Position paper for Tunisia
| Committee: | GA First |
| Topic: | Reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours |
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| The first topic, reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours, is a subject of paramount importance. The role of space in the world economy is vast and cannot be understated, supporting many of the technologies we take for granted today. It is therefore important to all people that we protect and maintain the orbits around earth, keeping them free of debris and collisions. In order to protect these orbits, Tunisia has proposed a “Space Debris Footprint”, not all too dissimilar to a carbon footprint, which tracks missions, satellites, and their left over clutter. It would track this footprint by nation, including also private ventures, to evaluate the impact of missions and use this knowledge to react accordingly. | |
| Committee: | GA First |
| Topic: | The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects |
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| The second topic, the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects, is an issue that Tunisia is all too familiar with. Positioned on the Mediterranean at the far north of Africa, Tunisia sits in an area where armed conflict is common. Since the revolution in 2011 the illicit arms trade has only worsened. In may of this year Tunisia made very clear it's position on the issue saying, ”Tunisia affirms its commitment to all international and regional conventions on arms control, disarmament…”, and going as far as to suggest, “the development of regional mechanisms to exchange information on arms trafficking networks.” Tunisia is deeply committed to curbing the illicit arms trade through international cooperation, and policy. | |
| Committee: | GA Second |
| Topic: | Role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence |
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| The Republic of Tunisia understands that globalization has changed the way nations interact with one another which has presented immense economic growth opportunities and at the same time formed stark disparities between the Member States. Tunisia is of the opinion that the United Nations also plays a crucial role to ensure that globalization is beneficial to all by fostering fairness, collaboration, and sustainable development. Under the banner of the 2030 Agenda of Sustainable Development, Tunisia is still enhancing its economy by embracing regional and international integration, particularly in the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA). Tunisia has been able to implement youth empowerment initiatives, promote entrepreneurship, and make digital inclusion easier through the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Nevertheless, Tunisia is also conscious of the fact that most of the developing world continues to grapple with a lack of access to markets, debts, and disproportionate trade behaviors. To overcome these challenges, Tunisia is requesting increased international assistance in terms of equitable financing, clearing debts and sharing of technology to enable all the countries to equally enjoy the benefits of global interdependence. Tunisia is willing to collaborate with the United Nations and all the Member States to establish a more equitable and inclusive global economy that everyone will experience development. | |
| Committee: | GA Second |
| Topic: | Protection of global climate for present and future generations of humankind |
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| The Republic of Tunisia considers protection of climate of our planet as a moral and a prerequisite of sustainable development. Tunisia has already experienced the consequences of desertification, drought, and water shortage, and therefore realizes that it should do something to stop climate change. The Federal Government of Tunisia has signed the Paris Agreement and UNFCCC Framework Convention on Climate Change and has pledged to cut down its carbon intensity by 45 percent by the year 2030 and is also making serious investments in renewable energy such as solar and wind power. Such initiatives are included in the long-term National Strategy on Climate Change of Tunisia in which the country will foster cleaner development and safeguard those communities that are most vulnerable. However, Tunisia underlines that the global climate ambitions are impossible to realize in the absence of fair access of finance, technology, and capacity-building of the developing nations. It is important to note that the creation of such mechanisms as the Loss and Damage Fund and the Green Climate Fund are important steps in helping vulnerable countries. Tunisia is also more than determined to collaborate via the United Nations to build-up global partnerships which safeguard the environment, build resilience and make sure that the next generation will have a healthy and sustainable world. | |
| Committee: | GA Third |
| Topic: | Universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination |
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| The right to self-determination by a peoples of a nation is one that has been continuously realized by oppressed and colonized peoples throughout the world. The right of a people to form a nation, and the nation’s ability to form a sovereign and independent state is one that cannot be questioned. Tunisia supports and reaffirms the provisions in the General Assembly Resolution 42/95 and the United Nations Charter that support and affirm the right of peoples, specifically and especially those of Palestine, the West Bank, and Gaza, in their efforts to form a sovereign and independent state. First, the people must be able to exist without threat of constant and incessant bombings and attacks that threaten the very existence of their peoples, nor can the people be allowed to suffer their famine and deprivation of essential items. The territory must be respected and their ability to freely move within and utilize their land and sea must be protected. Their exclusive enjoyment of their territory necessitates the removal of militant and occupation forces. Finally, the people of the nation must not only be granted authorization to form a state by the international community but be supported in their efforts to do so. | |
