Position paper for Luxembourg
| Committee: | GA First |
| Topic: | Reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours |
| Paper text: | |
| The delegate of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg acknowledges that the use of space
infrastructure and outer space must be sustainably managed for global security and
development. The UN General Assembly resolutions of the 79th session in 2024 declares the
importance of all stateâs legal duty to âconduct their activities in the exploration and use of
outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, in conformity with international
lawâ Luxembourg aligns itself with the international law, including the Charter of the UN and
the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, in compliance of the rules of peaceful use of space toward
maintaining security and sustainable development. The General Assembly in the 79th
session emphasized the long-term goal for states cooperation to âgive further consideration
toâ to internalize restraint and responsibility, as shared principles, transform voluntary
norms into enforceable standards (âpossible solutions⦠can involve a combination of legally
binding obligations and political commitments⦠pursued in a progressive, sustained and
complementary mannerâ) adherence to transparency, verification, and the prevention of
âintentional damage to and destruction of space systems, threats to the safe operations of
space objects⦠and protecting critical space-based services to civilians.â
However, Luxembourg advocates that political and legal regulation must not stifle innovation, ensure âthat all equal and fair access to the resources of space, without discriminationâ, and adapts to meet new technological requirements (2022), as affirmed by the UN General Assembly in the A/RES/79/22. | |
| Committee: | GA First |
| Topic: | The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects |
| Paper text: | |
| The delegate of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg acknowledges the European Union
legislation (2022), the illicit proliferation and misuse of small arms: revolvers, self-loading
pistols, rifles and carbines, submachine guns, assault rifles and light machine guns, and
light weapons: heavy machine guns, portable anti-aircraft guns, mortars, ammunition,
shells, hand grenades, landmines, and explosives are recognised to pose an imminent
threat to diplomacy, peace, and security to EU member states. The Grand Duchy of
Luxembourgâs Directorate of Political Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, Xavier Bettel,
acknowledged the risk of how the illicit trade of small arms and light weapons undermines
peace by enabling organised crime and violence to violate human rights and disrupt
multilateral diplomacy. Such actions directly contradict Luxembourgâs foreign policy and
its international obligations under the UN Programme of Action. Consequently,
Luxembourg upholds the disarmament and non-proliferation of such weapons as one of
its priorities.
Luxembourg aligns with the EUâs promotion of international cooperation and sustainable development through responsible governance. Luxembourg supports gender-inclusive standards, coordination of global collaborative advocacy and information sharing in regional and virtual meetings, and is committed to implementing consistent disarmament policies across regions that serve collective peace and security in Europe. (2022). The EU has a consistent record of supporting the UNâs disarmament efforts. In 2001, the UN Programme of Action was established to prevent and combat the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. In 2005, the UNâs implementation of the International Tracing Instrument to trace illicit trafficking and ammunition was supported by the European Council, including Luxembourg, in fulfillment of the UN Programme of Action. More recently, in October 2022, UNODAâs project was funded with 4.5 million euros by the EU, including Luxembourgâs contribution, aimed to enhance security at regional, national and global levels through disarmament control (2022). There is an evident upward trend in organised crime and violence in Europe, reflected by its Organized Crime Index (2021-2023) gathered by UNIDIR. Between 2021 and 2023, there is a 0.49 increase in overall organised crime in Luxembourg, with criminal markets rising by 0.55, and criminal actors rising by 0.43, which means there are opportunities for illicit networks. Although Luxembourg participates in the international arms trade, it is not the producer of such weapons. Instead, Beretta USA manufactures in Luxembourg, but the company must adhere to Luxembourgâs strict regulations, transparency standards, and international compliance obligations regarding production and transfers of weapons (2023). The UNODC Global Study on Firearms (2020) reported Luxembourg among the countries that had trafficked firearms seized. It is an implicit possibility that illicit firearms circulate within national borders before it is eventually trafficked abroad. Luxembourg's support in 2005 on the use of the International Tracing Instrument reinforces UNODCâs 2020 recommendations on tracing, data-sharing, cooperation across borders, and is evident in its willingness to exchange seizure information with manufacturing and transit states to identify points of possible leakages. | |
| Committee: | GA Second |
| Topic: | Role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence |
| Paper text: | |
| Globalization has been front and center in recent years after COVID-19 and with the new
tariffs placed by the new US administration. Globalization provides many benefits like
lower costs, higher GDP, and higher purchasing power parity (Federal Reserve Bank of
Chicago 2007). Throughout the years since WWII this has proved to be a successful form
of trade, but in recent years with the rise of inequality, supply chain chokes exposed by
COVID-19, and high inflation, the pros and cons of globalization are being re-evaluated.
