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Christian Hodges Mali Commission on the Status of the Middle East Arundel High School 24 January 2012 Democracy in the Middle East As a democratized country, the Republic of Mali understands the importance of democracy and guaranteeing rights to a country’s citizenry. The Republic of Mali guarantees many freedoms to our people. These freedoms enable a durable, successful democracy that has stood the test of time. However, Mali’s Middle Eastern counterparts underestimate the value of democracy and the capability to incorporate with religion to form a society that enables freedom, and male dominance. The Republic of Mali has guaranteed its people various rights, as ensured in our Constitution. Mali grants its citizenry the freedoms of speech, press, and assembly. Mali has allowed for free Internet, and prohibits torture. Mali requires warrants for arrest. Mali provides all of the aforementioned rights to its people. These rights allow Malians to live happily and submit to a government, as it can and does provide for their needs. Many other Middle Eastern countries, including Libya, Egypt, and Tunisia, did not provide obvious freedoms to their people. The oppression that the citizens felt, because of the lack of rights from the autocratic governments, resulted in revolt, and eventually revolution. The instance of revolt and revolution has come to be known as the “Arab Spring” of 2010. The Republic of Mali believes that inherent civil rights and various social services must be granted to the people of a country in order to allow for democratization. Like other members of the African Voting Bloc, Mali is unable to finance the implementation of social programs. Mali believes that the number of civil freedoms and social services are an adequate indicator of the extent of democracy. Constitutionally, Mali believes in the right of a people to change their government. We believe that other countries in the Middle East should also allow their people this crucial right of self-determination. We believe that in this right of self-determination, the people have the right to decide what freedoms they should be granted. In the case of Mali, the people have spoken that gender equality should not exist. As a democracy, we are obliged to comply. Mali will fully support any resolution that furthers democracy throughout the Middle East. The Republic of Mali will work with members of the African Voting Bloc to draft a resolution that provides social programs and civil freedoms, which will propel democracy in the Middle East. Mali will be unable to provide any funding for these programs, but we believe that they are essential in allowing for a stable democracy to exist. Unfortunately, democracy is a complicated topic and cannot be implemented easily. It will require the diligence of this Committee, as well as future committees in the UN. But, the Republic of Mali is fully invested in the concept that civil freedoms are crucial to the people of a country. Therefore, we will work to advance any resolution that will provide civil freedoms and social services, and therefore, democracy. The delegation from the Republic of Mali anxiously awaits the discussion of incorporating democracy into the Middle East. We believe that there is copious room for improvement in the area of democracy in the Middle East. We look forward to a resolution that addresses the lack of civil freedoms and social services across this region, which delay the spread of democracy.