Position paper for Liberia
| Committee: | GA First |
| Topic: | Reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours |
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| According to The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) Online Index of Objects Launched into Outer Space, 88% has been reported to the Secretary General. 12% of objects remain unreported. The Republic of Liberia urges private actors be held to the same standards as Member States. Weaponization of space and satellites, Such as satellites with electromagnetic pulse devices and cyber warfare capabilities. These harm civil society by jeopardizing services rendered by satellites. In Africa, where space infrastructure is still developing, stability in outer space is a concern as many African states depend on satellites for communication, education, navigation and internet access. The African Space Agency (AfSA) seeks to harness space for climate resilience, economic growth and to bridge the digital divide. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Members are working towards regional resilience and strengthening space programmes. Such as The Liberia Satellite Project (L-SAT) aimed at the similar goals of ECOWAS. Liberia urges cooperation amongst AfSA and ECOWAS Member States in hosting meetings on the effectiveness of the Committee on Peaceful Use of Outer Space (COPUOS) to address concerns of space threats regarding weaponization. Holding private actors accountable and encouraging member states to work with ECOWAS on Cyber Security to protect services rendered to civil society. | |
| Committee: | GA First |
| Topic: | The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects |
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| The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) strengthens global cooperation through the Programme of Action (PoA) and Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), both crucial for border control and arms tracking. With over 500 million small arms circulating globally, Liberia sees collaboration with UNODA as vital to reducing illegal weapons in West Africa through data sharing, training, and technical support. Liberia urges Member States to strengthen regional cooperation through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and hold review meetings twice a year to improve coordination. Regular updates are also essential only 65% of Member States have submitted PoA reports (UNODA, 2024). Stronger reporting builds transparency and trust among nations. Weak border control continues to enable cross-border trafficking. To address this, Liberia supports joint border patrols, intelligence sharing, and customs training through ECOWAS and UN programs to improve security (ATT, UNODA) and cooperation. Domestically, Liberia prioritizes reducing gender-based violence and youth crime linked to small arms. Many weapons from past conflicts are used against women and children. Liberia plans to expand community disarmament, womenâs peacekeeping training, and gender-based data collection to reduce violence and advance SDGs 5 and 16. | |
| Committee: | GA Second |
| Topic: | Role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence |
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| In a report on globalization and interdependence by the Secretary General from the 69th Session, âReducing inequality was at the core of the call for a New International Economic Order [NIEO] in 1974.â Since then, the UN has maintained a goal to reduce economic inequality between developed and developing countries. The Republic of Liberia believes that with the support of the UN, developed economies can mitigate the risk that globalization and interdependence have on equitable development. Liberia has made significant headway toward internal and regional development in the years following the civil war, such as the reinstitution of the Mano River Union, which focuses on economic growth of the member countries. As a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Liberia has taken the initiative to host the 41st General Assembly of the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme, a system that insures vehicles of member states when crossing borders; thus, relying on interdependence to develop the region. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 54 countries worldwide, which make up over 50% of the poorest people worldwide, are undergoing a debt crisis due to foreign loan distribution; a primary issue for economic inequality. With this in mind, Liberia urges Member States to adopt an approach similar to Liberia Vision 2030 -- decreasing dependency on loans, with a focus on developing internally, using the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development as a framework. One specific way UN Least Developed Countries (LDCs) can act is to prioritize Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as Liberia is also pursuing. FDI also ensures that LDCs work toward developing a comparative advantage in their respective states in order to reduce economic inequality and debt. Liberia strongly encourages Member States to enact legislation and programs that promote FDI, thus benefiting the developing and developed countriesâ markets and economies. | |
| Committee: | GA Second |
| Topic: | Protection of global climate for present and future generations of humankind |
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| Global frameworks such as the Paris Agreement, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, alongside pledges to triple climate finance to $300 billion annually by 2035, provide a foundation for international cooperation and sustainable financing. Regionally, the Republic of Liberia aligns its strategy with Africaâs Agenda 2063 and the Economic Community of West African States Agenda 2050, emphasizing South-South cooperation and shared responsibility in addressing climate change. Liberia has implemented the Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism (ARREST) Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID) (2025-2029). This plan harmonizes national priorities with global frameworks such as the Doha Program of Action and the African Continental Free Trade Area. Liberiaâs vision is structured around four critical pillars for economic and environmental development: Environmental Governance, Forestry Ecosystem Conservation and Restoration, Renewable Energy, and Solid Waste Management. These areas aim to strengthen climate adaptation, promote green infrastructure investment, and reduce deforestation by 50% while generating carbon credits to finance conservation. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a significant attribution gap persists in low- income regions due to limited access to climate data, research funding, and technical capacity. Liberia offers a replicable model for other vulnerable nations seeking to integrate environmental sustainability into developing planning. Liberia calls on all willing and able Member States for increased technological transfer, capacity building, and equitable access to climate finance to close the gap. Moreover, Liberia strongly urges Member States to fulfill their financial and technical commitments, enhance multilateral partnerships, and support locally driven solutions to ensure a just and sustainable future for all. | |
| Committee: | GA Third |