| Committee: | GA Third |
| Topic: | Improvement of the situation of women and girls in rural areas |
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| Since our independence in 1956, our nation has surpassed many of our peers as far as women’s rights. We have a long history as a leader for women’s rights in North Africa and the Arab World. Tunisian society, culture, and state has deep a respect for traditional Islamic values while valuing the progress we have made in areas such as women’s rights and overall equality between the sexes. Literacy rates among Tunisians, including Tunisian women, remain high, educational attainment is above average for our region, and rates of vulnerable employment among women has declined in the last decades. Tunisia remains committed to improving the situation of women and girls in rural areas through broader commitment to improving the economic conditions of those living in rural areas of Tunisia. We believe that issues at the roots of rural poverty must be addressed to improve the situation of women and girls in these areas. Despite the challenges facing our nation, we remain committed to addressing the societal issues affecting women while combatting the sources of rural poverty that they experience. Addressing these areas, we can improve the lives of people in rural areas, especially those of women and girls. | |
| Committee: | GA Plenary |
| Topic: | Our ocean, our future, our responsibility |
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| Tunisia recognizes the importance of a clean ocean for the future of humanity. We as a nation are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of a changing ocean. Tunisia is especially concerned about the depletion of the fish stock. Fishing being a growing industry, we are concerned about the depletion of fish because it negatively affects a growing industry and disrupts the marine ecosystem. We recognize the importance of fishing and are committed to working together to create more sustainable ways to fish. Pollution in the ocean is of paramount concern for Tunisia, with the primary focus on plastics and industrial pollutants getting into the ocean. We strive to work together to first, stop pollution getting in the ocean, and secondly, clean up the ocean for a healthier ecosystem for us, for the preservation of the ecosystem, and future generations to enjoy. Tunisia is willing to engage with European countries to create a more sustainable way to produce clean energy and reduce carbon emissions for the betterment of the environment. | |
| Committee: | GA Plenary |
| Topic: | Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations |
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| Tunisia is committed to housing any refugees or asylum seekers and are working with the UN to create a better system for any refugees seeking safety. We are looking into creating a framework for a better system of keeping refugees. Tunisia is and are continually willing to house refugees from countries affected by war or disasters. We are in a unique position, being the crossroad between Africa and Europe, and with this unique position, we are committed to house refugees seeking asylum in Europe and cooperating with Europe with the migration of those refugees. We will continue in the effort of the safety of refugees and protect them. | |
| Committee: | IAEA |
| Topic: | Nuclear security |
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| The Republic of Tunisia recognizes nuclear security as a cornerstone of global peace, stability, and sustainable development. In a world marked by growing geopolitical tension, the danger posed by the proliferation and potential misuse of nuclear materials and technologies continues to threaten international safety. Tunisia firmly believes that effective nuclear security requires the universal adoption of strict safeguards, transparent policies, and a shared global commitment to disarmament and non-proliferation.As a nation dedicated to peace and the responsible use of nuclear technology, Tunisia calls for renewed progress toward global nuclear disarmament. The Republic urges Member States to strengthen international treaties such as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and to support measures that lead to the verifiable reduction and ultimate abolition of nuclear arsenals. Tunisia believes that disarmament not only reduces the threat of catastrophic conflict but also fosters international trust and cooperation. Tunisia reaffirms its readiness to work alongside other Member States in developing unified and transparent nuclear security policies. The Republic calls on the international community to take decisive and collective action to remove the threat of nuclear weapons from the global stage, ensuring a safer and more stable world for all nations. | |
| Committee: | IAEA |
| Topic: | Strengthening the Agency's activities related to nuclear science, technology and applications |
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| Tunisia has long been an advocate for the safe use of nuclear technologies. This is an extremely valuable resource and not utilizing its potential is a gross misuse of resources. In 2015 The nation of Tunisia signed a memorandum of understanding with the russian federation to promote and lay the foundation of the use of clean nuclear energy. Tunisia is also a committed member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Tunisia has also been constructing its first nuclear power plant which, upon completion, will produce twenty percent of the nation’s power needs. Tunisia’s National Center for Nuclear Sciences and Technologies (CNSTN) is the leading organization responsible for producing breakthroughs in nuclear technologies. The CNSTN is committed to advancing understanding in subjects such as fusion, plasma physics, and reactor operations. The CNSTN also is responsible for developments in using nuclear technologies in medical and environmental fields. Tunisia urges the IAEA and its Member States to continue investing in innovation and capacity building, particularly in emerging technologies like small modular reactors and medical isotopes. By reinforcing the Agency’s scientific and technical programs, the international community can ensure that nuclear science serves as a force for global development, cooperation, and peace. | |
