as firearms, explosives,

artillery, tanks, and fighter jets.
ii) Unconventional Weapons - Often refers to CBRN weapons – chemical,
biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons.
iii) WMDs - Weapons of Mass Destruction which include nuclear, chemical,
and biological weapons.
iv) Proliferation - Spread of weapons and technology across borders, including
state and non-state actors.
v) Post-Conflict Stabilization - Reconstruction, reconciliation, disarmament, and
legal rebuilding after any kind of war or civil unrest.
vi) Demilitarization - Reduction or removal of military weapons and
infrastructure from a region.
vii) Arms Embargo - Restriction or ban on the export of weapons to specific
states or groups.
viii) Verification Regime - Mechanism to ensure compliance with disarmament
treaties through inspections and reporting.
5. Key International Conventions, Treaties, and Legal
Frameworks

A) Regarding Proliferation of Weapons

i) Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) – 1968

-> Articles I & II prohibit nuclear weapon states from transferring nuclear
weapons and non-nuclear states from acquiring them.
-> Article VI contains disarmament obligations.

ii) Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) – 1993

-> Prohibits the use, development, production, and stockpiling of chemical
weapons.
-> Overseen by the OPCW (Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical
Weapons).

iii) Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) – 1972

-> Bans the development, production, and possession of biological weapons.

iv) Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) – 2013

-> Regulates international trade in conventional arms and aims to prevent
diversion and illicit transfers.

v) Geneva Protocol – 1925

-> Prohibits the use of chemical and biological weapons in war.
B) Regarding Post-Conflict Stabilization and International
Law

i) Geneva Conventions (1949)

-> Protection of civilians during and after conflict.
-> Fourth Geneva Convention is particularly relevant for occupation,
humanitarian aid, and war aftermath.

ii) Responsibility to Protect (R2P)

-> Norm that the international community must intervene (diplomatically or
militarily) to prevent mass atrocities.

iii) UN Charter (1945)

-> Article 1 calls for international peace and security through peaceful dispute
resolution.
-> Chapter VI: Pacific settlement of disputes.
-> Chapter VII: Action with respect to threats to peace, breaches, and acts of
aggression.

iv) International Humanitarian Law (IHL)

-> Legal framework protecting persons affected by armed conflict and
regulating conduct of hostilities.
6. Understanding the agenda with the help of recent
examples from the Middle East

i) Syria -
Use of chemical weapons in the Ghouta attack (2013), foreign intervention,
proxy wars, collapse of infrastructure.
ii) Yemen -
Proxy war (Saudi-led coalition vs. Houthis), illegal arms transfers, humanitarian
catastrophe.
iii) Gaza -
Ongoing armed conflict, mass civilian casualties, questions over proportionality
and use of banned munitions.
iv) Iran -
Suspicions of nuclear ambitions, sanctions under JCPOA framework (Joint
Comprehensive Plan of Action).
v) Iraq -
Issues with demilitarization (post-2003), sectarian violence, insurgency
post-conflict, ISIS rise.
7. Defining Non-State Actors (NSAs)

Non-State Actors are individuals, groups, or organizations that do not belong to

or are not affiliated with any established state or government, yet wield
significant political, economic, or military influence. In the context of armed
conflict, they often act independently, alongside, or against state forces. In the
Middle East, NSAs have played pivotal roles in:
a)​ Acquiring and deploying both conventional and unconventional weapons.
b)​ Prolonging conflict through insurgencies, militias, and terrorist tactics.
c)​ Undermining state legitimacy and regional stability.
-> Types of Non-State Actors in the Middle East

i) Insurgent Groups -
Armed groups opposing established governments. Example - Houthis (Yemen)

ii) Terrorist Organizations -

Use violence to achieve ideological, religious, or political goals. Example -
ISIS, Al-Qaeda

iii) Militias/Paramilitaries -
Often armed by or aligned with states but act independently. Example -
Hezbollah (Lebanon), PMF (Iraq)

iv) Religious Extremist Factions -

Use religion as a mobilizing force. Example - Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in
Syria

v) Criminal Networks -
Often smuggle weapons and drugs. They fund armed conflicts. Example -
Arms trafficking rings in Libya/Syria
8. Major Non-State Actors in the Middle East

i) ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria)