| Topic: | Universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination |
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| Self-determination, according to the UN, is defined as the right of people to be free from mandatory rules, choose their own government, and govern themselves. In solving problems, the UN created the 1945 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It demonstrated that all people have the right to self-determination and equal rights. The Republic of Liberia believes in self-determination due to Liberiaâs historical connection to this principle, with the relocation of African Americans to gain independence and become a self-governing body. Liberia has had a lasting impact on human rights and self-determination. Globally, Liberia has developed a capacity to monitor human rights and ensured the rights are implemented. Still, human rights conflicts are linked to self-determination through colonial authority, domestic government authority, and state sovereignty. The United Nations Development programme showed 83% of Liberians lived below the poverty line, which shows lack of human rights and issues in self-determination. At the regional level, African Union makes aspirations covering what Africa aims to improve well-being. Locally, when it comes to territories, a significant issue arises from the clarity of land laws. The Land Rights of 2018 by Liberia and the Liberia Land Rights Act work together and are currently implemented in specific communities to be a solution to clarify land laws. The Land Rights of 2018 addresses land ownership as land issues have not been clarified. At the community level, what Liberia has done is create Community Self-Identification, where people determine boundaries and declare their own land. For example, because of Community self-identification, in 2024, 130 rural communities were identified as land to their owners. In using community self- identification, people can know their land is protected and declared. Liberia should work with the national civil society of Liberia to implement workshops to spread awareness of human rights. | |
| Committee: | GA Third |
| Topic: | Improvement of the situation of women and girls in rural areas |
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| Women only account for 34 percent of internet users in Africa, according to the African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy. The Republic of Liberia recognizes the importance of promoting womenâs empowerment through the adoption of, improvement of, and education on digital systems. Recognizing the importance of meeting the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Liberia believes that the elimination of digital illiteracy for womenâs equality in markets is paramount to meeting SDG 5 target B. The Republic of Liberia understands the impacts that women in rural areas make in the agriculture sector, which are supported by digital infrastructure and knowledge of digital systems, according to the 2018 Commission on the Status of Women. Pointing out the importance of, and committing to, Sections 13 and 25 of the African Union Agenda 2063, Liberia is making tangible steps to root out gender inequality in agriculture by promoting the expansion of a digital economy that encourages purchasing from women, like through the Buy from Women Initiative. Efforts like working directly with communities through the âtraining of trainersâ like in the Economic Community of West African Statesâ initiative âTraining of Trainers on Digital Skills for Women in Rural Communitiesâ beyond Monrovia, the center of digitalization efforts, can provide a stable foundation for literacy development. Member States can expand on existing, successful programs like UN Womenâs 2022-2024 partnership with Orange Liberia: Digital Inclusion for Women's Economic Empowerment. It is the belief of Liberia that more initiatives like the partnership with UN Women should be supported and expanded on by Member States. Liberia looks forward to and encourages Member Statesâ cooperation toward better, impactful conditions for women in rural areas through support of digital infrastructure and literacy programs. | |
| Committee: | GA Plenary |
| Topic: | Our ocean, our future, our responsibility |
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| The ocean is a vast resource that the worldâs population is dependent on. The Republic of
Liberia acknowledges United Nations 2030 Agenda and the framework provided for
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 Life Below Water. Liberia believes that the
cooperation of Member States is essential in making sure that the ocean is a resource that
can be utilized by future generations all over the world.
According to the Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements (CFFA) between 85% and 91% of industrial catches in Liberia are not being reported to the authorities. This is largely because most international vessels do not port in Liberia. It would benefit Liberia to create more port infrastructure to ensure that international vessels port, so their catches can be reliably and fully reported. In 2019 Liberia took steps to address this issue by signing the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA) at the UN Ocean Conference. The PSMA is an international agreement to target illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU). This is an example of how Liberia is combating offshore IUU, which devastates the fish population. Liberia urges Member States to join them working with the CFFA and the Fisheries Transparency Initiative to gain more effective policing for illegal industrial fishing. According to International Partnerships, more than 33,000 Liberians depend on fish for their livelihoods and income. Women are an integral part of Liberiaâs fishing industry since many of them process and sell the fish. A project led by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) and Liberiaâs National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) is giving women in Liberia a chance to gain monetary resources to help their local fishing businesses and promote small-scale fisheries (SSF). Liberia urges Member States to create more protections for SSFs and enforce more restrictions on industrial fishing, as well as promote more community-based monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) to report IUU. | |
| Committee: | GA Plenary |
| Topic: | Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations |
| Paper text: | |
| Effective coordination of humanitarian assistance is fundamental to improving
cooperation, transparency, and accountability between Member States with the focus of
saving lives. The Republic of Liberia believes that strengthening the coordination of
humanitarian assistance takes a multilateral, collaborative approach between Member
States. Liberia recognizes that conflict zones, as well as natural calamities, create complex
disaster-ridden conditions for Member States. Liberia acknowledges General Assembly
resolution 77/28 and its recommendation on the implementation of prevention
mechanisms, like Early Warning Systems (EWS) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Liberia
commits to complying with global initiatives, such as the Global Initiative on Digital Health
(GIDH), and the Global Health and Peace Initiative (GHPI) to help strengthen the detection
of health risks through providing access to digital health resources.
