Topic 1: Capital Punishment
Country: Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Committee: Commission on Human Rights
School: Skyview High School
Delegate's Name: Devin Cusack

Capital punishment is in everlasting debate among the international community. As early as 1999, 65 countries abolished capital punishment from their criminal systems, including the countries France, Norway, and Poland. A number of other countries have instigated policies that make capital punishment only permissible in cases of treason, war, or murder, including the countries of Canada, the United States, and Turkey. A number of other countries have a policy of capital punishment for more then just the aforementioned grievances. In a world filled with such dissimilar views the issue of capital punishment and all it entails needs to be addressed. So it is the objective of this committee to address this issue, and perhaps to find common ground to satisfy a majority.

The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, being in the practice of lawful capital punishment, will keep an open ear to the opinions of all committee members. It is the belief of Libya that each and every country has the right to self-governance without the interference of unwanted outside parties. A belief that includes the right of each country to design, maintain, and censure their individual criminal systems in a manner they see fit. The practice of capital punishment is a practice permitted or abolished by each individual nation's own justifications. Many of which justifications are religious in nature and practice, and it is this nation's belief that they therefore must be honored by this committee. This body was not created to remove and violate the jurisdictional rights of member nations, but to find fair and probable solutions to present world problems. With this in mind the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya is, like the rest of this body, in pursuit of a solution to this issue. It is this nation's fondest hope that through a diligent and productive forum that a solution can be found.

Libya is of the belief that the issue of the capital punishment should remain under the jurisdiction of each individual nation's criminal system. This nation recognizes that each individual country's practice or abolishment of capital punishment is due to their own justifications. Many of which are of a religious nature and practice, and it is this nation's belief that they must be recognized and respected. The United Nations, of which the Commission of Human Rights is part of, was created with the intent of promoting world peace and human rights. Not with the intent of infringing on an individual nation's right of self-governance. With that in mind, the nation of Libya believes that each nation of this body can reach a common ground. A common ground on which each individual country's right of self-governance, including jurisdiction over their criminal systems is recognized.