| Committee: | CND |
| Topic: | Promoting alternative development as a development-oriented drug control strategy that is sustainable and inclusive |
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| Tunisia stands at a critical crossroads in addressing the complex challenges posed by drug production, trafficking, and consumption. While the country has made significant progress in law enforcement and border control, a heavy reliance on punitive measures has not fully addressed the social and economic roots of drug-related activities. An overemphasis on repression risks deepening poverty and exclusion, particularly in marginalized regions where youth unemployment and limited economic opportunity persist. Alternative development which is a strategy that integrates sustainable livelihoods, social inclusion, and local development with drug control goals- offers a viable, long term approach for Tunisia. By linking economic empowerment with social justice and governance reforms, AD can transform vulnerable communities from dependency on illicit activities to resilient participation in the legal economy. The background on this issue is as follows Drug control strategies in Tunisia have historically centered on prohibition, policing, and criminal penalties. However, such approaches often overlook the socio-economic drivers that make certain communities more susceptible to drug related economies. Rural areas, especially in the country’s western and southern regions, face high unemployment, limited access to credit, fragile agricultural systems, and weak market integration. These conditions can push vulnerable populations into informal or illicit livilihoods, including small scale trafficking and cultivation of prohibited crops. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the United Nations Development Programme have emphasized that drug control cannot be sustainable unless it is development oriented. Tunisia, committed to both the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and human rights based governance, can leverage these global frameworks to adopt an inclusive model of Alternative Development that balances control with opportunity. Position Statement Tunisia should formally adopt Alternative Development as a core pillar of its national drug control policy, complementing enforcement with sustainable, inclusive, and community based development programs. This approach must Address the root causes of drug related vulnerability – poverty, exclusion, and weak local governance Empower affected populations, particularly women and youth, through livelihood diversification and access to services Integrate climate resilient agriculture, vocational training, and social protection into the national drug control framework. In short, a shift from punishment to empowerment will deliver more lasting results than enforcement alone. | |
| Committee: | CND |
| Topic: | Promoting comprehensive and scientific evidence-based early prevention |
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| The Commission on Narcotic Drugs is the central policymaking body of the United Nations. As a functional Commission of the Economic and Social Council, CND monitors the implementation of three international drug control conventions and is empowered to consider all matters pertaining to the aim of the conventions, including the scheduling of substances to be brought under international control. It was established in 1946 by ECOSOC to implement UN drug control conventions, coordinate international drug policy, decide on scheduling of substances, etc. It has membership from UN member states elected for fixed terms, with regional representation. As a member, Tunisia participates in the international drug control treaty regime, the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1971 Convention on Psychotrophic Substances, 1988 Convention against illicit Traffic, through the CND, contributes to discussions, votes on substance scheduling, works with UNODC. Etc. Resolutions involving Tunisia or which Tunisia has supported, on drugs/ drug trafficking General Assembly Resolution 52/92 (1998) “ International action to combat drug abuse and illicit production and trafficking.” This is a broad UN resolution calling for enhanced international cooperation to combat the production, trafficking and use of illicit narcotic drugs and psychotrophic substances globally. Resolution (Draft) Disapproval of the non medical use of narcotic drugs and pychotrophic substances co sponsored by Tunisia(1993) Law 52 of 1992 is the central piece of drug legislation in Tunisia. Mandatory sentencing; Law 52 imposes a minimum mandatory prison sentence of one year for first time drug users and five years for repeat offenders, regardless of the quantity of the drug. No judicial discretion judges are not permitted to use mitigating circumstances to reduce sentences, a unique provision within Tunisian criminal law. Severe consequences are that the law has been criticized for causing prison overcrowding and disproportionately affecting young people. In conclusion, Tunisia’s new regime keeps drugs illegal but allows judicial flexibility and focuses more on rehabilitation than automatic imprisonment- marking a shift from punishment to reform. Some of the countries that are trade partners with Tunisia are France which is the largest destination for Tunisia’s exports, accounting for 22.5 % of total exports in 2023. Italy which is the second largest destination, contributing 16.7 % to Tunisia’s exports. Third is Germany which is a significant export partner; accounting for 13.4% of Tunisia’s exports. | |
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