Historically, Luxembourg has heavily relied on globalization as 47.2% of its residents are foreigners. Its economy is rooted in globalization as 25% of its GDP comes from foreign banking activity in the country, as many multinational banks operate out of Luxembourg. Despite the massive benefits of being a hub for European and transparent finance, Luxembourg has taken steps to diversify its economy to better absorb shocks and to further enable local companies to succeed. While tariffs are low, Luxembourg has started taking steps in investing in local industry instead of investing in attractive foreign capital. This shift is part of the global move away from globalization. While Luxembourg is not self- sufficient and does rely on globalization, it is something worth considering that even a small country like Luxembourg is taking protectionist measures. That begs the question, is globalization under attack, or is there a greater cultural shift towards nationalism? While Luxembourg is keen on protecting local industry, it is also keen to incentivize competition. While some support may be given, Luxembourg is a large proponent of free markets. It has recently decentralized electricity and gas from the government, letting the market compete. While Luxembourg remains a highly free country, pushes are being made to protect more of the locals from the drawbacks of globalization from parties like the ADR. Overall, Luxembourg is a staunch supporter of globalization. Its economy relies heavily on international finance, free movement of capital, and free trade. This has helped contribute to Luxembourgâs financial success, but recent trends have shifted Luxembourg from a free trade utopia to a country that is also looking to protect some domestic industry. Consistent with the global trend, Luxembourg is in favor of globalization while also protecting local industries and citizens when necessary. | |
| Committee: | GA Second |
| Topic: | Protection of global climate for present and future generations of humankind |
| Paper text: | |
| Climate change is a serious issue that poses a vast array of environmental consequences
including rising temperatures, rising sea levels, droughts, flooding, and others (NOAA,
2025). Specifically, some areas around the world are experiencing heavier rainfall events
while others are experiencing less precipitation; this leads to flooding in some areas and
droughts in others which lead to disruptions in agriculture and other societal functions
(NOAA, 2025). This combined with a higher frequency of extreme weather events leads to
disruptions in agricultural production as well as health related risks from wildfires, floods,
and natural disasters (NOAA 2025). The rate of climate change has been exacerbated by
the increase of CO2 emissions all while countries commit to reducing them despite the
fact that these promises have yet to come to fruition.
In recent years, Luxembourg has made significant progress in cutting emissions and has passed climate laws that dictate the country must become carbon neutral by 2050 and must cut emissions by 55% between 2005 and 2030 (European Parliament, 2024). So far, Luxembourg has reduced net emissions by 35.7% from 2005 to 2023 which is greater than the EU average of 30.5% over the same period (European Parliament, 2024). In 2020, Luxembourg passed the 2020 Climate Law which set these targets and stipulates that emissions budgets must be set every 10 years and the law also established a climate and energy fund (European Parliament, 2024). The 2024 specific recommendations noted the importance of reducing the country's reliance on fossil fuels through further promoting of electric vehicles and public transportation (European Parliament, 2024). One way that Luxembourg has worked towards these goals is through government subsidies that support renewable energy solutions and energy efficient infrastructure (City of Luxembourg, 2025). Overall, Luxembourg has made significant progress in cutting emissions and advancing climate goals that are consistent with the UNâs Sustainable Development Goals. Based on Luxembourg's own success in combatting the effects of climate change, the delegation of Luxembourg urges other member states to invest in renewable energy and other climate friendly technology through the use of government subsidies. Luxembourg also urges member states to adopt climate plans and emissions budgets to stay on track with their goals to cut emissions. | |
| Committee: | GA Third |
| Topic: | Universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination |
| Paper text: | |
| The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg recognizes the right of peoples to self-determine. As
recently as September 22nd, 2025, Luxembourg has formally recognized Palestine as an
independent state, with one of the major goals of supporting the self-determination of the
Palestinian citizens who live within Gaza and the West Bank. This commitment can be
backed up by the fact that Luxembourg voted âYesâ on the United Nationâs 2023 Resolution
on the âThe right of the Palestinian people to self-determinationâ.
Thanks to this continued commitment within Palestine, the Luxembourgish government will not vote against further resolutions on self-determination and human rights to peoples throughout the world. Luxembourg has historically voted abstain within the United Nationâs 2003 Resolution on the âUniversal realization of the right of peoples to self-determinationâ, and the aforementioned continued recognition of Palestine. | |
| Committee: | GA Third |
| Topic: | Improvement of the situation of women and girls in rural areas |
| Paper text: | |
| The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg believes in a continued goal of enshrining and protecting
the rights of women and girls. Within Luxembourgâs 2022-2024 Human Rights Council bid, an
affirmation and commitment within the rights of women and girls in terms of economic,
educational, sexual and reproductive rights, were proudly made, alongside also a continued
investment of 1% of Luxembourgâs gross national income into development assistance.