According to UN Regional Information Centre for Western Europe (UNRIC), around 8.3 million USD went towards immediate and unforeseen health-related issues in West Africa. As a nation that was greatly impacted by Ebola virus disease (EVD) in 2014, disease control and prevention mechanisms have been fundamental to safeguarding human lives. Liberia recommends that all willing and able Member States implement fully electronic disease surveillance systems. Working with e-health Africa and international Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), such as the SORMAS foundation, can help to implement this electronic system within Member States. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), âroutine weekly public health reporting from health facilities has now increased from 89% in 2016 to 99% May 2019.â To make humanitarian assistance as efficient as possible, early detection systems and surveillance mechanisms must be updated and prepared to identify key areas for aid. Implementing more technical devices can save time and funds from manual inputs for EWS. With electronic devices now more accessible to Member States, humanitarian assistance is better prepared for future pandemics, ensuring the protection and empowerment of the new generation and global health security. To strengthen coordination, a more technical and cooperative approach must be taken to ensure that lives are being saved and aid is reaching the necessary populations. | |
| Committee: | IAEA |
| Topic: | Nuclear security |
| Paper text: | |
| In 1984, the first operational commercial nuclear power plant opened, making it the first and only on the continent of Africa. Since then, there has been an ever-growing interest in further atomic science development in countries that do not already possess their own nuclear programmes. The Republic of Liberia strongly advocates for increased cooperation and knowledge sharing between South Africa and other Global South Member States and regions. In 1990, the African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development, and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA) was launched. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) backed this initiative as it focuses on the peaceful nuclear applications, knowledge development, and safety management within African nations. As of now, AFRA has 42 members, with Liberia being one, and it provides information, such as technical knowledge, atomic research findings, development training, policies, safety regulations, and result sharing. Liberiaâs goals strongly align with AFRAâs applications, having joined the initiative back in June of 2024. In particular, Liberia is focusing on the safety and knowledge sharing of nuclear materials and best practices. Liberia suggests that AFRA member states meet more than once a year for fellow Member States to share knowledge on such safety measures. As the IAEA Technical Cooperation Program (TCP) works heavily with AFRA, IAEA technical representatives can share and improve knowledge between all IAEA Member States. Liberia is currently working on establishing an independent Liberian nuclear regulatory authority that aligns with international laws and is seeking the IAEAâs help with advice and support. Through the cooperation of Member States and the advice of AFRA, nuclear security is attainable. This programme would help to uphold previous treaties such as the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) (1979) and the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) (1970) created by the international community. | |
| Committee: | IAEA |
| Topic: | Strengthening the Agency's activities related to nuclear science, technology and applications |
| Paper text: | |
| At the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) 66th General Conference in Vienna, 77 nations spoke favorably about nuclear power with an emphasis on bringing nuclear power to the Global South. As of right now, 33 African member states are aspiring for nuclear energy, with the Republic of Liberia being one of them. The uses of peaceful nuclear technology are profound in their achievements, but a noticeable absence in advancements on the African continent can be seen. In June of 2025, the World Bank Group (WBG) officially announced further cooperation and funding towards IAEA projects. In particular, the focus on the advancement of small, modular reactors (SMRs) in developing countries is a top priority of the WBG. Liberia is eager for such opportunities and is urging all willing and able Member States that are financially stable to support the safe growth of nuclear energy plants in those developing countries. Of course, all will apply strictly to documents, rules, and regulations already set in place by the IAEA, should nuclear energy be attainable. Things like the Safety of Nuclear Power Plants: Design (NS-R- 2) (2000), the Pelindaba Treaty (1996), and the General Safety Requirements (GSR) (2011) are all focused on the safety of any IAEA Member State. One of the most important organizations in providing safe growth is the Regulatory Infrastructure Development Projects (RIDP) (1957). The RIDP prioritizes radiation safety, the security of radioactive material, and improving Member Statesâ infrastructure. However, the RIDP is painfully underfunded as it is considered âextrabudgetaryâ, but it can be funded by the WBG. Since June of 2025, the WBG has lifted its ban on funding nuclear with its cooperation in multiple IAEA projects. Ajay Banga, the president of the WBG, has revealed an intense interest in nuclear energy and is willing to spend money to further any nuclear advancement, notably in developing countries. With guidance, the WBG could fund the RIDP and other nuclear-related programmes in funding the construction of more nuclear plants and ensuring a safe and prosperous future for nuclear technology for all member states. | |
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