Spelman College will host the Sixth Annual International Diplomacy conference on November 2, 2019. Students from Spelman College, Georgia Institute of Technology, Kennesaw State University, University of North Georgia, University of West Georgia, and University of Kentucky will participate in a free-exercise diplomacy simulation. This year’s conference topic is a Middle East nuclear-weapon-free-zone.
Atlanta, GA: November 2, 2019 – Spelman College, in partnership with Daisy Alliance, Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation (WCAPS), and, Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), will host the sixth annual International Diplomacy Conference on November 2, 2019, 10am-3pm, in Manley Atrium. Students from four other institutions, Georgia Institute of Technology, Kennesaw State University, University of West Georgia, and University of Kentucky, will participate in a free-play simulation exercise on the topic of a Middle East nuclear-weapon-free-zone. Each school will be represented by a group of students, who were assigned to a group from a list of twelve or more national actors and international organizations.
This year’s simulation builds on previous simulations hosted by Emory University in April 2014, Morehouse College in November 2014 and October 2015, Georgia Institute of Technology in March 2018 and February 2019, and Spelman College in November 2018. The simulations serve as an important vehicle to strengthen the partnership between U.S. higher education institutions and NGOs with the aim of mitigating the threat of weapons of mass destruction.
Although nuclear proliferation in the Middle East has been on the international agenda for almost forty years, little substantive progress has been made. Regional insecurity, coupled with Israel’s nuclear arsenal and Iran’s enrichment activities, presents a significant challenge. Nuclear-weapon-free-zones (NWFZ) are regional agreements that prohibit states from acquiring, developing, or stockpiling nuclear weapons – in short, a geographical area without nuclear weapons. NWFZs are an important tool in the international nuclear arms control regime. They provide confidence-building measures that enhance regional security in many ways and have been lauded as excellent tools for preventing nuclear proliferation. There are currently five NWFZs: Treaty of Tlateloco (Latin America), Treaty of Rarotonga (South Pacific), Treaty of Bangkok (Southeast Asia), Treaty of Pelindaba (Africa), and the Treaty on a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia.
Attendance is by invitation only.
There is no cost to participate in the simulation.
Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided to simulation participants and guests.