Additionally, as recent as 2023, Luxembourg has invested 4.8 million Euros into the EIB Financial Inclusion Fund, which funds aid to women to empower the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Developmentâs Sustainable Development Goals (aka SDGs), specifically SDG-5 (Gender Equality) and rural areas via SDG-1 and SDG-8 (No Poverty, Decent Work and Economic Growth, respectively) within globally poor countries. Without Luxembourgâs noble investments and contributions within the Financial Inclusion Fund, this international situation would be far more dire. Luxembourg will support the lifting and strengthening of women and girls rights within rural areas, either through UN Women, Leaving No One Behind, the Financial Inclusion Fund, or any other strategic means. As stated within Luxembourgâs former Foreign and European Affairs Ministryâs visit to Chile, Luxembourg will push forward for an international collaboration within the implementation of womenâs rights, and the approaches and policies that come with it. As such, Luxembourg will continue its presence and participation within UN Women, and advocate other nations to enact SDGs domestically. If necessary, the Luxembourgish government can aid via an increase in its investment and financial contributions within development and empowerment assistance to aid rural women and girlsâ rights. | |
| Committee: | GA Plenary |
| Topic: | Our ocean, our future, our responsibility |
| Paper text: | |
| Within the past several decades, there has been a multitude of work done to combat man-
made issues within the ocean and its ecosystem. Luxembourg believes that more
advocacy should be done for landlocked countries. Even though landlocked countries
arenât closely affected by the shores, these countries benefit from the ocean in many
ways. The ocean produces more than half of the oxygen you breathe, it also affects your
diet, and the climate is severely impacted by the ocean and pollution in the ocean.
Luxembourgâs goal is to support efforts to further protect the environment and the
oceans. Climate change is becoming an increasingly larger issue, with many countries
being affected. The man made issues in the ocean are causing significant damages and
pushing climate change further. Our ocean, our future, our responsibility aims to combat
this by a multitude of initiatives.
These issues have been caused by a multitude of factors. Some of these factors include the disregard for the environment and the role that pollution has played on marine wildlife and environment. There was also less regulation of environmental safety of the oceans. These issues have caused catastrophic effects to marine wildlife. Furthermore, it has pushed a multitude of states to deal with climate change in a rapid manner. There have been multiple ways the UN has tried to combat these issues including The Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter and The United Nations Convention On The Law Of The Sea. Luxembourg supports these two conventions. These conventions introduced laws on pollution and laws that enforced checking on the environment. Luxembourg has been advocating for landlocked states to get involved and financially investing in international conservation funds. Luxembourg believes that a zero tolerance for pollution initiative should be adopted. Member states should be urged to join coalitions meant to fight against pollution. Luxembourg also believes that member states should focus on how their contributions to climate change should be examined and the states should take steps to cut back on their harmful emissions. Finally, to ensure the safety of the oceans, member states should send financial investment into programs that are trying to reduce the effects of climate change and pollution in the ocean. | |
| Committee: | GA Plenary |
| Topic: | Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations |
| Paper text: | |
| We have had since the formation of the United Nations made it a priority to end global
scarcity of resources due to our own history of famine after the destruction of World War 2.
We made a promise to be in step to propagate unity in helping to ensure no nation suffers
from famine. We have remained steadfast in the goals of funding humanitarian missions
throughout the world since our joining at the foundation of the UN with us contributing
$22.4 million dollars to the world food programme in 2024 alone. However, in 2025 there
are still over 300 million people at the brink of famine throughout the world with many
nations having millions of people in need which demonstrates the ever prevalent need for
continued UN humanitarian projects.
There are many dangers that have affected the progress of the goals of ending world hunger including the militarization of resources by non-state and state actors, difficulties of access in remote areas, and the growing disinterest of western powers in providing the adequate resources for the programs. This growing threat is putting a strain on already underfunded institutions that are causing millions to struggle getting the resource they need. Luxembourg's position is that we need to encourage larger allies in the west to provide the resource they have been cutting in recent years as well as other powers of the world to grow their contributions to bolster funding. We also are looking to implement harsher penalties against non-state and state actors who intervene in the supply of resources. The last thing we are looking for is to implement supporting organizations to fund not only humanitarian efforts but also infrastructure efforts to connect remote regions to areas with resources. | |
| Committee: | IAEA |
| Topic: | Nuclear security |
| Paper text: | |
| Since 1958, Luxembourg has occupied an active and participating role in the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) playing a role in the induction and development of the
privileges and immunities, its powers, and the responsibilities of the IAEA which include
but are not limited to providing nuclear security which as per IAEA definition is the
âprevention and detection of, and response to, criminal or intentional unauthorized acts
involving or directed at nuclear material, other radioactive material, associated facilities or
associated activities.â Although much of the IAEAâs Security councilâs content is not directly
applicable to Luxembourg due to its lack of weapons and facilities falling under their
definitions and restrictions it is important to note that all nations are affected by this new,
beneficial, and devastating technology. As much as we value each nation's autonomy and
independence we also value the prosperity of mankind which is now under threat
perhaps more than ever before and the failure of the IAEA to effectively fulfill its prior
stated mission is allowing for this threat to persist and grow. The delegation of
Luxembourg believes now is the time for change and action now more than ever before.