●​ Gained notoriety for seizing territory across Iraq and Syria.
●​ Used captured U.S. and Russian weapons.
●​ Deployed chemical agents like chlorine.
●​ Collapsed caliphate but are active in pockets, still a threat to stabilization.

ii) Hezbollah (Lebanon)

●​ Shi’a Islamist militant group backed by Iran.
●​ Possesses advanced rockets and missile systems.
●​ Operates semi-autonomously in Lebanon and supports Syrian
government forces.
iii) Hamas (Gaza)
●​ Palestinian Sunni-Islamist group.
●​ Engaged in long-standing conflict with Israel.
●​ Known for tunnel warfare, rocket launches, and armed resistance.

iv) Houthis (Yemen)

●​ Zaidi Shia-led movement, controlling northern Yemen.
●​ Armed with ballistic missiles and drones, allegedly supplied by Iran.
●​ Accused of targeting civilians and critical infrastructure.

v) Al-Qaeda (Middle East Branches)

●​ Operates in Syria (HTS), Yemen (AQAP), and North Africa (AQIM).
●​ Focuses on anti-Western jihad and destabilization.

vi) Popular Mobilization Forces (Iraq)

●​ Umbrella group of Iraqi Shiite militias.
●​ Played a key role in fighting ISIS.
●​ Now partially state-sanctioned, creating blurred lines between state and
NSA.
9. Role of NSAs in Weapons Proliferation

i) Arms from Failed States: NSAs often gain access to weapon stockpiles in
collapsed states (e.g., Libya, Syria).
ii) Foreign Supply Chains: Backed by states (e.g., Iran, Turkey) or via black
markets.
iii) Homemade/Improvised Weapons: Rockets, IEDs, drones, and rudimentary
chemical agents.
iv) Cross-border Smuggling: Exploiting porous borders to transfer arms.

The graph depicts the number of Attacks by Region still Aiming at the Harder
Targets: An update on Violent Non-State Actors’ Use of Armed UAVs, Harvard
Haugstvedt, Perspective on Terrorism, Volume XVIII, December 2024.
-> Threats Posed by Non-State Actors

a)​ Undermining Disarmament Efforts - NSAs are not legally bound by

treaties like the NPT, BWC, or ATT.
b)​ Civilian Casualties and War Crimes - Use of human shields, attacks on
schools/hospitals, forced child soldiers.
c)​ Complicating Post-Conflict Stabilization - Persisting power vacuums,
sectarian tensions, and parallel governance structures.
d)​ Radicalization and Recruitment - Spreading extremist ideologies and
attracting fighters globally.
e)​ Foreign Intervention Justification - Their presence is used by states to
justify long-term military operations.
10. Guiding Questions for Debate

i) How can the UN enforce arms control without infringing on sovereignty?

ii) What role can regional actors play in halting proliferation?
iii) How can the international community hold violators of disarmament treaties
accountable?
iv) What legal tools are available to ensure long-term stabilization?
v) How should reconstruction efforts be linked to disarmament compliance?
Further Readings -

1. UNODA Reports:
[[Link]
2. Arms Trade Treaty Database:
[[Link]
3. OPCW Syria Fact-Finding Mission Reports:
[[Link]
4. SIPRI Arms Transfer Database:
[[Link]
5. General Assembly First Committee (DISEC) Archives:
[[Link]
(Meeting records, reports, and thematic discussions from previous
sessions)
6. UNSC Resolution 1540 (on WMD non-proliferation)
[[Link]
7. UN Register of Conventional Arms (UNROCA)
[[Link]
(Database on states' arms transfers and military holdings)
8. UN Report on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons
[[Link]
9. Small Arms Survey – MENA Reports
[[Link]
10. ICRC – Customary International Humanitarian Law Database
[[Link]
11. UN Peacebuilding Commission & Post-conflict Recovery Resources
[[Link]
12. UNHCR Reports on Conflict Recovery in MENA
[[Link]
13. Geneva Academy’s Weapons Law Encyclopedia
[[Link]
14. Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Security
[[Link]
15. International Crisis Group Middle East Briefings
[[Link]