Although the security provided to us by nuclear weapons is unquestionable and highly desirable to nations across the world including Luxembourg as per the nation's consistent vote against the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) the nation of Luxembourg also realizes the dangers such weapons present when in the wrong hands as well as the disregard for the safety and security of nuclear facilities across the world. Such dangers have been clearly illustrated to us by the irresponsible actions of the Russian Federation in its war against Ukraine. We emphasize that nuclear power plants enjoy special protection under Article 56 of the Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, protections which the Russian Federation has blatantly disregarded in the case of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The attack on energy and civilian infrastructure in the war between Ukraine and Russia not only constitutes a violation of international law, but also represents a blatant disregard for the IAEAâs mission and international nuclear safety standards put in place to protect us all. Such deplorable nuclear activities are put on display all over the globe including the Democratic People's Republic of Korea whose nuclear weapons testing and development has been allowed to persist and continue worsening the international security situation and undermining all efforts for lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. This danger is further amplified by Iran's nuclear program which continues at an alarming pace, outside the IAEA's verification and monitoring capabilities. The delegation of Luxembourg's ability to list several threats to global peace would not be possible had the IAEA fulfilled its mission. The IAEAâs failure to fulfill its mission by allowing these threats to not only arise but to persist and worsen calls for serious change, the delegation of Luxembourg demands that something be done to achieve the IAEAâs mission. The delegation of Luxembourg, now newly elected to serve on the 35-member IAEA Board of Governors for the 2024â2025 period calls for the amendment of several resolutions in order to correct their non-binding nature which has allowed nations to retract their support and limit the IAEA Board of Governors ability to legally enforce such resolutions. The delegation also calls for an increase in the IAEAs enforcement authority. At this point in time the IAEA severely lacks the power to enforce resolutions and is reliant on its participating members to enforce them if these members choose to enforce them at all, this causes delay or in some cases no response to the noncompliance of nations. | |
| Committee: | IAEA |
| Topic: | Strengthening the Agency's activities related to nuclear science, technology and applications |
| Paper text: | |
| The delegation of Luxembourg has been a proud member of the International Atomic
Energy Agency since 1958, and has had the nationâs strong support since 1958. The
delegation understands and supports the right of all nations to have the ability to make
use of the several useful technologies that come from nuclear sources. However, the
Luxembourg delegation strongly believes that nuclear safety must be paramount, and as
we move forward, nations need to act responsibly when addressing radioactive materials.
This stance is reflected by our commitment to the Convention for Nuclear Safety of 1994,
which formed a framework for global nuclear cooperation. Moving forward, the
delegation of Luxembourg would look for stronger cooperation regarding nuclear energy
and the effective enforcement of safety standards.
The uses of nuclear sciences are exceptionally exciting, yet risky. From the humanitarian disaster that was Chernobyl and the advent of radiation technologies in medicine, nuclear technology is exciting but requires proper management. We as a body must work together towards a comprehensive system of management of all radioactive materials, but should continue to affirm all nations' rights to explore the several uses of nuclear materials. Previously, as a body, we have worked towards these goals and have made significant progress in ensuring the safety and proper use of radioactive materials. These have been seen in the successes that have been the Convention on Nuclear Safety and the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management. Both provide remarkable frameworks for the safety of nuclear materials. Since these agreements have been adopted, we have been diligent to fulfill our outlined requirements and have had a strong and comprehensively effective radioactive material management program. Looking ahead, we look favorably upon a strong system of standards on safety and cooperation. The delegation of Luxembourg would look favorably upon the expansion of a UN overseen radioactive waste management program, which would ensure the safe intergovernmental system of storage of nuclear waste. This would likely be fulfilled by regional partnerships and clear standards on the safety and management of these sites. With an effective waste management program, one of the key deterrents of this exciting science would be overcome. Secondly, we would reaffirm our commitment to the standards set in the NS and RADW, and would look to expand the cooperation of management and standardization of nuclear materials and facilities. With these standards in place, the exciting future of nuclear can be safely built upon. | |
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